A list of all the species of Chamaemyiidae known from Turkey is compiled from the literature and supplemented by new records. A total of 40 species in five genera is given with updated nomenclature. One undescribed species is illustrated but not named for lack of males. The distribution of each species outside Turkey is summarised.

Silver-flies, faunistics, taxonomy, distribution

Silver flies of the family Chamaemyiidae have an interesting biology with a potential for the biological control of pest species of aphids and adelgids (Aphidoidea) and scales and mealybugs (Coccoidea) that attack crops, horticultural plants, and forest trees. Silver flies are found in all continents except Antarctica, but much remains to be discovered in nearly all zoogeographical regions.

When compared to the other zoogeographical regions, the Palaearctic is relatively well studied with many species having been associated with their prey and the prey with their host plants, largely summarised by Tanasijtshuk (1986). Nevertheless, the distribution of most species remains inadequately known and there is always more to discover about the biology of a majority of the species. Southern Europe and Turkey through to Central Asia is a region rich in species, reflecting the diversity of habitats and flora. No doubt, more species await discovery and description. Their taxonomy can be difficult owing to the very similar external appearance of species within each genus.

The first record of a species of Chamaemyiidae from Turkey appears to be that of Süreyya and Hovasse (1931). They record larvae of Leucopis sp. very successfully attacking the scale insect Marchalina hellenica Genn. damaging pine trees on Princes Islands (Turkey). Bodenheimer (1953) reported on an unspecified species of Leucopis Meigen, 1830. Three species of Neoleucopis McAlpine, 1971 were examined by McAlpine in his revision of the genus (McAlpine 1971). Several more species were added by various authors since then (Eichhorn 1968; McAlpine 1978; Düzgüneş et al. 1982, Tanasijtshuk 1986, Elmali 1997; Kaydan et al. 2006, Raspi and Ebejer 2008, Raspi 2013). In the last two articles, the authors added more data and in each publication a new species of Parochthiphila Czerny, 1904 was described. Kaydan et al. (2006) also gave the prey species and their host plants. In a recent paper, Satar et al. (2015) gave a summary of the biological and ecological role of species in this family, added four new records for Turkey and provided biological data based from their own rearing records of several species of Leucopis. They gave no new records of species in other genera.

The aim of this article is to briefly review what is known of the Turkish fauna based on the literature, recent field work of one of us (MB) and supplementary material collected by Dr Jindřich Roháček (Opava, Czech Republic). We list all the species recorded in these earlier papers and add new records for the country and further locality and chorological data on some previously known species. Nomenclature is updated.

Species are listed in alphabetical order under each genus. Previous records are cited below each species name. Additional locality data based on the recently collected material is included and new records for Turkey are indicated. Depositories of specimens are in the M Barták collection, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, unless otherwise stated and given in parenthesis at the end of each data entry thus: MJE – MJ Ebejer collection, Cowbridge, UK; MSO – Museum Silesiae Opava, Czech Republic. Material cited in this paper was collected by water pan traps (PT), Malaise traps (MT), and by hand held sweep net (SW).

The material treated here originates mainly from Muğla province (Muğla, Akyaka, Toparlar, Gökçeova Gölü, and Dalyan), and some from Samsun province (Samsun). The general distribution of species is summarised mainly from Tanasijtshuk (1984, 1986), Beschovski (1995), Beschovski and Merz (1998), Ebejer (2017), and Raspi (2013). Taxonomy follows Tanasijtshuk (1986) and Raspi and Benelli (2016).

CHAMAEMYIINAE

Chamaemyia Meigen, 1803

Chamaemyia aridella (Fallén, 1823)

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 61

Distribution: widespread in Europe, from Britain south to the Mediterranean and Turkey.

Chamaemyia emiliae Tanasijtshuk, 1970

Material examined: 2♂♂, Muğla, 700 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, 17–22.v.2011; 1♀, 12 km SW of Muğla, 660 m, on Ferula communis, 37°07'40"N, 28°16'28"E, 23.v.2011; 1♂, Muğla, 720 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'13"E, xi.2015–iv.2016, H Pala leg.

