Current composition of the fauna of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of Azerbaijan

Abstract

The current composition of the fauna of antlions in Azerbaijan (25 species) based on our collection in 2015–2017 is discussed. Antlion imago and larvae were collected during fieldwork in the following regions and localities of Azerbaijan: Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Ordubad, Babek, Shakhbuz), Baku, Gobustan, Mingachaur, Kurdamir, Siazan, Shabran, Shamakhi, Lerik, Fizuli, islands Pirallahi, Bulla (Khara Zirah), Chilov. Representatives of all Palaearctic subfamilies and tribes were collected, and 6 species are recorded for the first time for the fauna of the republic. Analysis of the fauna of antlions of Azerbaijan showed the full absence of local and Caucasian endemics. Only Palpares turcicus and Nohoveus armenicus can be interpreted as sub-endemic species with initial Kura-Aras-Anatolian range and the possible autochthonous Kura-Aras Pliocene origin. The remaining 23 species belong to groups with wider distribution, mostly to the Ancient Mediterranean type, which was formed presumably before the Oligocene. The mixed faunal composition is a consequence of the unique geographical position of Azerbaijan, on the territory of which three zoogeographical provinces are joined: the Euxine province (European Nemoral zoogeographic region), Kura-Aras and West-Asian provinces (Sethian zoogeographic region) according to classification of Krivokhatsky and Emeljanov. Simultaneously, a contact between closely related subgenera and subspecies is also observed here, that determines the integrated picture of the taxonomic diversity of the Myrmeleontidae fauna of Azerbaijan.

Keywords

• Neuroptera
• Myrmeleontidae
• neuropterans
• antlions
• fauna
• Azerbaijan