Stoyan Beshkov

National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences · Invertebrata

The study presents new records of Psocoptera (Insecta) species from Albania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, enhancing the understanding of barkfly diversity in the Balkans. Noteworthy findings include the first records of Hemineura dispar Tetens, 1891 (species complex) from Albania, Mesopsocus immunis (Stephens, 1836) from Albania and Serbia, and Amphigeron...

New and interesting records of Balkans Lepidoptera are detailed. Holoterpna pruinosata (Staudinger, 1897), recently known in Europe only from Crimea, was re-discovered in the Balkan Peninsula. Idaea sericeata (Hübner, 1813) is shown to be a part of the Balkan fauna. Pabulatrix pabulatricula (Brahm, 1791) is new for the Central Balkans. Two genera a...

Paracossulus thrips (Hübner, 1818) is a protected species in Europe through the Council Directive 92/43/ EEC. Pupal exuviae belonging to this species were found at each of two patches at Chepan Mt. (Western Bulgaria) characterised by Phlomis tuberosa L. being a dominant plant species. This is the first record of this host plant of P. thrips in Bulg...

Action Plan

Action Plan

Action Plan, Resumee

Field work conducted in 2016-2019 and 2022 contributed with additional data on 23 relatively rare species in Albania, including the second record of Cacyreus marshalli and the sixth record of Apatura metis. Several new localities are given for Danaus chrysippus, which proved to be not rare on the southern coast of Albania.

Our main goal was to investigate the phylogeography of the butterfly Phengaris arion to reveal the evolutionary origin of its ‘spring’ and ‘summer’ forms. Molecular analyses based on highly variable microsatellites, together with Wolbachia screening, were carried out on 34 populations in Europe. We found three well-defined genetic lineages of diffe...

Action Plan

The Balkan mountain ranges represent the most diverse hot spots of the European biodiversity still very far from being completely explored. Besides new faunistic data here we have described Drusus gornistok Oláh, sp. nov. in the D. discophorus species complex, surveyed four species complexes and described Polycentropus maglic Oláh, sp. nov. , P....

A new species, Dyscia intermedia sp. n., is described from the Balkan Peninsula, Serbia. Dyscia intermedia sp. n. differs from the other European members of the genus Dyscia Hübner, 1825 notably in the male genitalia, including the everted vesica. The new species is very similar in appearance to Dyscia raunaria (Freyer, 1851) and Dyscia royaria Tau...

The environmental study within the project “Urban agriculture as a strategy for improving the quality of life of urban communities” took first steps to study some aspects of urban agriculture impact on environmental components of the City of Sofia. The quality of water used for irrigation, the content of heavy metals in soils and local produce were...

Paracossulus thrips (Hübner, 1818) and Lignyoptera fumidaria (Hübner, 1825), both species listed on Annex II of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, are reported for the first time for Serbia from two distinct localities on Vidlič Mt. Some new localities from the edge of the range of both these species are reported from Bulgaria. Previous reports of th...

A new taxon Oncocnemis michaelorum srnkai Beshkov, ssp. n. is described from the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria. The new subspecies, in comparison with the other European members of the Oncocnemis confusa (Freyer, [1839]) species group, shows differences both in outward appearance and in the female and male genitalia, including the everted vesica. Onco...

An updated distribution of the genus Chersotis Boisduval, 1840 in Croatia, Albania and Bulgaria is presented. A total of seven species have been recorded in Croatia so far, with Chersotis laeta leonhardi (Rebel, 1904) being recorded for the first time during this survey. Chersotis laeta achaiana Thurner, 1967 is reported as new for Albania. The rec...

Corrigendum

Three new Noctuoidea subspecies are described as local endemics from the Silver Coast, part of the Bulgarian North Black Sea Coast: Eutelia adoratrix platinea ssp. n., Lacanobia praedita canescens ssp. n. and Hadena adriana petergyulaii ssp. n. They are characterised by a pale forewing ground colour corresponding to the colour of the calcareous sed...

