original scientific paper UD C 595.74(497} 
PALPARES LIBELLULOIDES (LINNAEUS, 1764} IN THE NORTHWESTERN 
PART O F THE BALKAN PENINSULA (NEUROPTERA: MYRMELEONTIDAE) 

Dušan DEVETAK 
Ph.D., Department of Biology, University of Maribor, Si-2000 Maribor, Koroška 160 
dr. biol. znanosti, Oddelek za biologijo, Univerza v Mariboru, Si-2000 Maribor, Koroška 160 

ABSTRACT 
Results of observation of the European Palparini species, Palpares libelluloides (Linnaeus), are presented. Distribution of the ant-lion in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula and some information concerning habitat characteristics and feeding habits are described and figured. 
Key words; Paipares, Neuroptera, distribution, Balkan, feeding 
Ključne besede: Palpares, Neuroptera, razširjenost, Balkan, prehranjevanje 

INTRODUCTION 
Ant-lions (Myrmeleontidae) comprise about 2.000 species (Aspock ef al, 1980; Gepp and HSizel, 1989), The tribe Palparini includes the largest and most striking ant-lions. The tribe is confined to the Afrotropical, Ori­ental and southern Palaearc.tic Regions. There are about 100 valid species in the tribe, but only one species oc­curs in Europe (Mansell, 1990). 
The only European Palparini species, Palpares libel­luloides (Linnaeus, 1764) (Fig. 1), is widely distributed in the Mediterranean reaching Iran and Caucasus (Aspock etal., 1980). 
Predatory behaviour of the pit-building ant-lion lar­vae have been described from different aspects (for a review see Gepp & Holzel, 1989) but information con­cerning adults is scarce. Knowledge about feeding hab­its of adults of 4 central European myrmeleontids has re­cently been reviewed by Stelzl and Gepp (1990). 
The larvae live in sand without constructing pits (Gepp & Holzel, 1989). 
MATERIAL AN D METHODS 
The knowledge on the distribution is based on mate­rial in the Natural History Museum, Belgrade (coll. Mu­seum BG), Natural History Museum, Zagreb (coll. Mu­seum ZG), Natural History Museum, Ljubljana (coil. Museum LJ), Insect Collection of the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts (coil. SAZU LJ) and D. Devetak's collection (Maribor), Insects are pinned or preserved in alcohol. 
Activity of the insects was recorded in the field with a Sony video camera recorder CCD-TR750F. Adults (1 male and 4 females), preserved in 70% alcohol, were dissected and the digestive tract was carefully isolated. The masticated food remains suspended in alcohol were mounted on glass slides and examined microscopically. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Distribution in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula 
Literature records (for a review see also Devetak, 1992): 
Stein (1863): Split; Novak (1891): Hvar; Mocsary (1899): Crikvenica; Galvagni (1902): Komi2a; Klapalek (1899 and 1900): Hercegovina; Klapalek (1906): Senj; 

DUIAN DEVETAK: PALMARES UBELLULOiDES{UNNAEUS,
llPl S 
''t '.Ât^ f -'rA 
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Fig. 1: Palpares libelluioides (Linnaeus, 1764) (A) Amale in resting position. (B) Right wings of a male. Forewing length 59 mm. 
Szilady (1912): Senj; Werner (1920): Split, o. Brač: Bol and Supetar-Nerežišča; Pongriicz (1923): Tropoja; Esben-Petersen (1925): Gruž; Dimitrova (1924) and Dimitrowa (1925): Belasica, Gorničet (Gevgelija), 8og­danci; Capra (1945): Kopliku, Scutari (=Shkoder); Zeleny (1964): Saranda, 
Material examined (m, males; f, females): 
Croatia: 
Dubrovnik VI.1950 1 f, VIII.1950 I f coll. Museum ZG ; Istra: Rt Kamenjak 1m 18.VII. 1986 1m leg. D. Devetak; 12.-20.VII.1996 4m 1f leg. M. & D. Devetak; 
o. 
Brač: Bol 12.Vli.1987 2m 3f leg. D, Devetak; o. Brač; Murvica 12,VII.1990 I f leg. D. Devetak; o. Cres: Cres 16.VII.1982 I f leg. M. Jež; o. Cres; Miholjašdica 15.VII.1985 1m 6f leg. B. Odlak; o. Krk VIII.1949 2f coll, Museum ZG , 21.VI.1973 1m leg. I. Sivec; o. Krk: Punat 13.IV.1961 leg. V. & B. Bartol, coll. SAZU LJ; o. LoSinj: Čunski VII.1974 1m 2f leg. V. Furlan, 10.VII.1976 1m I f leg. P. Tonkli, VII,1986 1f leg. V. Furlan; o. Molat 10.VI.198S 2m leg, V. Lesjak; o. Pag: Caska 6.VII.1960 1f coll, Museum ZG ; o. Pag: Pag 15.VI.1979 I f leg. V. Lesjak; o. Rab 1972 1m leg. S. Vršič; o. Silba 1934 I f leg. j. Staudacher, coll, Museum Lj; o. Unije 29.VI,1963 1m I f coll. Museum ZG ; Pula 6.VI.1983 I f leg. B. Kmecl; Šibenik 14.VI.1983 1f leg. 

M. 
Požar, 12.Vlt.1987 I f leg.V. Lesjak; Umag 4.VII.1 985 1m leg. M. Stikič; Zadar 1.VII. 1931 1f, 3,VII.1931 2f 2m leg. J. Staudacher, coll. SAZU Lj. 


