We present here the objectives, organization and preliminary results of the invertebrate inventory of the Mercantour National Park (“Terrestrial Invertebrates Module” of the ATBI Mercantour/Alpi Marittime), carried out by 68 scientists and field-collectors from 2009 to 2012. The conceptual framework of an ATBI and the interactions between inventorying and frequently associated research aims are discussed. The sampling strategy adopted combined standardized multi-taxon sampling (continuous and occasional) with individual taxon-centred sampling. The successive tasks of field sampling, specimen coding, sorting and identification, molecular analysis and data management are briefly described. A coherent system of sample coding ensured the traceability of specimens. The project results in terms of sampling effort, abundance of collected invertebrate fauna and biological diversity are presented globally, by techniques, by sites and by higher taxonomic groups: 259,412 specimens were obtained from 761 sorted samples (out of 1243 samples collected), belonging to 1725 identified species and subspecies, in addition to which 37 species new to science have been recognized. These data are progressively being integrated into the CardObs database of the INPN and are partly accessible through the EDIT and GBIF websites. Molecular analyses (barcoding) have provided 2800 sequences (mostly for the COI gene in Gastropoda, Collembola and Hymenoptera). Analysis of these sequences indicates a significant amount of cryptic diversity in the material. From a macro-ecological perspective, endemicity in the park decreases globally from south to north and species richness decreases at higher elevations, but the data are uneven and patterns vary according to group. Based on this four-year experience, it appears that a smaller survey area with lower habitat diversity would be better suited to the aims of an ATBI when the available resources are limited, and would enhance the efficiency of collective work in the field.

A revision of Xyalaspis Hartig, 1843 (Hymenoptera: Anacharitinae) in the Western Palaearctic region is given. Xyalaspis spinigera Reinhard, 1860 and Xyalaspis subulifera (Thomson, 1862) are synonymized with Xyalaspis laevigata Hartig, 1843 and Xyalaspis rugosa Hartig, 1843 respectively, and their distribution areas are extended. A new species Xyalaspis pseudolaevigata n. sp. is described from France. One species previously assigned to the genus Xyalaspis, X. laevis (Hedicke, 1914), is transferred to Aegilips Haliday, 1835. Diagnostic characters are illustrated and data about biology, distribution and morphological variability of the studied species are presented and discussed. A key to differentiate the Western Palaearctic species of Xyalaspis is included.

Based on the examination of material stored in museum collections (including type material) and fresh material collected in the Maritime Alps, partly obtained in the framework of a European All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, we describe the male of Cybaeus vignai Brignoli, 1977 and briefly revise the western Alpine species of Cybaeus L. Koch, 1868. We also provide new information about Dysdera cribrata Simon, 1882 (Araneae Clerck, 1757; Dysderidae C. L. Koch, 1837), a rare, poorly illustrated species of woodlice spider, apparently endemic to the Western Alps and here recorded for the first time in Italy.

We present an annotated checklist of the spiders (Arachnida Cuvier, 1812; Araneae Clerck, 1757) of the Site of Community Importance and Special Area of Conservation IT1160056 “Alpi Marittime” (NW Italy). The checklist is based on literature records and unpublished material collected from 2007 to 2013 within the first European All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory coordinated by the European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT). The examination of the literature provided a list of 113 species recorded for the study area between 1890 and 2013, scattered in 35 publications. The new data provided here raise the total number of species known for the study area to 295, grouped in 147 genera and 31 families. We recorded a remarkable percentage (9%) of endemic species, including rare endemic elements poorly known in literature, such as Vesubia jugorum (Simon, 1881); Troglohyphantes konradi Brignoli, 1975; Nesticus morisii Brignoli, 1975 and Turinyphia clairi (Simon, 1884). For each species we report detailed information about sampling localities, previous citations for the study area (if any), distribution and preferred habitat. 38 species are new records for the regional fauna and four species are recorded for the first time in Italy.

