Phenology of two syntopic Eukoenenia species in a northern Italian forest soil (Arachnida: Palpigradi)

Phenology of two syntopic Eukoenenia species in a northern Italian forest soil (Arachnida: Palpigradi). - The present paper provides evidence for the co-occurrence of edaphic palpigrade species in Europe. Eukoenenia mirabilis and E. gallii coexist in the soil of a cork oak plantation on the Ligurian coast in northwestern Italy. Year-round sampling there produced, for the first time in a temperate zone, complete annual cycles of palpigrade populations. In the study area E. mirabilis and E. gallii are univoltine. Both species reproduce in summer and overwinter predominantly in the adult stage. The balanced sex-ratio of the resident E. mirabilis population is remarkable, because males of this widespread species are usually rare or absent.