original scientific paper UD C 595.74(497) 
DELEPROCTOPHYLLA AUSTRALIS (FABRiGUS, 1787) IN fSTRiA AN D 
QUARNER O (NEUROPTERA: ASCALAPHIDAE) 

Dušan DEVET AK 
Dr., Department of Biology, University of Maribor, 62000 Maribor, KoroSka 160, SLO 
dr. bio l znanosti, Oddelek za biologijo, Univerza v Mariboru, 62000 Maribor, Koroška 160, SLO 

ABSTRACT 
Results of observation of the European ascalapbid Deleproctophylla australis (Fabricius) are presented. Distribution of the species in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula and some limited information concerning adult morphology, habitat characteristics and behaviour are described and figured. 
Key words: Deleproctophylla, Neuroptera, distribution, Istria, Quarnero 
Ključne besede: Deleproctophylla, Neuroptera, razširjenost, Istra, Kvarner 

INTRODUCTIO N 

Ascalapbsdae or owl-flies are medium-sized to very large neuropterans, widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions. About 400 species in ca. 65 genera are known (New, 1989). In Europe there are 15 species and in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula 3 species in 2 genera occur (Aspock et ai, 1980; Aspock, 1992; Devetak, 1992a). 
Deleproctophylla australis (Fabricius, 1787) (Fig. 1} occurs sporadically in the Mediterranean. It has been known from Corsica, southern Italy (including Sicily), and from the coastal region of the Balkan Peninsula (Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Bulgaria) (Aspock ef ai, 1980; Devetak, 1992a, 1992b; Popov, 1992). 
The most of the literature on European ascalaphids is strongly biased toward taxonomic studies. Only exceptionally there have been published contributions containing more information on ecology, as for example for French Libelloides species (Puissegur, 1967). Here are described distribution and some notes on adult morphology and ecology of D. australis from north­western part of the Balkan Peninsula. 
MATERIAL AN D METHODS 

For the morphological studies adults were pinned and dried or preserved in alcohol. Activity of the animals was recorded in the field with Sony video camera recorder CCD-TR750E. The majority of the studied material is in the author's collection. 
RESULTS AN D DISCUSSIO N 
1. Distribution in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula 

1.1 Literature records (for a review see also Devetak, 1992b): 
Cermar (1817): Rijeka; Stein (1863): Split; Novak (1891): Hvar; Mocsary (1899): Senj; Werner (1920): Split and o. Brae: Supetar; Taborsky (1936): Krk. 
1.2 Material examined (m, males; f, females): 
Croatia 
Istria: Premantura 27.VJI.1984 2 m, 3 f, leg. D. Devetak; Istria; Rt Karnenjak (a meadow with Schoenus nigricans) 27.Vfl.1995 1 m, 3 f (one with "phylla"), leg. 
D. Devetak, 1.VHI.1995 1 f, leg. D. Devetak; O. LoSinj: Cunski Vii.1974 1 m, 1 f (with "phylla"), leg. V. Furlan; VII.1986 1 m, 1 f, leg. V. Furlan; VII. 1987 1 m, 5 f, leg. 
V. Furlan; 28.VII.1992 1 f (with "phylla"), leg. D. Devetak; O. Losinj: Sv. jakov (a field with Carlina 
D u San DEVFFAK : OfLepROCTOPHYlLA AUSTRALIS If/\BRIOUS, 1787} IN ISTR1A AN D QUARNER O ..., 193-198 
Fig. 1: A female of Deleproctophylla australis (Fabri­cius, 1787), Fore wing length 25 mm. 
Slika 1: Samica vrste Deiepioctophylla australis (Fabri­cius, 1787). Dolžina sprednjih kril 25 mm. 

corymbosa) 28.VI1.1992 1 f, leg. D. Devetak; Zadar 22.VII.1937 1 f, leg. j. Staudacher, coll. Slovene Natural History Museum (Ljubljana); Oo. Komati: O. Komat 5.VILI 986 1 m, 1 f (with "phylla"), leg. M. Frankovič; O. Brae: Bol 12.V1I.1987 1 m, 1 f, leg. D. Devetak. 
Montenegro 
Možura near Ulcinj (no other information on the label), 2 f, coll. Natural History Museum of Serbia (Belgrade). 
The collection sites in NW Balkan are shown in Fig. 

