The brown lacewings (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae) of northwestern Turkey with new records, their spatio-temporal distribution and harbouring plants

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The brown lacewings (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae) of northwestern Turkey with new records, their spatio-temporal distribution and harbouring plants. The occurrence and spatio-temporal distribution of brown lacewing species (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae) in Bursa province, northwestern Turkey, was investigated during 1999-2011. A total of 852 brown lacewing specimens of 20 species, including the genera of Hemerobius, Megalomus, Micromus, Sympherobius, and Wesmaelius were collected. Of these, 12 species were new records for northwestern Turkey while Sympherobius klapaleki is a new record for the Neuroptera fauna of Turkey. The most widespread species were Hemerobius handschini and Sympherobius pygmaeus with percent dominance values of 42.00 and 15.96%, respectively. Wesmaelius subnebulosus was the earliest emerging hemerobiid species and had the longest flight activity lasting from March to October. The species of southern origin characterized by the Mediterranean elements constituted 55% of the hemerobiid fauna and prevailed over the species of northern origin that belong to the Siberian centres. The total number of hemerobiid species reached a peak in July with captures of 15 species per month. There were 11, 13, 18 and 5 hemerobiid species occurring at altitudes between 1-500, 501-1000, 1001-1500 and 1500-2000 m, respectively. In addition, plant species harbouring hemerobiids are given for each species, and their association with the hemerobiid fauna is discussed.

Diversity of Lacewings (Neuroptera) in an Altitudinal Gradient of the Tacaná Volcano, Southern Mexico

“…This means that at high altitudes, the richness and diversity of Neuroptera are exclusive to those species that adapted to the extreme conditions. Therefore, the increase in elevation can affect the distribution of Neuroptera species [ 55 ]. Therefore, the dispersal capacity of the species and their local abiotic conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, among others, can behave as filters, which generates differences in the composition of species in different areas [ 56 ].…”

Review of Hemerobiidae (Insecta:Neuroptera) from Egypt, with a new record

“…They play a role in biological control, being more effective at low aphid densities than green lacewings as adults of these insects do not need to feed on honey dew to lay eggs. The low temperature of brown lacewings also gives them a survival advantage during cold spells and frosts in temperate climates (Neuenschwander et al 1975;Kovanci et al 2014).…”