Charipinae Dalla Torre & Kieffer, 1910 material collected during the ATBI of the Mercantour National Park in the Alpes-Maritimes (France) has been studied. Based on the study of 362 specimens, 35 species in four genera have been identified from: 23 Alloxysta Förster, 1869; 10 Phaenoglyphis Förster, 1869; one Apocharips Fergusson, 1986 and one Dilyta Förster, 1869. Of these, 19 species are recorded from France for the first time: Alloxysta abdera Fergusson, 1986; Alloxysta arcuata (Kieffer, 1902); Alloxysta brachycera Hellén, 1963; Alloxysta brevis (Thomson, 1962); Alloxysta fracticornis (Thomson, 1862); Alloxysta mullensis (Cameron, 1883); Alloxysta pilipennis (Hartig, 1840); Alloxysta postica (Hartig, 1841); Alloxysta proxima Belizin, 1962; Apocharips trapezoidea (Hartig, 1841); Phaenoglyphis abbreviata (Thomson, 1877); Phaenoglyphis americana Baker, 1896; Phaenoglyphis calverti Andrews, 1978; Phaenoglyphis evenhuisi Pujade-Villar & Paretas-Martínez, 2006; Phaenoglyphis fuscicornis (Thomson, 1877); Phaenoglyphis gutierrezi Andrews, 1978; and Phaenoglyphis longicornis (Hartig, 1840). All the Charipinae species identified are briefly described and compared with one another. Three new species are described and illustrated in detail: Alloxysta alpina Ferrer-Suay & Pujade-Villar, n. sp.; Alloxysta franca Ferrer-Suay & Pujade-Villar, n. sp. and Alloxysta pilae Ferrer-Suay, n. sp. A key to the species of Charipinae known from the Mercantour National Park is provided.

The Valdieri area (Italian Maritime Alps) has long been known for harbouring a large variety of Mediterranean and Alpine elements, often occurring together in an intricate pattern of co-habitations that is practically without equal elsewhere in the Alps. The area has been designated as a Site of Communitarian Interest (SCI: “Argentera” IT1110053), has been listed among the 32 “Prime Butterfly Areas” occurring in Italy and is now considered a priority site for conservation. A large number of amateur and professional entomologists alike have visited the area over the years, generating a mass of information on the Valdierian butterflies. We carefully searched the “grey” literature for data on the butterflies and the burnet moths occurring in this area. Since the second half of the 19th Century, almost 100 papers and books have been dedicated, in whole or in part, to the description of this fauna, which currently includes many as 161 species. We sampled butterflies in 2008–2009 and found one previously unreported species. Here we provide an annotated checklist of the butterfly and burnet moth species occurring in the area, including comments on their ecology and distribution, as well as a complete list of the publications dealing with them.

Papilio alexanor Esper, [1800] is a threatened European butterfly species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and in Appendix II of the Bern Convention, being considered extremely vulnerable to climate change. According to some projections (e.g., Bambu, a scenario of moderate climate change), it would be expected to lose 63% of its European climatic niche by the year 2050 and 77% by 2080. The few remaining populations are expected to become concentrated in the Maritime Alps. In 2009 and 2010, we studied what is probably the densest P. alexanor population in the Italian part of this area. It occurs in a series of dry, xerothermic grasslands, also partially occupied by an abandoned limestone quarry, where the larval food plant is Ptychotis saxifraga (L.) Loret & Barrandon. Females lay eggs in July, choosing patches where the food plants are higher and more abundant. The habitat preference, conservation status and survival of the early instars larvae of P. alexanor have been investigated in order to draw up conservation strategies for this species in the Italian Maritime Alps.

Sampling carried out in the framework of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory project in the Mercantour- Alpi Marittime national parks (southwestern Alps) provided a number of Collembola species new to the region, including several taxa new to science. Two species are described in this paper: Orogastrura tetrophthalma n. sp. (Hypogastruridae) and Deutonura jeromoltoi n. sp. (Neanuridae). O. tetrophthalma n. sp. is the first species of the genus found in the southwestern Alps. It differs from all other species of Orogastrura Deharveng & Gers, 1979 by the large size of its postantennal organ (more than twice as long as eye diameter) and the presence of 4 4 eyes. Deutonura jeromoltoi n. sp. is the third species of the genus recorded from the southwestern Alps, and the first Deutonura Cassagnau, 1979 endemic to this region. It is closely related to D. igilica Dallai, 1983 from Sardinia, from which it differs by having height-nine dorso-lateral chaetae on Abd. IV (vs seven in D. igilica), and a different arrangement of chaetae on the central cephalic area (B-B:A-B = 1.1, vs 0.9 in D. igilica). The complete pattern of pseudopores is described for Deutonura jeromoltoi n. sp. and its potential interest as a diagnostic character at supra-generic levels within the order Poduromorpha is discussed.

Ladybirds from the Mercantour National Park (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae).

Forty-two species of Coccinellidae Latreille, 1807 (two Coccidulinae Mulsant, 1846 ; 12 Scymninae Mulsant, 1846 ; three Chilocorinae Mulsant, 1846, 24 Coccinellinae Latreille, 1807, one Epilachninae Mulsant, 1846) are listed herein. Scymnus laetificus Weise, 1879 is reported for the third time in France.

De nouvelles observations sur Gerandryus aetnensis (Rottenberg, 1871) (Coleoptera ; Tenebrionidae Latreille, 1802) sont signalées de France, dans le Parc national du Mercantour et dans ses environs (Alpes-Maritimes). Nous rappelons la position systématique du genre Gerandryus Rottenberg, 1873 au sein de la sous-famille des Alleculinae Laporte, 1840, et l'historique de la répartition de G. aetnensis et apportons de nouveaux éléments d'écologie.