Distribution: Hungary and Russia eastwards to Kazakhstan. New record for Turkey.

Chamaemyia geniculata (Zetterstedt, 1838)

Material examined: 1♀, Antalya, Yarpuz, 4.7 km W nr cross-road, 1240 m, 37°07'26"N, 31°48'01"E, 16.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 1♂, Antalya, Ürünlü, 5.8 km SW, Manavgat River, 440 m, 37°04'30"N, 31°39'25"E, 17.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO).

Distribution: A widespread species in Europe through Ukraine to Middle Asian states and Mongolia. New record for Turkey.

Chamaemyia juncorum (Fallén, 1823)

Material examined: 1♂, Gökçeova Gölü, lake shore, 1750 m, 37°03'42.52"N, 28°48'28.42"E, 20.ix.2012; 1♂, Akyaka, 30 m, forest, SW, 37°03'19"N, 28°19'36"E, 30.iv.–9.v.2013.

Distribution: Widespread across the whole Palaearctic including North Africa. New record for Turkey.

Chamaemyia polystigma (Meigen, 1830)

Raspi 2013: 24

Material examined: 1♀, Antalya, Ödaönü, 1 km S, Alara River shores, 11–13 m, 36°40'24"N, 31°40'57"E, 13.v.2011, J Roháček (MSO); 1♂3♀♀, Antalya, Murtiçi, 1 km S, 490–510 m, 36°52'20"N, 31°46'03"E, 31°40'57"E, 14.v.2011, J Roháček (MSO); 1♀, Antalya, Emiraşıklar, 1 km NW, 950 m, 37°02'45"N, 31°43'48"E, 17.v.2011, J Roháček (MSO); 1♀, Antalya, Ibradı, 3.7 km NW, 1200 m, 37°07'15"N, 31°34'10"E, 17.v.2011, J Roháček (MSO); 1♀, Akyaka, river bank, salty meadow, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'57"E, 16–27.v.2011; 1♀, 11 km E of Muğla, wood + meadow, 1310 m, 37°12'45"N, 28°27'42"E, 1.v.2013; 1♂1♀, Samsun, university campus, 41°22'N, 36°11'E, 22.vi–4.vii.2014; 1♀, Akyaka, 40 m, forest, SW, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'35"E, 26.iv.2016; 1♀, Toparlar, lowland forest, 8 m, SW+PT, 36°59'27"N, 28°38'50"E, 28–30.iv.2016.

Distribution: Widespread in Europe and North Africa, Turkey, and reaches Mongolia.

Chamaemyia sylvatica Collin, 1966

Material examined: 1♂1♀, Muğla, 710 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'39"N, 28°22'20"E, xi–iii.2013; 1♂, 11 km E of Muğla, wood + meadow, 1310 m, 37°12'45"N, 28°27'42"E, 1.v.2013; 2♂♂, 13 km NE of Muğla, pinewood + pasture, 1100–1300 m, 37°15'N, 28°30'E, 2–3.v.2016.

Distribution: Britain and Central Europe to Poland and Bulgaria. New record for Turkey.

Parochthiphila Czerny, 1904

Parochthiphila (Parochthiphila) inconstans (Becker, 1903)

Material examined: 1♂, Muğla Province, Köyceğiz, Toparlar, waterfall, 44 m, 36°49'N, 28°58'E, 26.iv.2006; 1♂, Muğla, 730 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'38"N, 28°22'11"E, 5–19.viii.2015, H Kavak leg.

Distribution: Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, North Africa and Arabia. New record for Turkey.

