A sawfly community was studied in the Devinska Kobyla National Nature
Reserve (south-western Slovakia, area: 0.28 km(2)) during the growing
season of 1994. A total of 1929 individuals belonging to 119 species w
ere collected using two Malaise traps. Nine species were found in Slov
akia for the first time. Together with data from previous studies, 232
species have been recorded in the reserve. One eudominant (Athalia ro
sae) and three dominant species were found. In spite of the high speci
es richness, low evenness and diversity were indicated by a modified H
ill's ratio (E5 = 0.37) and Hill's diversity numbers (N1 = 25.97, N2 =
10.29). A sex ratio close to 1:1 was found in the studied sawfly comm
unity. A male-biased secondary sex ratio prevailed in dominant and sub
dominant species. Sawflies were found to produce two main emergence wa
ves, the first in spring (April, May) and the second in late summer (A
ugust, September). Seasonal flight patterns of Athalia cordata, A. ros
ae, Tenthredopsis litterata and T. stigma were described. The effects
of precipitation and temperature on the course of flight activity are
also presented as part of the study.