The Balkan Lepidoptera fauna is still not comprehensively known. We present here some new records for three Balkan countries. Polymixis xanthomista (Hübner, [1819]) is confirmed for the Balkan Peninsula from Albania, Eriogaster inspersa Staudinger, 1879 is reported new for the Republic of North Macedonia (second locality in Europe), and Mythimna la...

Erannis ankeraria (Anker moth or Angoran umber) is a rare moth species occurring in Southern and Southeastern Europe. It was discovered in Hungary, and was known from only one locality for a long time. It inhabits sub-Mediterranean downy oak (Quercus pubescens) forests, very local, rare overall. It has a major importance of natural conservation. Th...

Action plan

Acasis appensata (Eversmann, 1842) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is reported in Serbia for the first time. The status on the Balkan Peninsula of the two Western Palaearctic species of Acasis Duponchel, 1845 is discussed. The localized distribution pattern of both A. appensata and A. viretata (Hübner, 1799) is probably genuine, though both species may...

Perizoma obsoletata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) is shown to be a part of the Balkan fauna. Pabulatrix pabulatricula (Brahm, 1791) is new for the Western Balkans. One genus and 12 species are new and 20 species are reported for the second time for Albania. For Montenegro, one genus and eight species are new and two species are recorded for the first ti...

Theresimima ampellophaga (Bayle-Barelle, 1808) was known from only three sites in North Macedonia and has never been considered as a pest of grapevine in this territory. The last time it was recorded in North Macedonia about 80 years ago. Traps baited with synthetic sex attractant EFETOV-2 (racemic mixture of (2R)-butyl 2-dodecenoate and (2S)-butyl...

Paracossulus (=Catopta) thrips, a species listed in Annex II of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC (Code: 4028), considered as extinct in Bulgaria, is rediscovered after more than 25 years in an isolated locality remote from previous sites. Some other rare and interesting species found in the same locality are commented on and illustrated; for some, t...

uction The moths of Sarnena Gora Mts are not studied in detail. Some species records were published by Nedyalkov (1909) for Stara Zagora, and by Tuleshkov (1965), mainly for the area of Stara Zagora City and Starozagorski Mineralni Bani Resort. Data for some new and rare for Bulgaria species, collected near Buzovgrad Village are presented in the ar...

Elegia occultalis Plant, sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Phycitinae) is described from the Balkans and compared with related species. Adults and male and female genitalia of the new species are illustrated.

Nocturnal moths and some other Lepidoptera were investigated in Albania during August 2018. Six genera and 17 species are new for Albania. A further 48 species are reported for the second time only in that country. Species with three or more national records are omitted from the list. The majority of data are from poorly investigated areas, includi...

The poorly known, so called widely distributed and highly varying species of the European Rhyacophila fasciata species complex are revised by fine phenomics of the paramere organisation. In this species complex paramere is the most diverse organ. It is the speciation trait integrating the initial split of speciation by its stimulatory and titillati...

Here are presented all data of the authors from five nights collecting in western Serbia at four localities. 401 species collected at light from 13 families are reported. Six species: Catoptria pauperellus (Treitschke, 1832), Macaria wauaria (Linnaeus, 1758), Charissa ambiguata (Duponchel, 1830), Charissa graecaria (Staudinger, 1871), Colostygia ap...

One species Caradrina draudti (Boursin, 1936) is reported here as a new for continental Europe, one species is new for the Balkan Peninsula and Bulgaria, one species is confirmed for the Balkan Peninsula, two species are new for the Republic of North Macedonia and two others are reported for the second time from this country. One species is new for...

Four new species for the fauna of Serbia in its present political borders, collected in Western Serbia. With illustration of adults and genitalia of some of the new species.

Results of nocturnal moth collecting by the authors in the Balkans during May/June 2018 are reported. A total of 571 species was encountered, mostly Noctuoidea (270), Geometroidea (161) and Pyraloidea (62). The majority of data are from North Macedonia and Albania; the remainder are from countries traversed to reach these target areas, namely Slove...