Parochthiphila (Parochthiphila) spectabilis (Loew, 1858)

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 61

Material examined: 3♂♂4♀♀, Antalya, Manavgat, 4.4 km S, Manavgat rivershore, 1 m, 36°45'01"N, 31°28'03"E, 15.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 1♀, Antalya, Manavgat, 3.5 km S, Titreyen lake, 1 m, 36°45'25"N, 31°27'19"E, 15.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 16♂♂8♀♀, Akyaka, river bank, salty meadow, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'57"E, 16–27.v.2011; 2♂♂1♀, same data (MJE); 4♂♂, Akyaka, pasture, 4 m, 37°03'09"N, 28°20'17"E, 23–27.ix.2012; 5♂♂1♀, Toparlar, lowland wood, 60 m, 36°58'39"N, 28°39'30"E, 5–7.v.2013; 5♂♂, Akyaka, pasture, 6 m, SW, 37°03'19"N, 28°20'07"E, 28.iv.–8.v.2013; 1♂, same data (MJE); 5♂♂, Akyaka, salty meadow, SW+PT, 37°12'45"N, 28°27'42"E, 28.iv.–9.v.2013.

Distribution: Widespread in Europe, Turkey, through Russia to the Urals and Kazakhstan.

Parochthiphila (Euestelia) argentiseta Ebejer & Raspi, 2008

Material examined: 1♂, Samsun, university campus, 41°22'N, 36°11'E, 22.vi.–4.vii.2014; 1♂, 13 km NE of Muğla, pine wood, 1200, 37°14'50"N, 28°30'E, 23–27.vi.2015.

Distribution: Described and so far known only from Turkey.

Parochthiphila (Euestelia) decipia Tanasijtshuk, 1986

Kaydan et al. 2006: 333

Distribution: Italy, Moldova, Turkey, through the Middle Asian states to Afghanistan.

Parochthiphila (Euestelia) ephesi Raspi, 2013

Raspi, 2013: 14

Distribution: Described and so far known only from Turkey.

Parochthiphila (Euestelia) frontella (Rondani, 1874)

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 61

Material examined: 2♂, Dalyan, farm, MT, 1 m, 36°48'54"N, 28°39'04"E, 8–20.viii.2015, Dursun; 1♂, Muğla, 710 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'39"N, 28°22'20"E, xi–iii.2013; 1♂, Dalyan, orchard, 4 m, 36°49'37"N, 28°39'39"E, 11.ix.2014; 2♂♂, Muğla, 720 m, university campus, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'13"E, 26–27.vi.2015; 1♂, Muğla, 730 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'38"N, 28°22'11"E, 5–19.viii.2015, H Kavak leg.

Distribution: Southern France, Iberia, Italy, and Mediterranean islands to Greece and the Aegean part of Turkey.

Parochthiphila (Euestelia) kimmerica Tanasijtshuk, 1968

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 61

Material examined: 2♂♂1♀, Muğla, 700 m, university campus, SW+PT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, 29.iv.–10.v.2011; 2♂, 12 km SW of Muğla, 660m, on Ferula communis, 37°07'40"N, 28°16'28"E, 23.v.2011; 1♂, Akyaka, 30 m, forest, SW, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'35"E, 30.iv.–9.v.2013; 1♂, Akyaka, 40 m, forest, SW, 37°03'19"N, 28°19'36"E, 26.iv.2016 .

Distribution: from western Russia south to Turkey and Israel.

Parochthiphila (Euestelia) nigripes (Strobl, 1900)

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 61; Raspi 2013: 20

Material examined: 1♂, Muğla, 700 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, 17–22.v.2011; 1♂, 11 km E of Muğla, pinewood + meadow, 1310 m, 37°12'45"N, 28°27'42"E, 23.v.2011; 1♂, 12 km SW of Muğla, 660 m, on Ferula communis, 37°07'40"N, 28°16'28"E, 23.v.2011; 1♀, Akyaka, 30 m, forest, SW, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'35"E, 30.iv.–9.v.2013; 4♂♂1♀, Muğla, 700 m, university campus, SW+PT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, 29.iv.–10.v.2013; 2♂♂, 13 km NE of Muğla, pinewood, 1200, 37°14'50"N, 28°30'E, 23–27.vi.2015; 1♂, Muğla, 720 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'13"E, 26–27.vi.2016.

Distribution: Spain through to southern Russia, Ukraine, Balkan states, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan.

