Important invertebrate fauna on Medvednica which is represented by a large number of species are:

Butterflies
Ants
Coleoptera
Scorpions
Crustacea
Snails




Butterflies

Based on the literature, entomology collections at CNHM and revision of newly collected material, on the area of Nature Parka 107 species of butterflies (Croatian butterfly fauna has 187 species) have been determined.

Protected species are Scarce Swallowtail ( Iphiclides podalirius ), Swallowtail ( Papilio machaon ), Purple Emperor ( Apatura iris ), Lesser Purple Emperor ( Apatura ilia ), and Poplar Admiral ( Limenitis populi ).


Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)


Poplar Admiral (Limentis populi)Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Out of recorded protected species a decline in population of Poplar Admiral , and data on Lesser Purple Emperor are old , so the existence of this species in Nature Park Medvednica is questionable, since none new findings have been recorded.

For some species in the Park we know they are much endangered and those species globally in Europe or world are not endangered, for example Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne). Fenton's wood white ( Leptidea morsei ssp. major), whose habitat are light oak forests is much endangered in the Park. Large Copper ( Lycaena dispar ssp. rutilus ) is endangered because wet meadows are disappearing. Southern Festoon ( Zerynthia polyxena ) has been recorded in Nature Park Medvednica which is, according to Appendix II of Bern convention, treated as highly protected species.


Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne)Southern Festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)

The number of butterflies in a certain area is indicator of habitat diversity, as well as degree of preservation of that area, and equilibrium in nature. For their specific biology butterflies quickly respond to changes in habitat, by their decline in number or complete disappearance. For that reason they are considered good indicators and are often used for monitoring, that is systematic observation of environment.

The major causes for disappearance of butterflies are overgrowing of meadows which are not regularly cut, and increased construction, urbanization, which is difficult to influence.

Most butterflies depend on plants with their development and diet; some of them depend only on a particular plant. Others have an interesting symbiotic relationship with ants, such as endangered butterfly species Large Blue (Maculinea arion)




Ants

There are a number of ant species on Medvednica, and one of them, Red Wood Ant (Formica rufa) with its three forms: Formica rufa rufa, F. r. rufopratensis maior and F. r. rufopratensis minor are protected by law.

In Red Wood Ant's ant-hill ( Formica rufa L.) on average there are about 100.000 worker-ants which annually eat 2 million forest pests.




Coleoptera

Great Capricorn Beetle

In a research conducted in 1990/1991 (Durbešič, Vujčić-Karlo, Bukvić) in forest communities on Medvednica 47 species were found, classified in 36 genus and 17 families, but this still isn't the final number of this order on Medvednica.

Although Medvednica isn't a large mountain massif, Alpine and Mediterranean influences, as well as mountain and continental climate meet here. The largest part of species, whose zoogeographical affiliation is determined, belongs to European region. Three species belong to Alpine region, which is understandable since Medvednica during its geological past used to be under great influence of Alps . Some climate characteristics offer the possibility for distribution of species which are characteristic for Alpine region. Since the research was carried out on the southern slopes of Medvednica, one member of Mediterranean region was discovered, which finds here termophile habitat for its survival. This characteristic and biotope diversity preconditioned distribution of certain species from Asian and Manchurian region, which are three in total.

In the category of rare and endangered species belong Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambix cerdo) , Wood Tiger Beetle ( Cicindela silvatica ), Ground Beetles ( Carabus hortensis, Carabus violaceus, Carabus coriaceus ). Out of carabids Calosoma especially important for forest biocenosis are Calosoma inquisitor and Ground and Tiger Beetle ( Calosoma sycophanta ). Walking through the forest you may often encounter Ground Beetle ( Procerus gigas ), which can be up to 7 cm long. Polyphilla fullo is extremely rare on Medvednica. Alpine Capricorn Beetle ( Rosalia alpina ) is also beautifully ornamented.


Alpine Capricorn beetleCarabus coriaceus




Scorpions

Euscorpius sp.

Although most people think scorpions live only on Croatian coast and Dalmatia , don't be surprised if you see one small scorpion in Nature Park Medvednica. It is a species that belongs to order Euscorpius , 2-3 cm long. Moist mountain area suits it, and it hides beneath rocks, and dead tree bark. It is harmless to men.



Crustacea

Thirty years ago streams on Medvednica Mountain were inhabited by numerous populations of the stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentinum Schrank) but today their populations are greatly reduced, mainly because of numerous anthropogenic activities in that area (canalisation of the streams, agriculture, construction). The stone crayfish is one of the four species of freshwater decapods crayfish belonging to the Astacidae family and is protected by law nationally (NN 70/05; NN 7/06), so catchments, collecting and disturbing of animals are strictly forbidden. The name of this species, the stone crayfish, addresses to the characteristics of the habitat of this species, because the stone crayfish are mostly found in small streams at higher attitudes whose bottom is covered by stones. As the stone crayfish is not very tolerant of environmental change it is assumed that it could be good indicator of the water quality. This species is mainly active by night while during the day is hidden below the stones and in the roots of surrounding trees. Life cycle is divided in moulting season when old exoskeleton is cast of and new exoskeleton is produced (from May until October) and mating which occurs in October and November and is followed by winter resting period. Females carry eggs under their tail from November until June next year when juvenile crayfish are spawned. The stone crayfish are omnivorous and feed on algae, leaf litter and microflora (fungi and bacteria) which are settling on it but also feed on zooplankton, water larvae of insects and larvae of amphibians. Therefore, crayfish play very important role in food chains of stream ecosystem.

Common Crayfish

In streams of Medvednica also live very small crayfish, for example endemic species, Niphargus elegans zagrebensis which lives only in the area of Žumberak, Medvednica and Kalnik, and Niphargus tauri medvednicae from streams Dolje and Bliznec. Dolje stream near Podsused is the only place where endangered cyclopod crayfish lives - Acanthocyclops petkovski . Croatian endemic and tertiary relict, Protelsonia hungarica thermalis, can be found only in naturally warm (subthermal) springs next to Dolje stream.




Snails

In Medvednica's streams one can find endemic snails, for example Graziana lacheineri lives in Dolje, Bliznec and Čučerje streams. In Dolje stream one can find endemic streams Hadziella deminuta, and Zospeum alpestre isselianum. Iglica langhofferi lives in Čučerje stream as well, and Bythinella schmidti can be found in Bliznec and Čučerje streams.