The discovery of the new Agaphylax genus with unique paramere organisation has initiated our lineage sorting of tribes by parameres in the Limnephilinae subfamily applying the principles and procedures of fine phenomics in order to establish transformation series of the polarized plesiomorphy-apomorphy character states for each limnephiline genera....

Data for 45 nocturnal Lepidoptera species collected mainly in June-August 2018 by the authors are presented. The majority of reported species are from Albania, from where six genera and 19 species are reported for the first time. Seventeen other species are reported for the second time for Albania or are confirmed for the country. Three species are...

Adscita obscura (Zeller, 1847) is recorded in Albania for the first time. Several new records are given for Bulgaria where it has been known only from a single locality. One new record is presented for Greece where it is rare species.

The Danube River is the second longest river in Europe; it flows through ten countries and is 2,850 km in length. In its lower stretches it passes through large lowlands and remains an almost intact natural ecosystem. For 470 km, the river acts as a border between Bulgaria and Romania and provides a refuge for very rich, yet insufficiently studied,...

Abstract. We have recognised significant incongruences among the most commonly used taxonomic characters in the European species of Wormaldia genus of the Philopotamidae caddisfly family. During taxonomical analysis and ranking procedures we have recorded incongruent, discorcordant characters also in the taxa in Rhyacophilidae, Hydropsychidae and L...

Red Lists are very valuable tools in nature conservation at global, continental and (sub-) national scales. In an attempt to prioritise conservation actions for European butterflies, we compiled a database with species lists and Red Lists of all European countries, including the Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands). In tot...

the authors made collecting trips to albania, between the end of September and the beginning of november 2018. Material was collected at light on 11 nights in 10 different localities. altogether data for 234 species are presented. Cucullia dracunculi (hübner, [1813]), is new for the Balkan Peninsula. Seven genera and 33 species are reported for the...

Eupithecia gratiosata Herrich-Schäffer, 1861 and Metachrostis dardouini (Boisduval, 1840) are reported here as new for the Republic of Macedonia, collected at light from the Suva Planina Mountain, Kozjak. Some other syntopic and synchronic species are also reported here.

Despite the proximity of Sredna Gora Mountains to Sofia, the insect assemblages of this region are poorly studied. As a result of two studies carried out as a part of an Environmental Impact Assessment in the Natura 2000 Protected Areas: Sredna Gora and Popintsi, a rich diversity of insects was discovered, with 107 saproxylic and epigeobiont Coleop...

Three species of the subfamily Zygaeninae are reported for the first time from Albania: Zygaena brizae, Z. cynarae and Z. nevadensis. They were all found in the south-eastern part of the country. Zygaena cynarae is a new species for the Republic of Macedonia as well. Localities of Z. cynarae in Macedonia and Albania represent the southernmost distr...

The paper presents an inventory of 28 species of butterflies and moths collected in the northernmost part of Sweden during 1931—1932. The collection is of certain historical value and is kept at the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.

Data for 14 genera and 52 Noctuoidea species, new for Albania, collected at light during 2016 and 2017 in the central and southern areas are reported here. One more genus and four other species are proved as a part of the Albanian fauna. 51 species, including widespread and common taxa, are reported for the second time for Albania. Some of the spec...

Abstract: Anchoscelis rupicapra kresnaensis Ronkay & Mészáros, 1982, A. litura (Linnaeus, 1758) and A. luteogrisea (Warren, 1911) are reported for the first time for Albania. Anchoscelis rupicapra kresnaensis Ronkay & Mészáros and A. luteogrisea (Warren) are new for the Republic of Macedonia as well. Illustrations of specimens including † and ‡ gen...

In 2017 the authors undertook four collecting trips to Albania, between May and October. Material was collected at light on 22 nights, mostly from the southern part of the country. This is part two of a three part report. Eight genera and 22 species are reported for the first time for Albania; 24 species are reported for the second time for the cou...