LEUCOPINAE

Leucopis Meigen, 1830

Leucopis afghanica Tanasijtshuk, 1998

Material examined: 1♀, Muğla, 730m, university campus, MT, 37°09'38"N, 28°22'11"E, xi.2015–iv.2016; 1♂, Muğla, 720 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'13"E, iv.–v.2016, H Kavak leg.; 1♀, same data, but H Pala leg.

Distribution: Previously known only from Afghanistan. New record for Turkey.

Leucopis annulipes Zetterstedt, 1848

Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 92 (as Leucopis caucasica Tanasijtshuk, 1961); Tanasijtshuk 1986: 244; Yoldaş et al. 2011: 63; Satar et al. 2015: 175

Material examined: 1♂, 13km NE of Muğla, pine wood + pasture, 1100–1300 m, 37°15'N, 28°30'E, 2–3.v.2016.

Distribution: all of Europe to western Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

Leucopis argentata Heeger, 1848

Leucopis conciliata McAlpine & Tanasijtshuk, 1972: 1871; Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 93

Material examined: 1♂2♀♀, Antalya, Ödaönü, 1 km S, Alara River shores, 11–13 m, 36°40'24"N, 31°40'57"E, 13.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 3♂♂1♀, Akyaka, river bank, salty meadow, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'57"E, 16–27.v.2011; 6♂♂, Akyaka, pasture, 4 m, 37°03'09"N, 28°20'17"E, 23–27.ix.2012; 10♂♂, Akyaka, salty meadow, SW+PT, 37°12'45"N, 28°27'42"E, 28.iv.–9.v.2013; 2♂♂, same data (MJE); 3♂♂, Toparlar, lowland wood, 60 m, 36°58'39"N, 28°39'30"E, 5–7.v.2013; 2♂♂, Akyaka, pasture, 8 m, 37°03'11"N, 28°20'33"E, 27.iv.2016.

Distribution: Central and southern Europe and from the Iberian Peninsula to Turkey and the Middle East including the Arabian Peninsula, and to Mongolia.

Leucopis artemisiae Tansijtshuk, 1986

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 62

Distribution: Southeastern Russia, Turkey.

Leucopis compacta Tanasijtshuk, 1972

Tanasijtshuk 1986: 269

Distribution: France and Bulgaria through Ukraine, Turkey, and Middle Asian states to Mongolia.

Leucopis formosana Hennig, 1938

Satar et al. 2015: 175

Distribution: one of the most widespread species of the genus occurring from Cape Verde Islands to Cyprus and Middle East including Arabia, and in the Far East from China south through Asian countries to Australia. In tropical Africa found from Côte d’Ivoire to east, South Africa, and on the Mascarene Island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. A full account of this species is given in Tanasijtshuk (1999).

Leucopis gallicola Tanasijtshuk, 1972

Şahbaz and Uysal 2006: 122

Distribution: Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Middle Asian states.

Leucopis glyphinivora Tanasijtshuk, 1958

Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 93; Tanasijtshuk 1986: 292; Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 63; Satar et al. 2015: 175

Material examined: 1♂, Antalya, Manavgat, 7 km SE, mouth of Manavgat River, 0–1 m, 36°44'17"N, 31°29'44"E, 11.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 1♀, Antalya, Güçlüköy, 2 km E, 610 m, 36°49'06"N, 31°46'21"E, 15.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 1♂, Muğla, 700 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, 17–22.v.2011; 5♂♂, Akyaka, river bank, salty meadow, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'57"E, 16–27.v.2011; 1♂, Toparlar, lowland wood, 60 m, 36°58'39"N, 28°39'30"E, 5–7.v.2013; 1♂, 5 km S of Muğla, on flowers, 670 m, 37°08'27"N, 28°22'05"E, 6.v.2013.

Distribution: Iberian Peninsula through Europe and south to the Mediterranean and Turkey, through the Middle East to Mongolia.

Leucopis grunini Tanasijtshuk, 1979

Material examined: 1♀, Muğla, 700m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, 17–22.v.2011; 1♂1♀, Muğla, 700m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'21"E, iv.–v.2013, O Dursun leg.

