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Morphological and ecological features of Drusus larvae from bosnicus group on the Balkan Peninsula with description of the larva of Drusus klapaleki Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1970

The high biodiversity on the Balkan Peninsula is a result of the specific geographical, climatical, geomorphological and hydrological features. The region is an important centre of biodiversity and endemism for different groups of animals also including Trichoptera. Within Trichoptera one of the most interesting genuses is Drusus with 28 species recorded so far for the Balkans, 90 % of which are endemic to this region. The Drusus species usually inhabit springs and crenal sections of mountain streams and rivers, with low and slightly variable annual water temperature. This important life history trait determinates their patchy distribution, especially the isolation of mountain populations, and therefore high species diversity. Within the Balkan Peninsula seven taxa from the bosnicus group were established: Drusus bosnicus, D. klapaleki, D. medianus, D. ramae, D. vespertinus, D. radovanovici radovanovici and D. radovanovici septentrionis. In this study we present morphological features and some ecological data of the last instar larvae of Drusus klapaleki. In addition, we outline the most important diagnostic features of these larvae in order to distinguish them from larvae of the other species from the bosnicus group. Moreover, notes on faunistics of springs where larvae were collected, and some aspects of ecological features and distribution are discussed for all species from the bosnicus group.

Drusus; larval description; morphology; Balkan Peninsula

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