Phaeostigma (Crassoraphidia) cyprica (Hagen, 1867)

Aspoeck, Horst & Aspoeck, Ulrike, 2023, The snakeflies of the Mediterranean islands: review and biogeographical analysis (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 70 (1), pp. 175-218 : 175

Phaeostigma (Crassoraphidia) cyprica (Hagen, 1867)

Raphidia cyprica Hagen, 1867 (odescr): H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon).

Raphidia phoenicia H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1964a (odescr): H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon).

Phaeostigma (Crassoraphidia) cyprica (Hagen): H. Aspöck et al. 1989 (biogeogr, distr); H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon); H. Aspöck and Hölzel 1996 (distr); H. Aspöck et al. 2001 (anncat); Dobosz 2007 (distr, rec; ill: map); H. Aspöck and U. Aspöck 2013 (cat, etymol), 2014 (cat).

Phaeostigma cyprica (Hagen): Haring et al. 2011 (phyl).

Taxonomy.

Crassoraphidia cyprica (Fig. 3d ) is closely related to C. knappi , from which it can be separated morphologically by slight differences of male and female genitalia.

Biology and ecology.

Larvae were repeatedly found under the bark of pine trees. Development two to Subilla three years. Last hibernation stage: full-grown larva. Adults: IV-VI. Imagines were collected particularly on pine trees, in various light forests and forest-like habitats in altitudes from 1000-1850 m.

Records on Mediterranean islands

(Fig. 10a ). Cyprus. Ph. (C.) cyprica occurs in suitable habitats probably all over the island. Syntopic Raphidioptera in Cyprus: Ulrike syriaca .

Continental distribution.

Lebanon.

Biogeography.

Syrian (-Cyprian) faunal element. Most probably the refugial center was primarily somewhere in the Near East, from where the species invaded (passively) Cyprus. When and how this event may have happened, is unknown; it could have been during the last glacial period and/or possibly much later in the Holocene, perhaps even (repeatedly) by humans. Specimens from Cyprus cannot be differentiated morphologically from specimens from Near East. One may assume that genomic studies will lead to a better understanding.

Figures

Figure 3. a. Ornatoraphidia flavilabris, larva. Italy, Calabria, Sila Grande. Foto: F. Anderle, now Denner; b. Phaeostigma (Graecoraphidia) d. divina, ♂. Greece, Viotia, Parnassos. Foto: P. Sehnal; c. Phaeostigma (Graecoraphidia) d. divina, ♀. Greece, Viotia, Parnassos. Foto: P. Sehnal; d. Phaeostigma (Crassoraphidia) cyprica, ♂. Cyprus, Troodos Mountain. Foto: H. Aspoeck; e. Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) major, ♂. Lower Austria, Duernstein. Foto: H. Bruckner; f. Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) major; ♀. Lower Austria, Duernstein. Foto: H. Bruckner; g. Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) major, larva. Lower Austria, Eichkogel near Moedling. Foto: H. Bruckner; h. Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) flammi, larva. Greece, Pilion. Foto: H. Bruckner.

Figure 10. a. Records of Phaeostigma (Crassoraphidia) cyprica, and of Ulrike syriaca, on Mediterranean islands; b. Records of species of the genus Subilla, S. confinis, S. artemis, S. principiae, and S. colossea, on Mediterranean islands.