2. Istria and Quarnero are the northernmost part.of the areal of D. australis. 
2. Morphology 

Deleproctophylla australis (Fig. 1) is a medium-sized ascalaphid, morphologically clearly separated from the other two European species by a yellow brown spot near pterostigrna in the forewings. Fore wing length: males 21-25 mm, females 21-26 mm. 
For general adult morphology see Van der Weele (1908) and Aspdck et al. (1980), for distinguishing 3 European species of the genus Deleproctophylla see Aspock etal. (1980). 
(n the male genitalia ectoprocts (caudai claspers) are of a very characteristic form (Fig. 3A). In the middle of the ectoproct there is a short process. 
"Phylla" 
At the tip of the abdomen of some females elongate 
Fig. 3: Distal part of the abdomen in a male (A) and a 
female (B), ventral side. Abbreviations: epr, ectoproct; 
phy, "phylla"; S8, 8th stemite. Bar 1 mm. 
Slika 3: Distalni del abdomna samca (A) in samice (B) z 
ventralne strani Okrajšave: epr, ectoproct; phy, 

"phylla"; S8, 8. sternit Merilo: 1 mm. 

and flattened structures, so called "phylla" can be seen (Figs. 3B, 4). After Tjeder (1977), they often number 2, or even 3 or 4; in our material from Croatia they are always paired. The "phylla" are presumably sperma­tophores and mistakenly considered to be female struc­tures (Tjeder, 1977; Aspock et al., 1980). In specimens from Croatia, there is a great variability in the form and length of "phylla", in many cases an assymetry occurs (Fig. 4). The "phylla" are well preserved in our dried specimens and in alcohol material. 
DiiSan DEVETAK: OELEPROCTOPHYLLA AU5TCMUS (FABRIC! US, 1787) IN ISTRIA AN D QUARNER O 193-198 
Fig. 2: Collection sites of D. australis in Istria and Quarnero (A) and in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula (B). 
Slika 2: Razširjenost vrste D. australis v Istri in Kvarnerju (A) in v severozahodnem delu Balkanskega polotoka (B). 
EXiSan D E VET A K : DELEPROCTOPHYUA AUSTRAUS if ABMOUS, 17871 !N ISTRIA AN O QUARNOR O .... 193-190 
Fig. 4: Assymetry of the "phylla" in two females, ventral 
side: A, Rt Kamenjak; B, Čunski. Bar 1 mm. 
Slika 4: Asimetrija "phyila" pri dveh samicah z ven­tralne strani: A, Rt Kamenjak; B, Čunski. Merilo: 1 mm. 

3. Remarks on the habitat 

D. australis was found in steppe or grass-land where stones or rocks occur regularly. In Premantura {Istria} the adults were collected in a rocky grass-land habitat near the coast (Fig. 5). The dominant plant was Schoenus nigricans L. 
In Čunski (Island Lošinj) the insects were found at a pasture (Fig. 6) and in Sv. jakov (Island Lošinj) they were observed on an abandoned field with Carlina corym­bosa as a dominant plant. 
In Rt Kamenjak (Istria) the species was captured in a rocky meadow in the vicinity of the coast where Schoenus nigricans and Euphorbia nicaeensis were 
Fig. 5: Rocky meadow with Schoenus nigricans in Pre­
mantura july 1984. 
Slika 5; Skalnati travnik s Schoenus nigricans v Pre­manturi, julija 1984. 

