Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai (H. Aspoeck & U. Aspoeck , 1971)

Aspoeck, Horst & Aspoeck, Ulrike, 2023, The snakeflies of the Mediterranean islands: review and biogeographical analysis (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 70 (1), pp. 175-218 : 175

Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai (H. Aspoeck & U. Aspoeck, 1971)

Raphidia (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1971a (odescr): H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon).

Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai (H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck): H. Aspöck et al. 1989 (biogeogr, distr); H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon); Popov 1992 (biogeogr); H. Aspöck and Hölzel 1996 (distr); H. Aspöck et al. 2001 (anncat); H. Aspöck 2012 (cat); H. Aspöck and U. Aspöck 2013 (cat, etymol; ill: imag), 2014 (cat).

Taxonomy.

H. Aspöck et al. (1991). Ph. (M.) wewalkai (Fig. 4a, b ) can easily be distinguished from the species of its sister group (= ( Ph. flammi + Ph. horticola ) + Ph. robusta ) by characters of the male and female genitalia. However, (at least) in a small area on the Dirphys mountain range on Euboea, where it occurs sympatric and syntopic with Ph. (M.) flammi , intermediate phaena occur. We interpret these phaena as hybrids between the two species. See also under Ph. (M.) flammi .

Biology and ecology.

Larvae (probably exclusively) corticolous on deciduous trees and on conifers in various warmer habitats with rich vegetation from sea level to ca. 1000 m asl. Development two, Subilla three or more years. Last hibernation stage: full-grown larva. Adults: (IV)V-VI.

Records on Mediterranean islands

(Fig. 8b ). Euboea (Dirphys and Ochi mountain ranges) and various spots in the southwest of the island. Most probably the species occurs in all parts of Euboea.

Continental distribution.

Restricted to a small part of eastern Sterea Ellas.

Biogeography.

Extremely stationary, monocentric Balkanopontomediterranean faunal element.

Figures

Figure 4. a. Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai, ♂. Greece, Korinthia, Oros Onia. Foto: F. Anderle, now Denner; b. Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai, ♀. Greece, Korinthia, Oros Onia. Foto: P. Sehnal; c. Phaeostigma (Aegeoraphidia) biroi, ♂. Greece, Crete, Anogia> Axos. Foto: P. Sehnal; d. Phaeostigma (Aegeoraphidia) biroi, ♀. Greece, Crete, Anogia> Axos. Foto: P. Sehnal; e. Phaeostigma (Aegeoraphidia) biroi, larva. Greece, Crete, Anogia> Axos. Foto: H. Bruckner; f. Phaeostigma (Superboraphidia) minois, ♂. Greece, Crete, Levka Ori, W Omalos. Foto: H. Aspoeck; g. Subilla confinis, ♂. Lower Austria, Klosterneuburg. Foto: H. Bruckner; h. Subilla principiae, ♂. Italy, Sardinia, Gennargentu, Fonni. Watercolour by Wilhelm Zelenka (1936 - 2011), Vienna. In the possession of H. & U. Aspoeck.

Figure 8. a. Records of species of the genus Xanthostigma, X. corsica and X. aloysiana, on Mediterranean islands; b. Records of Ornatoraphidia flavilabris, Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) wewalkai, and of Dichrostigma flavipes, on Mediterranean islands.