Dilar turcicus Hagen, 1858

Aspoeck, Ulrike, Liu, Xingyue & Aspoeck, Horst, 2015, The Dilaridae of the Balkan Peninsula and of Anatolia (Insecta, Neuropterida, Neuroptera), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 62 (2), pp. 123-135 : 123

Taxon classification Animalia Neuroptera Dilaridae

Dilar turcicus Hagen, 1858 Figs 1-4, 5-7, 8, 9-10; 31

Dilar turcicus Hagen, 1858: Navás 1909, Aspöck et al. 1980, Aspöck et al. 2001.

Dilar corcyraeus Navás, 1909: Aspöck et al. 1980.

Remarks.

After the original description by Hagen (1858) based upon two specimens, one from Turkey and one from Armenia, the species was redescribed, characterised and/or illustrated on several occasions (e.g. Navás 1909, 1914, Aspöck et al. 1980), but none of the two syntypes has ever been examined. When we realized that Anatolia harbours at least one further species of Dilar which could not be differentiated eidonomically from Dilar turcicus , an examination of the types became necessary. Both syntypes still exist. The syntype from Turkey ( “Türkei”, Smyrna [=Izmir] written on the original collecting label) is preserved in MFN in Berlin. Unfortunately, this specimen consists only of fragments of the wings (Fig. 8), which do not allow a definite identification. Therefore, we tried to examine the other syntype, which is from Armenia ( “Armenien”, without further details on the locality). This syntype is deposited in the MCZ1 of the Harvard University in Cambridge and was kindly sent to us for examination. The specimen is a male in a fairly good condition (Figs 1-7), although it lacks the left fore- and hindwings. In particular, the abdomen is present so that we could study the genital segments. They agree perfectly with the genital segments of that species which has been regarded as Dilar turcicus Hagen until now (see Fig. 439 in Aspöck et al. 1980). We herewith designate the syntype from “Armenia” as the lectotype of Dilar turcicus Hagen, 1858.

Dilar turcicus shows a considerable variation in size and coloration of wings. Lengths of forewings vary from 7.5 to 13.5 mm. A reliable identification seems - at least presently - only possible on the basis of the male genital segments.

Distribution.

As far as we know the southeast of Europe does not harbour any other species besides Dilar turcicus . We have examined more than 200 specimens from various localities on the Balkan Peninsula and have not found any hint for the occurrence of a second Dilar species. Thus, it is a reasonable assumption that all published records of Dilar turcicus from localities situated in Europe really refer to this species. We have therefore included all published European records of Dilar turcicus in the map (Fig. 31). All records outside Europe (mainland) are based upon specimens examined by us. The documented distribution (Suppl. materials 1 and 2) comprises: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Greece including several islands (Corfu, Chios, Skopelos, Samothraki, Thasos, Lesbos), Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey ( Aspöck et al. 1980, 2001; Devetak 1991, 1992a, b; Devetak et al. 2015; Ghilarov 1962; Pongrácz 1913; Popov 1964, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007; Zakharenko 1982, 1988; Zakharenko and Krivokhatsky 1993; specimens examined in the course of this study are listed in Suppl. material 2).

The exact type locality of Dilar turcicus remains unknown. In the middle of the 19th century the name Armenia was used also for regions in the east of Anatolia. Whether Dilar turcicus occurs in Armenia of present time is not sure. However, Ghilarov (1962) described the larva of Dilar turcicus from the Caucasus region, not far away from the proven record of Dilar turcicus in the Crimean peninsula. Thus, one can hardly doubt that Dilar turcicus occurs in present day Armenia. There are also several published records of Dilar turcicus in Anatolia ( Kiyak and Özdikmen 1993, Canbulat and Kiyak 2005, O.B. Kovanci and B. Kovanci 2015, Canbulat 2007). However, these records could not be checked by us and have therefore been included in the distribution map as Dilar sp.

Dilar corcyraeus has already been synonymised 35 years ago ( Aspöck et al. 1980). It was described on the basis of a single female, which is deposited in the NHMW, Vienna. The type locality is the Greek island of Corfu, from where also Dilar turcicus has been recorded ( Aspöck et al. 1980). Navás (1909) himself had already considered that it might be a variety of Dilar turcicus . Here we provide a photograph of the type of Dilar corcyraeus (Fig. 9).

Biology.

The biology of Dilar turcicus is poorly known, with only a few scattered observation records ( Ghilarov 1962; Aspöck et al. 1980; New 1986). Adults are usually found on shady places with rich low vegetation, bushes and trees, frequently near stone walls with numerous crevices where the larvae may pupate after their development in the soil. The number of larval instars is unknown, but up to 12 moults have been observed under experimental conditions ( New 1986). However, there is no indication that the number surmounts the three instars known from Neuroptera under natural conditions. Duration of development from egg to adult is probably at least one year. Adults are mainly active after sunset and are attracted by artificial light. Dilar turcicus has a considerably large vertical distribution, with records ranging from few meters up to 2100 m above sea level.