ACTA ENTOMOLOGICA SLOVENICA
LJUBLJANA, DECEMBER 2019 Vol. 27, št. 2: 99-108
CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF NEUROPTERA FROM GEORGIA (SAKARTVELO)
Dušan Devetak*1, Roland Dobosz2, Franc Janžekovič1, Tina Klenovšek1
department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia *E-mail: dusan.devetak@guest.arnes.si 2Upper Silesian Museum, Department of Natural History, pl. Jana Ill Sobieskiego 2, 41-902 Bytom, Poland E-mail: dobosz@muzeum.bytom.pl
Abstract - Lacewing (Neuroptera) specimens collected during a short field trip in June 2018 in the Caucasian Republic of Georgia were examined. Fifteen species belonging to four families were found: Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Coniopterygidae and Ascalaphidae. Wesmaelius concinnus and Aleuropteryx loewii are new species for the fauna of Georgia.
Key words: Neuroptera, faunistics, Georgia, Caucasus region
Izvleček - PRISPEVEK K POZNAVANJU MREŽEKRILCEV (NEUROPTERA) IZ GRUZIJE (SAKARTVELO)
Pregledali smo primerke mrežekrilcev (Neuroptera), ki so jih zbrali na kratkem terenskem delu v juniju 2018 v kavkaški republiki Gruziji. Ugotovljenih je bilo 15 vrst iz družin Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Coniopterygidae in Ascalaphidae, med katerimi sta dve - Wesmaelius concinnus in Aleuropteryx loewii novi za favno Gruzije.
Ključne besede: Neuroptera, favnistika, Gruzija, Kavkaz
Introduction
In recent period, a number of papers on Neuropterid insects (Neuropterida: Mega-loptera, Raphidioptera, Neuroptera) in the larger Caucasus region have been published (for review, see Dobosz et al. 2017, 2018). Neuropterids were in Georgia (native:
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Sakartvelo) relatively well investigated, when compared to other countries of the larger Caucasus region. So far, 79 Neuroptera species were known from the country (reviews: Shengelia 1947, Aspock et al. 2001, Duelli et al. 2015, Dobosz et al. 2017, 2018).
In June 2018, Slovenian zoologists Boris Krystufek, Alenka Krystufek, Tina Klen-ovsek and Franc Janzekovic conducted a field trip to Georgia with the goal to study endemic mole vole Prometheomys schaposchnikowi. Two of them (TK, FJ) occasionally collected neuropteran insects there. The aim of the paper is to present a list of lacewing species collected in the trip.
Material and methods
Lacewings were collected during the day with insect net and at night visiting the lights of buildings. Specimens are deposited in the first author's collection.
Results and discussion
During a four-days sampling period 68 individuals in 15 species were collected.
A list of species
Chrysopidae
Chrysopaperla (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5"E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Chrysopa dorsalis Burmeister, 1839
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2''N 42°50'34.4''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Chrysopa fuscostigma Esben-Petersen, 1933
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 2 $ $ (Fig. 1).
This species with characteristic head markings (Fig. 1a) was described by Esben-Petersen (1933) from Georgia. Later, the species was reported for the larger Caucasus region (Dorokhova 1979, Zakharenko 1984, 1986, Makarkin & Shchurov 2015) and Anatolia (Turkey) (Aspock et al. 2001, Canbulat 2007, Ari 2014). Its recent occurrence in the country was confirmed by Dobosz et al. (2018).
Pseudomalladaprasinus (Burmeister, 1839) - 'marianus' sensu Duelli & Obrist 2019
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2''N 42°50'34.4''E; 23.VI.2018; 1
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Fig. 1. Green lacewing Chrysopa fuscostigma: a, head and thorax, dorsal view: b, base of the forewing; c, pterostigma in the forewing. Photo D. Devetak.
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Skhvilisi; mixed forest; 1080 m; 41°38'57.5"N 42°56'53.9"E; 23.VI.2018; 2 $$.
Saparlo; meadow-bushes; 938 m; 41°17'34.3'N 44°19'07.3''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Bolnisi; pasture; 504 m; 41°26'56.9''N 44°36'47.2''E; 24.VI.2018; 1 $.
Just recently, Duelli & Obrist (2019) clarified taxonomic status of the prasinus group in the genus Pseudomallada. Freshly preserved individuals showed typical head morphology, without any colouration of the subantennal suture above the black genal stripe (Duelli & Obrist 2019).
Chrysoperla cf. carnea (Stephens, 1836) s.str.
Greater Caucasus Mountains. Gudauri; meadow-pasture; 2258 m; 42°29'28.1'N 44°27'58.0''E; 20.-21.VI.2018; 1 $ 1 $.
Greater Caucasus Mountains. Gudauri; village, meadow-pasture; 2190 m; 42°28'41.4'N 44°28'41.2''E; 21.VI.2018; 4 $$ 20 $$.
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 2 $$.
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2''N 42°50'34.4''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $ 5 $$.
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Skhvilisi; mixed forest; 1080 m; 41°38'57.5"N 42°56'53.9"E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
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Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Atskuri; mixed forest; 886 m; 41°44'40.1"N 43°11'57.5"E; 23.VI.2018; 1 S 1 ?.
