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A taxonomic review of the Nepticulidae of Armenia is provided for the first time. Currently, the previously little-known fauna of the pygmy moths of Armenia consists of eight genera and 31 species, including seven new species described and illustrated in the current paper as follows: Stigmella armi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella garnica Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella inopinoides Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella magicis Stonis & Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella ararati Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Trifurcula vardenisi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; and Etainia caucasi Remeikis, sp. nov. The most common Nepticulidae species in Armenia, Stigmella muricatella (Klimesch), still remains a taxonomic puzzle. However, the molecular sequences of the Armenian specimens and a specimen of S. muricatella from Greece were found to be similar, though clearly distinct from the widespread S. rolandi van Nieukerken due to numerous hypothetical mutational steps. Mitotype analysis revealed that the Ectoedemia specimens collected in Armenia do not belong to the expected widespread E. spinosella (Joannis) but are more similar to the less-known E. mahalebella (Klimesch). Moreover, some specimens from Armenia identified by us as Simplimorpha promissa (Staudinger) and Ectoedemia (Zimmermannia) longicaudella Klimesch may actually represent possible cryptic taxa, allopatric subspecies or species. However, from a practical point of view, the description of such difficult-to-diagnose taxa is inappropriate. Thus, we have refrained from describing such new taxa based solely on observed molecular differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Government of the Republic of Armenia (RA) strives to ensure the measures to achieve good ecological status for Armenian surface water bodies. However, the main goal remains unaccomplished, as the hydro-biological monitoring tools are not properly developed. Thus, the current work aims at contributing to the establishment of principles and a relevant and cost-effective biological monitoring tool for the RA aquatic ecosystems, through the development of a simplified multimetric index (MMI). Since the adoption of the decree N° 927-N from 11 Jun 2011, the baseline studies have been initiated in the six river basin management areas established in the RA. The current work is summing up the results for the Arpa River system in order to test the methodology. In particular, it is testing the possibility to develop MMI based on the use of Rapid Biological Assessment protocol accepted in our monitoring system. Also, the work represents the approach of bottom-up biotic validation of reference sites established in the recent hydro-biologic monitoring system. Due to the proposed validation procedure, further use of one of the established reference sites in the case study object has been rejected. Considering well-established approaches for MMI development in EU member states, four variations of MMI were developed for a particular river system, and the combination of Ntaxa-%EPT-Abundance(ind/m2)-BMWP-ASPT-FBI-Nfamily metrics has been proposed as the main one. However, further development of a river typology and the establishment of joint reference conditions in the Caucasus region have concluded as a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]