13. Cymindis (Arrhostus) andreae Ménétriés, 1832

Figs 3 D, 5 E

Habitat and general distribution.

Cymindis andreae is an eastern species. The larger part of its range extents to Near and Middle East, while it is also known from North Africa (Egypt) and Eastern Europe (Kabak 2017).

Material examined.

• Lasithi: Chrysi isl., north beach salt-lake, 34.878045°N, 25.697966°E, 1 m elev., 17.V.1994, handpicking, 3 spms, leg. Trichas A. (NHMC) ; • Chrysi isl., Vages Beach, salt-lake, 34.874799°N, 25.728071°E, 1 m elev., 23.III.2023 – 13.VII.2023, pitfall traps, 6 spms, leg. Bolanakis G. (NHMC) .

Comments.

In Greece, Cymindis andreae is only known from the Aegean (Arndt et al. 2011). In fact, the only record of this species in Greece (Rhodes) dates back to 1935 (Schatzmayr 1935). This is the first record of C. andreae in Crete. The species was found in Chrysi islet in 1994 (northern salt-lake) (leg. Trichas) and recorded again in 2023 (leg. Bolanakis), in the southern salt-lake of Chrysi (Vages Beach). Since the southern / eastern coastal salt-lakes of Crete have been intensively sampled, the species presence in the island of Crete is unlikely, although more research is required. The species’ origin is obscure. Crete is very poor in African taxa; thus, it is more likely that the species is an eastern dispersal, a common pattern for species restricted in the eastern parts of the island (or its eastern satellite islets) (Koch 1948; Trichas 1996). We confirm the presence of the species in Greece and encourage further research for this species in the eastern part of the Aegean.