This is a common green lacewing, reaching high altitudes. In the Gudauri area (Fig. 2), the species was collected even at 2258 m a.s.l.
Chrysoperla cf. agilis Henry, Brooks, Duelli & Johnson, 2003
Greater Caucasus Mountains. Gudauri; village, meadow-pasture; 2190 m; 42°28'41.4''N 44°28'41.2''E; 21.VI.2018; 2 $$.
Saparlo; meadow-bushes; 938 m; 41°17'34.3'N 44°19'07.3''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Chrysoperla lucasina (Lacroix, 1912)
Greater Caucasus Mountains. Gudauri; village, meadow-pasture; 2190 m; 42°28'41.4''N 44°28'41.2''E; 21.VI.2018; 1 S 3 $$.
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 S.
Chrysoperla pallida Henry, Brooks, Duelli & Johnson, 2002
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2''N 42°50'34.4''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Fig. 2. Mountains of the Greater Caucasus near Gudauri. Photo T. Klenovsek.
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Saparlo; meadow-bushes; 938 m; 41°17'34.3''N 44°19'07.3''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Cunctochrysa albolineata (Killington, 1935)
Greater Caucasus Mountains. Gudauri; village, meadow-pasture; 2190 m; 42°28'41.4''N 44°28'41.2''E; 21.VI.2018; 1 $.
Hemerobiidae
Hemerobius handschini Tjeder, 1957
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Wesmaelius concinnus (Stephens, 1836)
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2''N 42°50'34.4''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $ (Fig. 3).
Distribution: Widely distributed in Europe (Aspöck et al 2001). Species known also from Turkey (Northeast Turkey, Isparta, Arhadan, Kars) (Ari 2014) and from north of the European part of Russia and Siberia (Makarkin 1995). From the Caucasus region for the first time recorded from Checheno-Ingushetia by Abraham (2000).
Remarks: New for Georgia.
Megalomus tortricoides Rambur, 1842
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
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Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2"N 42°50'34.4"E; 23.VI.2018; 1 ind.
Distribution: Europe (with the exception of the Northern Europe); Asia: Middle and North Anatolia, Antalya, Burdur, Denizli, and Isparta (Ari 2014). From the Caucasus region recorded from Georgia, Armenia and generally from Caucasus (Aspöck et al. 2001).
Coniopterygidae
Aleuropteryx loewii Klapalek, 1894
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; mixed forest; 1628 m; 41°47'08.2''N 42°50'34.4''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $ (Fig. 4).
Distribution: Widely distributed in Europe, recorded generally from Anatolia (Aspöck et al. 2001) and from province Burdur (Canbulat & Kiyak, 2005).
Remarks: New for Georgia.
Coniopteryx (C.) pygmaea Enderlein, 1906
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Zekari pass, Abastumani; meadow-pasture; 2138 m; 41°51'08.6''N 42°48'28.2''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $.
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest; 1937 m; 41°49'09.9''N 42°51'09.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $ 3 $$.
Ascalaphidae
Libelloides hispanicus ustulatus (Eversmann, 1850)
Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Abastumani; coniferous forest, meadow; 1893 m; 41°47'33.7''N 42°50'25.5''E; 23.VI.2018; 1 $ (Fig. 5).
0.5 mm
0.2 mm
Fig. 4. Dustywing Aleuropteryx loewii, male: a, wings; b, male genitalia. Photo A. Taszakowski.
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10 mm
Fig. 5. Owlfly Libelloides hispanicus ustulatus, female. Photo D. Devetak.
The female was resting on an Apiaceae plant, in a meadow inside a coniferous forest (Fig. 6).
Distribution: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia (Caucasus region), Turkey (Anatolia), north Iran (Kozhanchikov 1958, Aistleitner 1980, Aspock & Aspock 1994, Sziraki 1998, Aspock et al. 2001, Dobosz & Abraham 2007, Krivokhatsky 2007, Makarkin & Shchurov 2010, Dobosz et al. 2017).
L. hispanicus hispanicus (Rambur, 1842) and L. hispanicus ustulatus are similar to each other, although their ranges are disjunctive. Hence, there are various hypotheses about their origin (Aspock & Aspock 1994, Aspock et al. 2001). Some authors assume that these are taxa in the rank of subspecies (Krivokhatsky 2007; Makarkin & Shchurov 2010), and some recognize them as separate species (Aspock et al. 2001, Sziraki 1998, Canbulat 2007).
Conclusion
During a short visit of the Caucasus in 2018, a survey of collected Neuroptera containing 15 species revealed two new species for Georgia - Wesmaelius concinnus and Aleuropteryx loewii.
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Fig. 6. Meadow inside forest at Lesser Caucasus, where the owlfly Libelloides hispani-cus ustulatus was found. Photo F. Janzekovic

Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency within the Infrastructure Research Programme CORE@UM (I0-0029) and Research Programme Computationally Intensive Complex Systems (P1-0403). We thank Boris and Alenka Krystufek for their cooperation and support during the field work. An anonymous referee is sincerely thanked for critically reading the manuscript.
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Received /Prejeto: 4. 6. 2019
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