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The Balkan mountain ranges represent the most diverse hot spots of the European biodiversity still very far from being completely explored. Besides new faunistic data here we have described Drusus gornistok Oláh, sp. nov. in the D. discophorus species complex, surveyed four species complexes and described Polycentropus maglic Oláh, sp. nov. , P. staraplanina Oláh, sp. nov. in the Polycentropus ierapetra new species complex; Rhyacophila albanica Oláh & Ibrahimi sp. nov., R. montenegra Oláh, sp. nov. , R. syrikaltera Oláh & Ibrahimi sp. nov. in the Rhyacophila balcanica new species complex; R. kozara Oláh, sp. nov. , R. sarplana Oláh, sp. nov. , R. staraplana Oláh, sp. nov. in the Rhyacophila bosnica new species complex; Notidobia kerkina Oláh, sp. nov. , N. koraba Oláh, sp. nov. , N. lakmosa Oláh, sp. nov. , N. vaillanti Oláh, Vinçon & Ibrahimi sp. nov. in the Notidobia nekibe new species complex. The subspecies status of the following taxa were raised to species rank: Polycentropus adana Sipahiler, 1996 stat. nov., P. anatolica Sipahiler, 1989 stat. nov., P. dirfis Malicky, 1974 stat. nov., P. ikaria Malicky, 1974 stat. nov., P. isparta Sipahiler, 1996 stat. nov., P. kalliope Malicky, 1976 stat. nov., P. septentrionalis Kumanski, 1986, stat. nov., P. slovenicus Malicky, 1998 stat. nov.

The discovery of the new Agaphylax genus with unique paramere organisation has initiated our lineage sorting of tribes by parameres in the Limnephilinae subfamily applying the principles and procedures of fine phenomics in order to establish transformation series of the polarized plesiomorphy-apomorphy character states for each limnephiline genera. According to the extraordinary high diversity the paramere that is the stimulatory and titillating structure of the phallic organ is a speciation supertrait. This adaptive trait is directly involved in the processes of reproductive isolation and diverging as subtle initial split of lineages producing the incipient sibling species in the recent past of contemporary speciation processes. Contrary, the drastic divergence of the Agaphylax plated paramere is much older, similarly to the many-spined parameres of the Hesperophylacini tribe. It has been initiated by drastic combined and synchronous external and internal stochastic effects, processed in ancestral sexual integrative adaptation as well as organised and fixed in older and deeper coalescence events and appears as a character with tribe ranking potential. To open a wider perspective, a systemic relational analysis is required in the future including other adaptive or neutral character transformation series, due to the burden of taxonomic incongruences grounded by chimerism in stochastic genetic reticulation. Traits of species are mixed products coming from various sources. Only character combinations can and ought to be analysed in terms how to classify taxa. We have polarized eight genitalic characters additional to parameres for a future analysis of the potential of character combinations. Limnephilinae subfamily is composed of Limnephilini, Chilostigmatini, Chaetopterygini, Stenophylacini and Hesperophylacini tribes and here we established the new Agaphylacini tribe. Based on parameres we have delineated taxa in lineage sorting and described two new genera: Fogophylax gen. nov., Simaphylax gen. nov. and fourteen new species: Anabolia alsoja, A. hepehupa, Asynarchus kimaros, Limnephilus kerekes, L. maghrebensis, L. oblos, Homophylax beges, H. coros, Chaetopteroides plackovicensis, C. rilaensis, Allogamus ketpar, Platyphylax beshkovi, Pycnopsyche letova and P. telea spp. nov. The by-product of this survey is a world atlas of paramere drawings for the entire Limnephilinae subfamily.

