Ectobius balcani Ramme, 1923

Figures 1, 17, 41, 54

Ectobia albicincta Brun. v. Watt.: 1. Frey-Gessner 1893: 398 • 2. Nedelkov 1908: 414.

Ectobia lapponica subsp. nigra Karny: 3. Ramme 1921: 129.

Ectobia lapponica (Linn.): 4. Drenowski 1936: 251

Ectobia laponica (Linn.) [sic]: 5. Drenski 1939: 7 (partim).

Ectobius lapponicus balcani Ramme: 6. Ramme 1923: 117 • 7. Bey-Bienko 1950: 199.

Ectobius balcani Ramme: 8. Ramme 1951: 36 • 9 Buresch & Peschev 1957: 317 • 10. Peshev 1962: 61 • 11. Peshev & Mařan 1963: 29 • 12. Peshev 1964: 109 • 13. Peshev 1974: 107, 123 • 14. Peshev 1975: 93.

Ectobius balcani Ramme: 15. Princis 1971: 1071 • 16. Harz & Kaltenbach 1976: 245 • 17. Popov et al. 2001: 116 • 18. Popov & Chobanov 2004: 252 • 19. Chobanov 2011: 166.

Notes to the literature data. The record of Ectobia albicincta from Eleni peak, Rila Mts., 2000 m (Frey-Gessner 1893), also mentioned in the publication of Nedelkov (1908), later determined as Ectobius lapponicus morpha erythronota by Buresch & Peschev (1957), probably refers to Ectobius balcani considering the distribution and biology of these species.

Ramme (1923) synonymised Ectobia lapponica subsp. nigra (Vitosha Mt.), with Ectobius lapponicus balcani, which was later considered a valid species by Ramme (1951).

The material from Aliboutoush Mt. reported by Drenowski (1936) as E. lapponica and part of the material from Kresna gorge reported by Drenski (1939) as E. laponica refers to Ectobius balcani considering the distribution and biology of these species.

Distribution in Bulgaria (Fig. 72). The species inhabits varied semi-dry to humid habitats from the lowlands to 2300 m alt. but is mainly found in the subalpine and alpine belts. It does not seem to occur to the north of the Stara Planina Mountains. Around the lower limit of distribution it keeps on diverse vegetation (grass-shrub, low vegetation and leaf litter).

Studied material. 1215 specimens (909 adults, 306 nymphs) and 10 oothecae.

General distribution. The distribution range of E. balcani covers the Balkan Peninsula (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, R Macedonia, Greece), northwards reaching Austria and Hungary, and in the east extending up to the Fore-Caucasus.