On the Psocodea (Insecta) fauna of the Sveti Iliyski Heights, South-East Bulgaria
Dilian G. Georgiev1, 2, *
1Department of General Animal Husbandry, Section Ecology and zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University – Stara Zagora, 6000 Stara Zagora, BULGARIA
2Department of Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, 24 Tsar Assen Str., 4000 Plovdiv, BULGARIA
*E-mail: diliangeorgiev@uni-plovdiv.bg, dilyan.georgiev@ trakia-uni.bg
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2885-4895
Abstract. This study presents the first data on the barkfly fauna (Insecta: Psocodea) of the Sveti Iliyski Heights, an isolated lowland hilly chain in South-East Bulgaria (Upper Thracian Lowland). A total of 14 species belonging to eight families (Trogiidae, Liposcelididae, Caeciliusidae, Stenopsocidae, Lachesillidae, Ectopsocidae, Elipsocidae, and Mesopsocidae) were recorded based on material collected irregularly between 2017 and 2024. Most species were found in reforested stands of Pinus nigra and surrounding broadleaved vegetation, predominantly inhabiting dry foliage, live and dead branches, tree bark, and leaf litter.
Keywords: lowland heights, psocids, diversity, species, habitats, microhabitats
