Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 1-6, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.001

Abiotic factors associated with the distribution of Mutilla europaea (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Northern EuropeOriginal article

Karl GUNNARSSON
Department of Entomology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden; e-mail: karlerikgunnarsson@hotmail.com

The distribution of Mutilla europaea (Linnaeus, 1758), has never been carefully investigated in Northern Europe. The density of M. europaea is highest along parts of the coast in Northern Europe and its distribution overlaps the border of the temperate zone in this area, which is not surprising, given that it is well documented that temperature regulates the ecology of insect communities (presumably because temperature is associated with several physiological other adaptations and plastic responses). This paper presents new information on its distribution in Northern Europe and reveals that abiotic factors are associated with this species' distribution in the area around the Baltic Sea.

Keywords: Velvet ant, mapping, bioclimatic data, colour

Received: October 31, 2023; Revised: December 12, 2023; Accepted: December 12, 2023; Published online: January 3, 2024  Show citation

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GUNNARSSON, K. (2024). Abiotic factors associated with the distribution of Mutilla europaea (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Northern Europe. EJE, 121, Article 1-6. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2024.001
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