In August 2017 eggs and young larvae of Hadena dre nowskii (Rebel, 1930) have been observed on Silene bu pleu roides L. (Caryophyllaceae) in SW-Bulgaria (Belassitsa Moun tain, above Petrich town) in the field. Additionally, ovi position has been realized with females caught at light. The hitherto unknown preimaginal stages and the larval ha bitat a...

Abstract. The subspecies of the biological species concept with incomplete reproductive isolation versus the incipient sibling species of the phylogenetic species concept with permeable reproductive barrier are still applied side by side in the everyday practice of taxonomy. Both terms refer to the same organisms diverged mostly in allopatry with v...

Hovering and dead individuals of the diurnal hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) were found with proboscides got stuck into flowers of the ornamental plant Oenothera speciosa Nutt (Onagraceae). The phenomenon was observed in several locations in Bulgaria where the plant has been introduced. Microscopic exam...

In 2016 the author undertook five collecting trips in Albania from June to October. Material was collected at light mostly from the southern part of the country. Part of the results are presented here, the remainder are to be published soon. Three genera (Pseudozarba, Heterophysa and Divaena) and 15 species are reported for the first time for Alban...

Until now, Theresimima ampellophaga (Bayle-Barelle, 1808) was known from only three sites in the Republic of Macedonia. Moreover, it was never before considered a pest of grapevine in the country. In fact, the last time it was recorded in Macedonia was about 80 years ago. Traps baited with the synthetic sex attractant EFETOV-2 were set at two loca...

Sixteen Zygaena species are known to occur in Macedonia. here we present numerous additional locations for 13 species: Zygaena brizae, Z. purpuralis, Z. laeta, Z. punctum, Z. carniolica, Z. viciae, Z. loti, Z. nevadensis, Z. osterodensis, Z. ephialtes, Z. angelicae, Z. filipendulae and Z. lonicerae. the presence of Z. laeta and Z. nevadensis is con...

Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae & Pyralidae) were sampled in the territories of southern Serbia, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania on a total of 53 occasions during 2014, 2016 and 2017. A total of 173 species is reported here, comprising 97 Crambidae and 76 Pyralidae. Based upon published data, 29 species appear t...

Biston achyra Wehrli, 1936, Phigaliohybernia budashkini (koStjuk, 2009) and Dyscia conspersaria ([DeniS & Schiffermüller], 1775) are reported for the first time for Bulgaria. Phigaliohybernia budashkini (koStjuk, 2009), Dyscia raunaria (freyer, [1851]), Nebula pirinica (ReiSSer, 1936) and Idaea metohiensis reBel, 1900 are new for Ser-bia. Coenocalp...

In the last few years we have described over 70 new incipient sibling limnephild species applying the discovered Trichoptera speciation traits of the paraproct and paramere for species recognition and delimitation. In this revision on Drusinae subfamily, comprising 177 species, we have applied these subtle, but rapid and stable speciation traits an...

Two new genera (Protorhoe Herbulot, 1951 and Haemerosia Boisduval, 1840) and seven species (Protorhoe corollaria (Herrich-Schäffer, [1848]), Meganola togatulalis (Hübner, 1796), Autophila limbata (Staudinger, 1871), Aegle semicana (Esper, 1798), Haemerosia renalis (Hübner, [1813]), Hadena syriaca podolica (Kremky, 1937) and Chersotis elegans (Evers...

Processing of light collected Balkan material supplemented with sweep-netted Rhy-acophila Pictet, 1834 from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania has resulted in 40 new species records with the description of three new species: Rhyacophila olahorum sp. n., R. neretva sp. n. and R. nurga sp. n. from the Rhyacophila orghidani and Rhyacophila pascoei new spe...

Updated checklist of the skippers and butterflies (Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) of Bulgaria is presented. The last published checklist of the Bulgarian Hesperioidea and Papilinoidea contained 216 species. Six species appeared to be wrongly reported for Bulgaria due to misidentification or mislabelling and five of them were included in the last l...