Suite à l'examen de nombreux spécimens, les auteurs exposent des données nouvelles sur les chilopodes du Parc national du Mercantour, du département des Alpes-Maritimes et de leurs environs. Ces observations améliorent la connaissance de la répartition de certaines espèces rares et localisées et permettent en outre de décrire une nouvelle espèce en provenance d'Entrevaux (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) : Lithobius (Lithobius) lemairei n. sp. Cette remarquable nouvelle espèce a été trouvée dans un milieu souterrain superficiel de type MSS et vit potentiellement plus en profondeur dans un système de grottes où de crevasses ; elle possède des caractères troglomorphes adaptés à son mode de vie, notamment une extrême réduction des ocelles et une augmentation de la taille de l'organe de Tömösvàry. Par ailleurs, elle possède des sillons latéraux-internes sur les fémurs, tibias, basitarses et tarses des pattes 15, et secondairement sur les mêmes articles des pattes 14. Ces structures en font une espèce particulièrent distincte de toutes les autres appartenant au genre Lithobius Leach, 1814 dans ce secteur géographique. Suite à un réexamen des spécimens en provenance des Alpes-Maritimes, Eupolybothrus (Eupolybothrus) fasciatus (Newport, 1845) est à retirer de la faune de France. Nos recherches ciblées sur les espèces halophiles et halobies de géophilomorphes du littoral des Alpes-Maritimes montrent que ces espèces ont au moins fortement régressé dans cette aire géographique. Une synthèse écologique est effectuée sur les espèces recensées, cumulant les nouvelles connaissances et les contributions antérieures sur ce département. Une liste des chilopodes recensés dans le Parc national du Mercantour et/ou dans le département des Alpes-Maritimes est proposée. Elle inclut des informations sur l'endémisme au niveau local et/ou au niveau national pour les taxa concernés, sur l'éventuelle présence en limite d'aire de répartition, ainsi que d'éventuelles particularités écologiques remarquables (troglobies, halobies, orophiles). Certains endémiques locaux et certaines espèces écologiquement très spécialisées apparaissent comme potentiellement menacés, voire en fort déclin avéré suite à nos observations. Une première liste de ces espèces, qualifiées ici de « sensibles », est proposée.

A new species of Tardigrada Doyère, 1840, Echiniscus pardalis n. sp., is described from two moss samples collected in the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime (NW Italy). It belongs to the Echiniscus arctomys species-group, but differs from other 49 known members of the group mainly by the irregularly and distantly scattered deep pores on the plates and by a unique subsurface cuticular pattern on the plates, resembling that of a leopard's fur. The new species is most similar to eight species from the arctomys group: E. barbarae Kaczmarek & Michalczyk, 2002, E. crebraclava Sun, Li & Feng, 2014, E. dearmatus Bartoš, 1935, E. mosaicus Grigarick, Schuster & Nelson, 1983, E. nigripustulus Horning, Schuster & Grigarick, 1978, E. nobilis Mihelčič, 1967, E. tardus Mihelčič, 1951 and E. vinculus Horning, Schuster & Grigarick, 1978. The differences between the new species and these eight species are thoroughly discussed. They mainly concern the presence/absence and relative size of shallow dimples surrounding individual tubercles, the relative length of cirrus A, the presence/absence of a spine on the first pair of legs, the presence/absence of a spur on the internal/external claws and the number of teeth on the collar of the hind legs. This paper is the first result published on Tardigrada collected during the European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy's in All Taxa Biodiversity Inventories Monitoring programme.

A total of 68 psyllid species are listed from the Mercantour National Park in Southeast France, where a targeted collecting campaign was conducted between 2009 and 2012, as part of the project “ATBI M” Mercantour. The insects were collected using Malaise traps, flight intercept traps and sweep nets to sample in the vegetation. Additional information on distribution, biology and host-plants is provided for each species. Seven species are recorded for the first time from France: Craspedolepta artemisiae (Foerster, 1848), Craspedolepta nebulosa (Zetterstedt, 1828), Cacopsylla propinqua (Schaefer, 1949), Cyamophila prohaskai (Priesner, 1927), Eryngiofaga cf. refuga (Loginova, 1966), Bactericera parastriola Conci, Ossiannilsson & Tamanini, 1988 and Trioza flixiana Burckhardt & Lauterer, 2002. Trioza (Trioza) rapisardai Conci & Tamanini, 1984 is a new subjective synonym of Trioza brachyceraea Hodkinson & White, 1979, which was previously known only from the male holotype. The abundance, distribution and introduction status of some species are discussed.