We have recognised significant incongruences among the most commonly used taxonomic characters in the European species of Wormaldia genus of the Philopotamidae caddisfly family. During taxonomical analysis and ranking procedures we have recorded incongruent, discorcordant characters also in the taxa in Rhyacophilidae, Hydropsychidae and Limnephilidae caddisfly families. Based on theoretical background we concluded that taxa of examined caddisflies and probably all living creatures are chimeric entities composed of components of different origin. Genomes and phenomes are tree-like on the surface but more reticulated in the deep. We understand chimerism with universal consequences, expanding well beyond the evolutionary tree-thinking of reductionism and determinism. Taxa are chimeric or at least chimerical in a stochastic universe under the permanent fluxes of the external and internal impacts created by intercourses between entropy and energy gradients. We have surveyed how to create and correct synonymies in the splitter/lumper perspectives along the principles of compositional and specification hierarchies understood as quantitative variability of non-adaptive neutral and qualitative stability of adaptive, non-neutral traits. We outlined how the apophantic (declaratory) hybris creates synonymies and underestimates biodiversity. After redrawing the diverging genitalic structures, particularly the speciation traits we have reinstated species status of eight taxa: W. trifida Andersen, 1983 stat.restit, stat. nov., W. albanica Oláh, 2010 stat. restit., W. bulgarica Novak, 1971 stat. nov., W. daga Oláh, 2014 stat. restit., W. graeca Oláh, 2014 stat. restit., W. busa Oláh, 2014 stat. restit., W. homora Oláh, 2014 stat. restit. W. nielseni Moretti, 1981 stat. nov. Character selection and lineage sorting procedures established the following species groups, species complexes and species clades in the European species of Wormaldia: W. occipitalis species group: W. occipitalis species complex; W. charalambi species group; W. copiosa species group; W. triangulifera species group: W. bulgarica species complex, W. khourmai species complex, W. subnigra species complex: W. asterusia species clade, W. subnigra species clade, W. vercorsica species clade; W. triangulifera species complex, W. variegate species complex. Unplaced species: W. ambigua, W. algirica, W. sarda. In this revision we have described fourteen new species: W. longiseta, W. carpathica, W. kurta, W. parba, W. foslana, W. kumanskii, W. libohova, W. silva, W. gorba, W. kera, W. rona, W. sima, W. granada, W. telva

In the last few years we have described over 70 new incipient sibling limnephild species applying the discovered Trichoptera speciation traits of the paraproct and paramere for species recognition and delimitation. In this revision on Drusinae subfamily, comprising 177 species, we have applied these subtle, but rapid and stable speciation traits and described 49 new sibling species from the “well studied” European mountain ranges. Discussing the theoretical background we have elaborated and adapted a new character state ranking system of phenomics to revise the long-neglected taxonomy of the Drusinae subfamily and synonymised the Cryptothrix, Monocentra, Metanoea, Leptodrusus, Anomalopterygella, Hadimina genera with the Drusus genus. These old genera of artificial constructs were established exclusively by divergences of secondary sexual traits known already to have only species level ranking value. According to our new character ranking system in the Drusinae subfamily, beside the Drusus genus, only the Ecclisopteryx genus has been retained having robust generic level divegences of paraproct loss and ancestral duplication of spine organising centre on the paramere pattern. Speciation trait function of the peg-packed surface on the paraproct head in Drusus genus moved to the gonopod apices and integrated into variously shaped stimulatory organ in the Ecclisopteryx genus. In the Drusus genus the ancestral divergence of the single spine organising centre has integrated 11 species groups with remarkably stable paramere spine pattern. Based upon ancestral divergences in the paraproct architecture we have differenciated 28 species complexes inside the 11 species groups. The delineation of the 163 mostly incipient siblings species, inside the 28 species complexes with 44 new Drusus species, was based primarily on the divergences of speciation trait, that is in the stimulatory head shape of the apical arms on the dorsal branches of the paraproct. In the Ecclisopteryx genus with 14 species we have established two independent lineages both with a single species, as well as two species complexes with five new species applying the speciation trait of the genus, that is the shape divergence of the stimulatory organ on the dorsoapical surface of the gonopods. Based on the Darwinian natural selection, we do not understand how the discovered 70+49 new European incipient phylogenetic species