Bubopsis andromache Aspoeck , Aspoeck & Hoelzel , 1979

Monnerat, Christian & Abraham, Levente, 2020, Owlflies from Jordan (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae), Alpine Entomology 4, pp. 139-150 : 139

Bubopsis andromache Aspoeck, Aspoeck & Hoelzel, 1979 Figs 9-14

Bubopsis andromache U. Aspöck, H. Aspöck and Hölzel 1979 - (Odescr), Aspöck et al. 1980 (Mon), 2001 (Mon), Pieper and Willmann 1980 (Larva descr), Aspöck H. and Hölzel 1996 (Chlist), Letardi 1991 (Dist), Sziráki 1998 (Chlist), Popov, 2004 (Dist), Canbulat 2007 (Chlist), Dobosz and Ábrahám 2007 (Dist).

Bubopsis andromache firyuzae Sziráki, 2000 - (Odescr).

Material examined.

1♂, Ajlun Reserve, RSCN Lodge, 32.38037N, 35.76356E, 1015 m a.s.l., 9.vi.2011, leg. C. Monnerat, CCM; 1♂, Ajlun Reserve, 32.38140N, 35.76403E, 1020 m a.s.l., 10.vi.2011, leg. C. Monnerat, CCM (Fig. 9 ); 1♀, 9.5 km W Madaba, 31.72070N, 35.69316E, 520 m a.s.l., 26.v.2012, leg. M. Borer, CCM (Fig. 10 ); 1♂, Dar al-Basha, 32.63274N, 35.71241E, 260 m a.s.l., 1.vi.2012, leg. M. Borer, CCM; 2♀♀, Wadi Zarqa, 32.16718N, 36.00473E, 465 m a.s.l., 3.vi.2012, leg. C. Monnerat, CCM; 1♀, ar-Rumman, 32.18935N, 35.84772E, 365 m a.s.l., 3.vi.2012, leg. C. Monnerat, CCM; 1♀, Jordan, Jarash Burma env., Al Huna, 15.v.2016, leg. Snizek, SCMK.

Distribution.

The first specimens of Bubopsis andromache were collected by Werner from Samos ( Werner 1934), Limnos ( Werner 1937) and Lesvos ( Werner 1938) before the species was described. Werner published these specimens under the name Bubopsis hamata , as reported by Popov (2004). This species is found in Greece, northern Macedonia, southwestern Bulgaria, the Aegean Islands (Crete and Gavdhos, Lesvos, Samos, Kalimnos, Kos and Rhodes), western and southern Asia minor and the eastern Mediterranean region (Israel, Syria, Lebanon) ( Aspöck et al. 2001). In Turkey it was collected mainly near the coast. Its occurrence in Jordan was also mentioned by Dobosz and Ábrahám (2007). The subspecies Bubopsis andromache firyuzae Sziráki, 2000 is only known from southern Turkmenistan.

Comments.

For the most part, species of the genus Bubopsis are typical hilltopping species that fly before sunset and are attracted to light traps after evening twilight. In the morning it may still be found but less frequently. Yet nearly all the specimens were collected with an entomological net during the day (morning, midday, afternoon), often after being disturbed from rest. Two specimens, however, were attracted by light trap or by building lights (RSCN lodge at Ajlun Reserve). The species was recorded in different habitats, including semi-closed forest (Fig. 11 ) and open field (Fig. 14 ). At Ajlun RSCN Reserve, it was found in clearings of Quercus sp. forest with Pistacia palaestina and Arbutus andrachne , small bushes of Cistus creticus (Fig. 11 ), occasionally sitting on dry shrub stems of Phlomis viscosa . At ar-Rumman, it was found in open landscape with bushes of Retama raetam and Mediterranean Batha vegetation with Sarcopoterium spinosum , Phagnalon rupestre (Fig. 13 ) or in still drier habitat without shrubs and mostly with annual herbs, such as in fallow fields (Fig. 14 ). The species was recorded in the western highlands (northern and central parts) of Jordan between 260 and 1020 m a.s.l., from subhumid to arid Mediterranean bioclimates in Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian vegetation zones.

Figures

Figures 9 - 16. 9. Habitus of Bubopsis andromache male (Picture: C. Monnerat). 10. Habitus of B. andromache female (Picture: C. Monnerat). 11. Habitat of B. andromache, Ajlun RSCN Reserve, Jordan, June 2011 (Picture: C. Monnerat). 12. Habitat B. andromache, Dar al-Basha, June 2011 (Picture: C. Monnerat). 13. Habitat B. andromache, ar-Rumman, June 2012 (Picture: C. Monnerat). 14. Habitat of B. andromache, Wadi Zarqa Valley, June 2012 (Picture: Matthias Borer). 15. Habitus of Bubopsis hamata male (Picture: C. Monnerat). 16. Habitat of B. hamata, Dana RSCN Reserve, Jordan, June 2011 (Picture: Matthias Borer).