Distribution: Italy, Cyprus, southern Russia, and Middle Asian states. New record for Turkey.

Leucopis hennigrata McAlpine, 1978

Eichhorn 1968: 210 (as Leucopis n. sp.); McAlpine 1978: 350

Distribution: Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, former Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, and introduced into Canada (found in British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland), and USA (found in Washington, Oregon, Arizona).

Leucopis kerzhneri Tanasijtshuk, 1970

Elmali 1997: 174

Distribution: North Africa, Greece, Mongolia.

Leucopis minuscula Rondani, 1875

Şahbaz and Uysal 2006: 122 (as Leucopis auraria Tanasijtshuk, 1961)

Distribution: Italy, Malta, eastern Russia, Mongolia.

Leucopis monticola Tanasijtshuk, 1961

Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 63

Distribution: Iberian Peninsula through Central Europe to Russia, Ukraine, Turkey.

Leucopis ninae Tanasijtshuk, 1966

Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 94; Tanasijtshuk 1986: 272

Material examined: 1♂, Antalya, Manavgat, 7 km SE, Titreyen lake, 0–1 m, 36°44'17"N, 31°29'44"E, 11.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 1♀, Antalya, Dolbazlar, 1.3 km NW, 21 m, 36°51'01"N, 31°24'24"E, 15.v.2011, J Roháček leg. (MSO); 2♂♂1♀, Akyaka, pasture, 4 m, 37°03'08.9"N, 28°20'17.4"E, 16–22.ix.2012; 1♀, Akyaka, pasture, 8 m, 37°03'11"N, 28°20'33"E, 27.iv.2016.

Distribution: England through Europe to southern Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, through the Middle East and north Africa, and to the Middle Asian states through to Mongolia.

Leucopis pallidolineata Tanasijtshuk, 1961

Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 94; Tanasijtshuk 1986: 257; Raspi and Ebejer 2008: 63

Material examined: 5♂♂, Muğla, 720 m, university campus, MT, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'13"E, 26–27.vi.2016.

Distribution: Central Europe through southern Russia, Ukraine, through Middle Asian states and Mongolia.

Leucopis pseudomelanopus Tanasijtshuk, 1961

Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 95; Tanasijtshuk 1986: 306

Distribution: Central Europe, southern Russia, Ukraine, Middle Asia.

Leucopis revisenda Tanasijtshuk, 1970

Satar et al. 2015: 175

Distribution: Central Europe, southern Russia, Ukraine, through Middle Asian states and Mongolia.

Leucopis rufithorax Tanasijtshuk, 1958

Satar et al. 2015: 175

Distribution: Central and southern Europe, southern Russia, Ukraine, through Middle Asian states and Mongolia.

Leucopis spyrothecae Raspi, 2003

Satar et al. 2015: 175

Distribution: Italy, Turkey.

Leucopis sp. n.

Figs 1–4

Material examined: 1♀, Muğla, 730m, university campus, MT, 37°09'38"N, 28°22'11"E, xi.2015–iv.2016; 1♀, Muğla, 720 m, university campus, 37°09'42"N, 28°22'13"E, iv–v.2016, H Pala leg.

Remarks. This distinctive species appears to be undescribed, but for lack of males it cannot be named here. Another dark species of Leucopis (L. albostriata Czerny, 1936) exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism and so it may eventually prove difficult to correctly associate males with these specimens in the future. The two specimens noted here are dark, shiny, brownish black with a thin coating of pollinosity only on the head and on the pleura. Neither specimen is teneral, but one has the palp and the whole antenna yellow and the other has the palp, pedicel, and post pedicel dark brown. In other respects they are identical. Such small differences can be attributed equally to closely related species or to intraspecific variation. This supports our caution in not naming this species. The safest way to determine if these are one or two species would be to rear males and females simultaneously from a single colony.

Figures 1–4. 

Leucopis sp. n., female; 1 habitus, lateral 2 head and thorax, dorsal 3 abdomen dorsal 4 head anterior.

Distribution: Turkey.

Leucopis sp.