of limnephilid caddisflies have been evolved in the isolated sky island habitats of high mountain ranges. This isolation induced speciation represents a challenge to the mechanistic reductionist concept of the natural selection. Our first trial to extract information from various disciplines to answer this question is presented in a brief theoretical discourse: (1) rethinking the status of natural selection towards postdarwinism; (2) teleology or teleonomy; (3) limits and potentials in understanding reality; (4) organisation of universe by integration; (5) what are and how the organising forces are powered to work in the emerging energy mechanisms; (6) divergence by integration; (7) divergence in isolation; (8) reproductive isolation by sexual selection; (9) shape divergence; (10) speciation traits; (11) generic ranking characters. Assessing the limits and potentials, the humility and hybris attitudes towards understanding reality, we hypothesise an integrative power of organisation, instead of simplistic natural selection, that works both in isolated and sympatric populations to maintain the integer state of the integrated autonomic entities against mutations, permutations, transmutations and perturbations. The permanent flux of these adverse, neutral or advantegous external and internal effects generates and gives rise to a responsive and balancing integrative mechanisms with comparative magnitude and multitude. This permanently balancing organisation process develops and drives a large number of interactions along various patterns of supervenient emergent mechanisms in order to integrate them into an oscillating autonomy. In isolation of the sky-islands on high altitudes, the divergences of new taxa are the adaptive autonomic byproducts of this integrative organisation. Integration and not the selection is the real force mechanism that harmonises the concerted flux of stochastic processes into reproductive isolation by sexual selection. The primacy of integration is clearly demonstrated by empirical evidences in the causes and consequences of the integrated speciation traits. Any kind of selection, artificial, natural, social or sexual, is only an emergent perturbating mechanism forced to integrate into the autonomy of an entity. This is how the entanglement of the quantum world and any supervenient integer work together through energeticism of the interactive realism. This is a must in the ontic, epistemic and semantic structural realism.

Paracossulus thrips (Hübner, 1818) is a protected species in Europe through the Council Directive 92/43/EEC. Pupal exuviae belonging to this species were found at each of two patches at Chepan Mt. (Western Bulgaria) characterised by Phlomis tuberosa L. being a dominant plant species. This is the first record of this host plant of P. thrips in Bulgaria. Habitat types are provided for both patches of the host plant. Searching for exuviae is discussed as a preferred technique for monitoring this moth species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our main goal was to investigate the phylogeography of the butterfly Phengaris arion to reveal the evolutionary origin of its 'spring' and 'summer' forms. Molecular analyses based on highly variable microsatellites, together with Wolbachia screening, were carried out on 34 populations in Europe. We found three well-defined genetic lineages of different origins: the Apennine, the central and the eastern. The highly distinct Apennine lineage is limited by the Alps and evaluated as an Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). Therefore, the taxon name ligurica , described from the Ligurian coast (Italy), should not be applied to denote the 'summer form' of the Pannonian region. The central lineage is limited by the Carpathians and the most eastern ranges of the Alps, and lacks major range fluctuations related to glaciations, although there is evidence for extra-Mediterranean refugia in the Carpathian Basin. The eastern clade could have had refugia in central Asia. Our results exclude the potential allopatric origin of the 'spring' and 'summer' arion , and support the hypothesis that the existence of the two forms could be a result of local adaptation to the distinctive phenology of host plant flowering which is manifested in the genetic differences between them. Wolbachia infection has been ruled out as a driver of sympatric speciation in P. arion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field work conducted in 2016-2019 and 2022 contributed with additional data on 23 relatively rare species in Albania, including the second record of Cacyreus marshalli and the sixth record of Apatura metis. Several new localities are given for Danaus chrysippus, which proved to be not rare on the southern coast of Albania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the Sakar Mountain in Bulgaria is very rich in terms of biodiversity, there are no published data on the fauna of the family Zygaenidae in this area. The aim of the present