dominant plants. It seems rocks or big stones are an important element in the habitat of D. australis. Plant species occuring in this habitat in july 1995 are listed in Table 1. 
Schoenus nigricans L. 
Euphorbia nicaeensis All. 
Salvia officinalis L. 
Betónica serótina Host 
Helichrysum ilaiicum (Roth) G.Don 
Avena steriiis L. 
Centaurea cristata Bartl. 
Ruta divaricata Ten. 
Koeleria pyramidata (Lam.) Domin. 
Petrorhagia proliféra (L.) P.W. Ball et Heywood 
Satureja montana ssp. va riega ta (Host) P.W.Bali 
Cistus viliosus L. 
Eryngium amethystinum L. 
juniperus oxycedrus L. 
Table 1 -A list of the abundant plant species in a habitat ofO. australis at Rt Kamenjak (july 1995) Tabela 1 - Seznam pogostih rastlinskih vrst v življenj­skem okolju vrste D. australis na rtu Kamenjak 
4. Notes on flight activity and resting postures 
Like other owl-flies Deleproctophylla is an active aerial predator able to fly at high velocities in pursuit of small insects. The animals were recorded to be very sensitive to air current. In Rt Kamenjak (in july 1995) their activity ceased when wind started to blow. The resting behaviour and flying was studied through recording with video camera. Three resting postures of the animals sitting on a plant stem were documented 

DuSars DEVETA K: DELEPROCTOPHYLLA AUSTRALE {FABRtaVS, 1787) IN ISTRI A AN D Q U AR NERO ..., Î93-19B 
Fig. 7: Threc resting postures of D. australis. Stika 7: Trije različni mirovalni položaji vrste D. australis.
Fig. 6: A pasture near Čunski (Lošinj), !uly 1 992. Slika 6: Pašnik blizu kraja Čunski (Lošinj), julij 1992. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Fig. 7). Wings were folded or they were spread. This wing position during {he rest is also comparable with the I am very grateful to Ass. Prof. Dr. Mitja Kaligaric behaviour of the European species of the genus (University of Maribor) for identifying the plant species Libeiloides (Eglin, 1940). 

and valuable suggestions. I owe special thank to Mr. 
in two resting postures of Deleproctophylla the Herbert Holzel (Sattendorf, Austria) for critical reading abdomen was oriented more horizontally while the rest of the manuscript. I am grateful to Ass. Prof. Dr. Tone of the body was vertical and parallel with the plant stem Novak (University of Maribor) for suggestions during (Fig. 7), This orientation of the abdomen in Dele-preparing the manuscript. 

proctopbyüa resembles to the similar posture in the American owl-fly Ululodes (Henry, 1977). 
POVZETEK 
V prispevku podajamo nekaj podatkov o metuljčnici vrste Deleproctophylla australis (Fabricius, 1787) (si. 1) iz Istre in Kvarnerja. Vrsta, ki je razširjena v srednjem in vzhodnem Sredozemlju, je v severozahodnem delu Balkanskega polotoka (si. 2) razmeroma redka. 
Za genitalije samca so značilni parni ektoprokti, ki imajo kratek izrastek (si. 3). Pri samicah smo opazili veliko variabilnost v obliki in velikosti "phylla" (si. 4). 
Odrasle živali smo nabirali na suhih skalnatih travnikih ali opuščenih kmetijskih površinah. Na skalnatih travnikih sta bili dominantni rastlini Schoenus nigricans L. (blizu Premanture, si. 5) in Euphorbia nicaeensis AH. (na Rtu Kamenjaku). Na opuščenih njivah (v Sv. jakovu na Lošinju) je bila dominantna rastlina Carlina corymbosa L. Izgleda, da je prisotnost skal ali večjih kamnov značilnost habitatov vrste D. australis. 
S pomočjo video kamere smo beležili aktivnost odraslih živali. Žuželka preneha letati in se usede na podlago, čim začne pihati veter. Žival sedi na podlagi (rastlinski bilki) vsaj v treh različnih položajih, ki se razlikujejo po tem, ali so krila razprta ali zložena ob telesu in po legi zadka glede na podlago (si 7). 
Duäan DEVETAK; DELEPROCTOPHYLLA AUSTRAU5 (FABRiOUS, 1737) IN ] STRIA AN D Q U AR N ERO ..., 193-1S8 
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