Material examined: 1♂, 13 km NE of Muğla, pinewood + pasture, 1100–1300 m, 37°15'N, 28°30'E, 2–3.v.2016.

Remarks. A single male specimen of Leucopis could not be identified. It is probably a variant of one of the commoner species as it shows no differentiating external characters but only small differences in the shape of the aedeagus. Without more material it is not possible to come to any definitive conclusion on the taxonomic status of this specimen.

Leucopomyia Malloch, 1921

Leucopomyia palliditarsis (Rondani, 1875)

Kaydan et al. 2006: 333 (as Leucopomyia alticeps (Czerny, 1936))

Distribution: from Iberian Peninsula through Central Europe to Russia and Middle Asian states.

Leucopomyia silesiaca (Egger, 1862)

Ülgentürk 1999: 76, 2001: 371; Kaydan et al. 2006: 333

Distribution: From Britain through Central Europe, Russia, Ukraine, to Middle Asian states.

Neoleucopis Malloch, 1921

Neoleucopis atratula (Ratzeburg, 1844)

Eichhorn 1968: 210; McAlpine 1971: 1868; Tanasijtshuk 1986: 173

Distribution: From Britain through Central Europe to the Balkan states and Turkey. Introduced into North America, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Neoleucopis kartliana (Tanasijtshuk, 1986)

Düzgüneş et al. 1982: 92 (as Leucopis caucasica Tanasijtshuk, 1961); Ülgentürk et al. 2013: 533

Material examined: 1♀, Akyaka, 30 m, forest, SW, 37°03'16"N, 28°19'35"E, 30.iv.–9.v.2013; 1♂, 13 km NE of Muğla, pinewood + pasture, 1100–1300 m, 37°15'N, 28°30'E, 2–3.v.2016.

Remarks. Gaimari et al. (2007) provided a detailed redescription with biological notes on this species, studied in Greece, and speculated that it ought to occur in Turkey, evidently unaware that it had been already recorded from there. More information on the biology of this species in Turkey was given by Ülgentürk et al. (2013).

Distribution: Georgia, Italy, Greece, Turkey.

Neoleucopis obscura (Haliday, 1833)

Eichhorn 1968: 210; McAlpine 1971: 1862; Tanasijtshuk 1986: 169

Distribution: North and Central Europe to the Balkan states and Turkey. Introduced into eastern and western North America.

Neoleucopis tapiae (Blanchard, 1964)

McAlpine 1971: 1866

Distribution: Europe, from Britain south to Gibraltar and west to western Russia. Introduced to North and South America and New Zealand.

Many scientists consider Anatolia to have been an important Pleistocene glacial refugium, which together with the heterogeneous topography and geographical position of Anatolia at the junction of three biodiversity hotpots, the Caucasus, Irano-Anatolian, and Mediterranean (Gür 2016), may have contributed to a very high animal diversity. This, alongside an insufficient level of faunistic research, may explain the recent increase in the number of known Chamaemyiidae from Turkey.

Turkey may have one of the most diverse faunas of Chamaemyiidae in the Southern Palaearctic. We list 40 species in five genera including seven new records and one undescribed new species. Notwithstanding this list, we think the fauna still remains poorly known. There are several species present in adjacent countries that have not yet been found in Turkey, a country that offers a very diverse topography and plant life. Sampling in as many diverse habitats as possible, in different seasons, and rearing silver flies from populations of their hosts will yield interesting results, thus adding to the knowledge of the biology and ecology of this family.

MJE is indebted to Dr Steve Gaimari (California, USA) for the identification of Leucopis afghanica, for supplying a copy of Tanasijtshuk’s 1998 paper, and for his general collegiality. The authors are grateful also for his valuable review of the manuscript. MB thanks staff and students of the Department of Biology, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey, namely Hasan Civelek, Oktay Dusun, Hanife Pala, and Hatice Kavak for their help with collecting specimens and for taking care of Malaise traps. Sincere thanks are also due to Dr J Roháček (Opava, Czech Republic) who kindly offered his material for study and inclusion in this work.