study is to enhance the knowledge about the species diversity of Zygaenidae in the Sakar Mt. and to provide information about rare species of conservation concern. Nine localities were studied during two field trips in 2019. Altogether 13 species were found, the most interesting of which were Rhagades amasina as a new species for Bulgaria and Theresimima ampellophaga, Zygaena diaphana and Z. laeta, which are known to be relatively rare in the south-eastern Bulgaria, north-eastern Greece (Greek Thrace) and Turkish Thrace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paracossulus (=Catopta) thrips, a species listed in Annex II of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC (Code: 4028), considered as extinct in Bulgaria, is re-discovered after more than 25 years in an isolated locality remote from previous sites. Some other rare and interesting species found in the same locality are commented on and illustrated; for some, this locality is at the edge of their range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nocturnal moths and some other Lepidoptera were investigated in Albania during August 2018. Six genera and 17 species are new for Albania. A further 48 species are reported for the second time only in that country. Species with three or more national records are omitted from the list. The majority of data are from poorly investigated areas, including the Tomori and Mali me Gropë Mountains, with the remainder from northern and eastern parts of the country. Selected collecting localities, not illustrated before, are illustrated in colour as are several moth species and their genitalia, including everted vesicas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of nocturnal moth collecting by the authors in the Balkans during May/June 2018 are reported. A total of 571 species was encountered, mostly Noctuoidea (270), Geometroidea (161) and Pyraloidea (62). The majority of data are from North Macedonia and Albania; the remainder are from countries traversed to reach these target areas, namely Slovenia, Austria and Serbia. Sixteen species are new for Albania; 41 are reported only for the second time in that country. A further three are reported new for Serbia plus four more for the second time only. Three new species were found for North Macedonia, but have already been published elsewhere. Selected species and collecting localities not illustrated before are depicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data for 45 nocturnal Lepidoptera species collected mainly in June-August 2018 by the authors are presented. The majority of reported species are from Albania, from where six genera and 19 species are reported for the first time. Seventeen other species are reported for the second time for Albania or are confirmed for the country. Three species are new for the North Macedonia (formerly known as the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Two other species are reported for the second time for that country. Reported species and collecting localities are illustrated in colour, when necessary with genitalia, including everted vesicas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors made collecting trips to Albania, between the end of September and the beginning of November 2018. Material was collected at light on 11 nights in 10 different localities. Altogether data for 234 species are presented. Cucullia dracunculi (Hübner, [1813]), is new for the Balkan Peninsula. Seven genera and 33 species are reported for the first time for Albania; 38 species are reported for the second time for the country. Collecting localities and the adults of some of the species are illustrated in colour; for some species the genitalia, including everted vesicas, are also illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species for the fauna of Serbia in its present political borders, collected in Western Serbia. With illustration of adults and genitalia of some of the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017 the authors undertook four collecting trips to Albania, between May and October. Material was collected at light on 22 nights, mostly from the southern part of the country. This is part two of a three part report. Eight genera and 22 species are reported for the first time for Albania; 24 species are reported for the second time for the country. Collecting localities and the adults of some of the reported species are illustrated in colour; for some species the genitalia, including everted vesicas, are also illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hovering and dead individuals of the diurnal hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) were found with proboscides got stuck into flowers of the ornamental plant Oenothera speciosa Nutt (Onagraceae). The phenomenon was observed in several locations in Bulgaria where the plant has been introduced. Microscopic examination revealed that the reason for this unusual interaction is pubescence of thick-walled