 1764) IN TOE NORTHWESTERN PART ..., 211-216 
V" . * n' ** f V 
 Si. 1: Palpates (ibellubides (Linnaeus, 1764). (A) Samec med mirovanjem, (B) Desni krili samca. Dolžina sprednjega krila 59 mm. 
Yugoslavia: 
Montenegro: 
Budva VII. 1972 1m leg. S. VriiC; MoZura near Ulcinj (no other information on the label) coll. Museum BG; Podgorica (=Titograd) 27.VSIi.1985 I f leg, A. Sentjurc; Skadarsko jezero: Virpazar 22.VI1.1986 1m 2f; Ulcinj 20.Vil.-l0.Vlil.1966 I f leg, j, Carnelutti. 
Vojvodina: 
Deiiblatska peScara 1982 1m coif. Museum BG. 
Macedonia: 
Baba planina: Magarevo 700-900m 22.Vil.1988 2f leg. P. jakSiti; Dojransko ezero: Djopcels 20.­23.VII.1975 2m 4f; Kavadarci: reka Raec 16.Vil.1980 2m leg. P. JakSkl; Katlanovo 16.VII.1983 1m 1f leg, P. JakSid; Ograiden: Novo Selo 24.VII.1983 4f leg. P. JakSiC; Veles: Topolka 1 9.VII.1 983 2m I f leg. P. jakSiL 
The collection sites in NW Balkan are shown in Fig. 
2 , 

Feeding habits 
The intestinal content indicates that the adult P. libel­luioides are predators feeding on various insects. Legs with strong tibial spurs and strong mandibles enable them to feed on small arthropods, and they are able to consu­me even strongly sclerotized insects such as Coleoptera. 

DuSan DEVET A K: PAt. PARES U&LLLULOIDES (LINNAEUS , 1764) I N TH E NORTHWESTER N PART ..., 211-2U) 
Fig. 2: Collecting sites of P. libellulo'tdes in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula Si, 2: Razširjenost volkca P. libelluloides v severozahodnem delu Balkanskega polotoka. 
in the intestinal content, well chewed and partially digested insect fragments were found (Figs. 3-10). The following structures were identified: mandibles, com­pound eyes, antennae, legs, wings, chltinous plates, etc. From the size of the fragments it can be concluded that Palpates is able to consume also larger prey. In most cases it was impossible to determine the origin of these fragments. The tarsus with pectinate claw (Fig. 7) and the segment with trichobothria (fig. 6) belonged to a spider (Araneae). 
Two of five individuals examined contained plant material (Fig. 10). The fragments of plant tissue very probably originated from intestinal content of herbivo­rous insects. 
These results are very similar to the investigation of feeding habits in four central European ant-lion species (Stelzl & Gepp, 1989). 
Remarks on the habitat 

P. libelluloides inhabits grassland areas and scrub communities. In Istria and Dalmatia the insects were collected in steppe or grassland and in garrigue. In gar­rigue, the dominant plant community where P. libellu­loides occurs is Cisto-Ericetum arboreae, IMC. In Vo­jvodina (Delibiatska peščara) the insects were found in sand-dune ecosystem. Some collecting places have been strongly influenced by man. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

I thank Dr. Michael Stelzl (Hygienicum, Graz) for his help in arthropod fragments identification, Predrag jakštd (Priština) for providing the specimens from Macedonia and Or. Tone Novak (University of Maribor) for reviewing the manuscript. This work was given a partly support by the Slovene Ministry of Science and Technology (J1-7416-0589). 
DuSan DEVETAK: PALPARES LIBELLULOIDES (LINNAEUS, 1764) IN TH E NORTHWESTER N PART .... 211-216 
Figs. 3-10: Food remains found in digestive tract of P. 
libelluloides. Bar 200 pm. 
Fig. 3: Corneal lenses of an insect compound eye. Fig. 

4: An arthropod fragment of unknown origin. Fig. 5: A part of the wing. Fig. 6: A part of the spider's segment with the trichobothria. Fig. 7: A spider's tarsus with the pectinate claw. Fig. 8: Mandibles. Fig. 9: Antenna! segments. Fig. 10: A fragment of plant tissue. 
Slike 3-10: Ostanki hrane iz prebavila P. libelluloides. 
Merilo: 200 pm. 
Slika 3: Kornealne leče žuželčjega fasetnega očesa. 
Slika 4: Fragment členonožca neznanega izvora. Slika 

5: Del krila. Slika 6: Del pajkovega segmenta s tri­hobotriji. Slika 7: Tarzus pajka z glavničastim krem­peljcem. Slika 8: Mandibule. Slika 9: Antenalni seg­menti. Slika 10: Del rastlinskega tkiva. 
POVZETEK 
Za vrsto volkca Palpares libelluloides (Linnaeus, 1764), ki je razširjena po celotnem Sredozemlju, opisujem razširjenost v severozahodnem delu Balkanskega polotoka ter navajam nekaj podatkov o prehranjevanju in habitatih. 
V Istri in Dalmaciji poseljuje ta vrsta različne habitate - od stepskih in travnatih površin do grmovnih združb, kot je gariga. V garigi je prevladujoča rastlinska združba Cisto-Ericetum arboreae, H-ič. V Vojvodini so vrsto našli v Deliblatski peščari. \/ nekatere habitate človek močno posega. 
Pri analizi prežvečenih in deloma prebavljenih ostankov hrane iz prebavila sem ugotovil, da imajo insekti večinski delež v prehrani te vrste. Palpares se lahko hrani tudi z močno sklerotiziranimi žuželkami. Med ostanki plena so fragmenti mandibul, sestavljenih oči, anten, nog, kril in močno sklerotiziranih hitinskih plošč. Pri dveh od šestih osebkov sem našel tudi rastlinsko tkivo, ki zelo verjetno izvira iz prebavila rastlinojedih insektov, ki jih je Palpares uplenil. 
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