In August, 2016 authors spent four nights light collecting in Albania. In this paper we present one new genus and species for Albania-Penestoglossa dardoinella (Millière, 1863).

2017 СПРАВОЧНИК

One genus and six species: Eupithecia breviculata(Donzel, 1837), Drymonia velitaris(hufnagel, 1766), Conisania renati meszarosi varga & Ronkay, 1991, Enterpia laudeti(Boisduval, 1840), Albocosta musiva (hübner, [1803]) and Narraga tessularia (Metzner,1845) are reported for the first time for Serbia (SRB). two genera and three species:Dyscia raunari...

Penestoglossa dardoinella (Millière, 1863) was found for the first time in Bulgaria. Finding of this species in southeastern Bulgaria extends its known distribution further to the east. Additional records are given for Greece and one is confirmed for Croatia. New and confirmed records of Eochorica balca-nica (Rebel, 1919) are provided for Bulgaria,...

ПРВИ НАЛАЗ DESERTOBIA ANKERARIA (STAUDINGER, 1861) (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) У СРБИЈИ АНА НАХИРНИЋ и СТОЈАН БЕШКОВ Извод Desertobia ankeraria (Staudinger, 1861) је Натура 2000 врста и наведена је у Директиви о стаништима ЕУ EEC 92/43 и Додатку II . Заштићена је у Словенији, Хрватској и Мађарској. По први пут је забележена у Србији у долини реке Пч...

An updated checklist of some of the Bulgarian sphinges and bombyces is presented. The previous published checklist of the Bulgarian sphinges and bombyces contains 198 species; 115 of them belong to the higher taxa considered in the present list. Four species appeared to be wrongly reported for Bulgaria. Three of those four were included in the last...

Data on seven Macrolepidoptera species previously not reported from the area of Bessaparski Ridove Hills, Pazardzhik Region are given. One of them, Dioszeghyana schmidtii pinkeri Hreblay & Varga, 1993, is included in the Annex II of the 92/43 Habitat Directive of the European Commission. Other six species are known from very few remote localities i...

Agrochola luteogrisea (Warren, 1911) and Dryobotodes servadeii Parenzan, 1982 are reported for a first time for Serbia from the Vranje Region, in the south. Agrochola luteogrisea is also new for Bulgaria from the Kresna Gorge. This is a significant range extension for both species. Taxonomic notes on D. servadeii and D. monochroma (Esper, [1790]) a...

Aim The Mediterranean Red List assessment is a review of the conservation status at regional level of approximately 6,000 species (amphibians, mammals, reptiles, fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, molluscs, corals and plants) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinct...

Data for 54 species, from which 5 genera and 19 nocturnal Macrolepidoptera species, are new for Serbia, collected in 2015 in southern-southeastern Serbia, are reported here. Where necessary, † or ‡ genitalia of the species are also illustrated. In that biodiversity hot spots, 23 species new for Serbia were found in a short exploring time, less than...

Single female specimen of Hadena (Pinkericola) tephroleuca (Boisduval, 1833) was collected in Belassitsa Mts. in SW Bulgaria at an altitude of 1857m at light. This is the first record of this species in Bulgaria. Collected specimen is illustrated here and is deposed in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia (NMNHS).

Japanese oak silkmoth Antheraea yamamai (Guérin-Méneville, 1861) is reported here for first time in the scientific literature from Montenegro (Republic of Crna Gora). In two localities, not far away each other, moths were collected at light. We report this species from Serbia as well. All collected specimens are males.

Charissa onustaria (herrich-Schäffer, 1852), Dyscia innocentaria (Christoph, 1885) and Egira anatolica (hering, 1933) are reported as new for the Republic of Serbia from the eastern part of the country. the set moths and their genitalia are illustrated. Some other rare species of late autumn and early spring appearance are also reported from easter...