Orophilic and crenophilic stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) of the Italian region: new species, nomenclatural changes, updated and annotated checklist.

An updated checklist of 191 Plecoptera species currently known from the Italian region is presented. Four new species are described: Protonemura marilouae sp. nov. from Calabria and Sicily, P. olahi sp. nov. from the central Apennines (Abruzzi), Leuctra stronensis sp. nov. from the Pennine Alps and L. trecimensis sp. nov. from the Dolomites. The males of Protonemura hirpina Consiglio, 1958b, and Leuctra silana Aubert, 1953b, are re-described, and their females are described for the first time. Four taxa are raised from subspecies to species rank: Protonemura padana Vinçon & Ravizza, 2005, Leuctra aubertorum Ravizza & Ravizza Dematteis, 1994a, L. orsiera Ravizza & Vinçon, 2003 and L. incudensis Vinçon & Ravizza, 2000b. Nemoura banatica Kis, 1965 is restored as a valid species, removed from synonymy with N. marginata Pictet, 1836, and its male is re-described. Protonemura beatensis robusta Berthélemy, 1963 is declared to be a junior synonym of P. salfii (Aubert, 1954c). Taxonomical notes on problematic species are added. The present checklist is the result of the compilation of published and unpublished data collected by the first three authors between 1974 and 2023. Distribution, altitudinal range and flight period of all species are summarized in table I. The altitudinal limits of nearly all orophilic Plecoptera species of the Italian Alps and Apennines are shown to have shifted to higher altitudes over a period of 30 or more years. An exhaustive bibliography of the original species descriptions of the Italian Plecoptera fauna is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]