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First study of stonefly fauna on the left bank of the border river Una was carried out during April and May 2009, and from July to November 2010. We were collecting qualitative samples of the adult Plecoptera at 9 different locations in the lower part of the Una River catchment area in Croatia. Aim of this study was to investigate diversity and distribution of stoneflies along the lower reach of the Una River and its tributaries. The results are based on the identification of adult insects and only in some cases, larvae and exuviae were taken into consideration. Altogether, 11 species of stoneflies were recorded from 5 families and 10 different genera ; 3 of which belong to the family Nemouridae (Amphinemura, Nemoura, Protonemura), 3 to the family Perlodidae (Besdolus, Isoperla, Perlodes), 2 to the family Perlidae (Marthamea, Perla), 1 to the family Taeniopterygidae (Brachyptera), and 1 to the family Leuctridae (Leuctra). Location with the highest diversity of stonefly fauna was the lower reach of the Čatlan Stream with 5 species recorded. The lowest diversity of stonefly fauna (1 species) was recorded at the lowest Una River locality (200 m before the mouth to the Sava River) and at the only spring locality (Jantalovića Spring). Despite the small number of recorded stonefly species in the study area, we found some remarkable species, which are for a longer time absent from many countries in Europe. Marthamea vitripennis was found again in Croatia after one century, together with Perla burmeisteriana and Besdolus imhoffi. All these species are included on the recent list of 50 strictly protected Plecoptera species in Croatia. Therefore, conservation of this important nature area should be one of the key concerns of environmental policies in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