basiscopically oriented trichomes in the basal part of the hypanthium and style of the plant. When a foraging moth inserts its proboscis into this area, the tips of the trichomes are inserted into the transverse grooves of proboscis and hamper its back movement. As a result the moths are suspended for a long time, sometimes until death. Other trapped moth species were also observed but they always effected self-release. This plant-insect interaction is also a conservation issue as an estimation of its impact on wild insect populations is lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016 the author undertook five collecting trips in Albania from June to October. Material was collected at light mostly from the southern part of the country. Part of the results are presented here, the remainder are to be published soon. Three genera (Pseudozarba, Heterophysa and Divaena) and 15 species are reported for the first time for Albania. Two other species are reported for the second time for the country. Reported species and collecting localities are illustrated in colour, when necessary with genitalia, including everted vesicas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen Zygaena species are known to occur in Macedonia. Here we present numerous additional locations for 13 species: Zygaena brizae, Z. purpuralis, Z. laeta, Z. punctum, Z. carniolica, Z. viciae, Z. loti, Z. nevadensis, Z. osterodensis, Z. ephialtes, Z. angelicae, Z. filipendulae and Z. lonicerae. The presence of Z. laeta and Z. nevadensis is confirmed for the first time since the 1960s/1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new genera (Protorhoe Herbulot, 1951 and Haemerosia Boisduval, 1840) and seven species (Protorhoe corollaria (Herrich-Schäffer, [1848]), Meganola togatulalis (Hübner, 1796), Autophila limbata (Staudinger, 1871), Aegle semicana (Esper, 1798), Haemerosia renalis (Hübner, [1813]), Hadena syriaca podolica (Kremky, 1937) and Chersotis elegans (Eversmann, 1837)) new for the fauna of Serbia are reported and illustrated. Peridea korbi (Rebel, 1918) is reported for the first time with localities from Serbia. Additionally, some species known in Serbia from one or a few localities only are also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One genus and six species: Eupithecia breviculata (Donzel, 1837), Drymonia velitaris (Hufnagel, 1766), Conisania renati meszarosi Varga & Ronkay, 1991, Enterpia laudeti (Boisduval, 1840), Albocosta musiva (Hübner, [1803]) and Narraga tessularia (Metzner, 1845) are reported for the first time for Serbia (SRB). Two genera and three species: Dyscia raunaria (Freyer, 1851), Dryobota labecula (Esper, [1788]) and Dichonioxa tenebrosa (Esper, [1789]) are reported for the first time for Republic of Macedonia (MC). One subfamily, one genus and three species: Charissa pentheri (Rebel, 1904), Eublemma pudorina (Staudinger, 1889) and Acosmetia caliginosa (Hübner, [1813]) are new for Bulgaria (BG). Two genera and four species: Gnophos dumetata Treitschke, 1827, Epimecia ustula (Freyer, [1835]), Orectis proboscidata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851) and Nyctobrya amasina (Draudt, 1931) are reported for the first time for the Republic of Montenegro (MN). Metachrostis velocior (Staudinger, 1892) is new for Albania (AL), Shargacucullia gozmanyi G. Ronkay & L. Ronkay, 1994 is new for Greece (GR). Several other species are confirmed for these countries. Some rare species, known before from a few localities in the explored countries are reported and illustrated here as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Processing of light collected Balkan material supplemented with sweep-netted Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania has resulted in 40 new species records with the description of three new species: Rhyacophila olahorum sp. n., R. neretva sp. n. and R. nurga sp. n. from the Rhyacophila orghidani and Rhyacophila pascoei new species complexes. With 18 figures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese oak silkmoth Antheraea yamamai (Guérin-Méneville, 1861) is reported here for first time in the scientific literature from Montenegro (Republic of Crna Gora). In two localities, not far away each other, moths were collected at light. We report this species from Serbia as well. All collected specimens are males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August, 2016 authors spent four nights light collecting in Albania. In this paper we present one new genus and species for Albania - Penestoglossa dardoinella (Millière, 1863). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single female specimen of Hadena (Pinkericola) tephroleuca (Boisduval, 1833) was collected in Belassitsa Mts. in SW Bulgaria at an altitude of 1857m at light. This is the first record of this species in Bulgaria. Collected specimen is illustrated here and is deposed in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia (NMNHS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]