Phaeostigma (Aegeoraphidia) prophetica (H. Aspoeck & U. Aspoeck , 1964a)

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 (Aegeoraphidia) prophetica (H. Aspoeck & U. Aspoeck, 1964a)

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

Phaeostigma ressli prophetica (H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck): H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon).

Phaeostigma prophetica (H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck): H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon); U. Aspöck and H. Aspöck 1989 (tax).

Phaeostigma (Aegeoraphidia) prophetica (H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck): 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); H. Aspöck 2012 (cat); H. Aspöck and U. Aspöck 2013 (cat, etymol), 2014 (cat).

Taxonomy.

H. Aspöck et al. (1991). Closely related to Ph. (Ae.) ressli , from which it can be differentiated only by fine, but always recognizable differences in the male genitalia. The main reason for treating Ph. (Ae.) prophetica as a species and not a subspecies of Ph. (Ae.) ressli is the fact that not Ph. (Ae.) ressli but another species of this clade, Ph. (Ae.) vartianorum , occurs in those parts of Anatolia opposite to Rhodes.

Biology and ecology.

Larvae mainly soil-dwelling, but also corticolous on various trees ( Pinus , Quercus , Amygdalus ). Development (at least) two years. Last stage of hibernation: full-grown larva. Adults: (IV)V-VI in various habitats, particularly light forests of Pinus and Quercus . Records from 350-750 m.

Records on Mediterranean islands

(Fig. 9b ). Rhodes, probably endemic to this island and apparently occurring all over Rhodes. Syntopic Raphidioptera species: Subilla colossea , Raphidia (R.) ambigua .

Biogeography.

Monocentric, extremely stationary Anatolopontomediterranean faunal element. Endemic to Rhodes.

Figures

Figure 9. a. Records of Ornatoraphidia christianodagmara, Phaeostigma (Magnoraphidia) major, Ph. (M.) flammi, Ph. (Pontoraphidia) setulosa aegea, and of Ph. (Superboraphidia) minois, on Mediterranean islands; b. Records of Phaeostigma (Grecoraphidia) divina retsinata, and of species of Aegeoraphidia, Ph. (Aegeoraphidia) raddai, Ph. (Ae.) prophetica, Ph. (Ae.) karpathana, and of Ph. (Ae.) biroi, on Mediterranean islands.