More than 25 new species recorded in Krka National Park in the past week

During the Biodiversity Researcher programme at Krka National Park, volunteers recorded more than 25 species seen in the Park for the first time, thereby confirming the exceptional biodiversity of this protected area.

If you have been keeping an eye on the Krka National Park social media of late, you have certainly noticed the creative reviews of the field work written by our volunteers. From 16 to 22 July 2025, members of the BIUS biology student society took part in the Biodiversity Researcher volunteer programme here at Krka National Park, with the aim of inventorying the invertebrate fauna at selected habitat sites. This study of the natural resources of the Park included members of the BIUS sections focusing on the hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps), orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), butterflies and moths, beetles, spiders and scorpions, as well as bats and reptiles, and botany and biospeleology.

Among the various species of butterflies, dragonflies, bees, spiders, grasshoppers and crickets, a red bee from the genus Pasites was observed. This species has pinky-white eyes, a bright red abdomen, and velvety white tufts of hairs at the end of the body. This was the first ever time that this species has been recorded and captured in Krka National Park.

A total of 21 new species of orthoptera were also recorded, including the common trig (Trigonidium cicindeloides) and brown scale cricket (Mogoplistes brunneus). These are tiny, barely visible species that have remained undetected, until now. In other words, the orthoptera fauna of the Park now numbers 53 species.

Examining the localities along the shores of Visovac Lake, the glossy ibis (Plegadis fascinellus) was recorded for the first time, and a rare sighting in Croatia: the spider species Rhomphaea rostrata.

The insect nets also succeeded in netting a new plant species for the Park: the dwarf heliotrope (Heliotropium supinum), and the rarely seen species of bush cricket (Saga pedo), Europe’s largest cricket. Their populations consist solely of females that propagate new offspring alone.

The volunteers participated in the field research every day, kept log books, collected the target animal groups, determined and photographed species, and created the record lists by groups and research area. “We would like to thank all the volunteers for their enthusiasm, curiosity, important finds, and successful results, that only confirm that the management measures we have been implementing for a number of years are bringing excellent results, and that the biodiversity of the Park is growing from year to year,” said Nella Slavica, director of the Public Institute of Krka National park. She concluded, saying, “The record of 25 new species for the Park, that are described in the literature, is an important confirmation of the conservation and development of the habitats and ecosystems of this karst beauty”.

Photographs: BIUS, Marijana Cukrov