No abstract

Mayflies are amphibious insects which represent an important link in food and energy transfer from aquatic to terrestrial habitats. They constitute a large proportion of the aquatic ecosystems' biomass. Although our knowledge about mayfly (bio)diversity in the Balkan Peninsula is still far from complete, more extensive systematic studies have been conducted within the last decade. In this chapter we explore development of mayfly research in the area of the Western Balkans, mayfly species richness in various small lotic habitats, including springs, streams and rivers, and determine the importance of such habitats for conservation of local mayflies. We discuss the value of mayflies as bioindicators of freshwater ecosystems' health, as well as the influences of various anthropogenic activities on mayfly assemblages in small lotic habitats of the Western Balkans. Moreover, we present current gaps in research and we give recommendations for future directions of mayfly research in the area of the Western Balkans.

This study is focussed on the redescription of Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) russevi Braasch & Soldán on the basis of the type material (holotype and paratypes) and topotypes collected in the Strandzha Mts. (Bulgaria). Female imago and subimago, larva and egg of the species are described for the first time and the male imago is redescribed in detail. The features distinguishing the species from other representatives of the genus Ecdyonurus are presented. Ecdyonurus russevi differs by the combination of several characters in the colour pattern of abdominal terga and wings, colour of lateral portion of male eyes and male genitalia structure in adults; some overlap has been observed in the number of groups of setae, bristles and hair-like setae on maxillae and labial palps, shape of pronotal projection and colour of tarsi in larvae; and insignificant number of knob-terminated coiled threads on exochorion, with only a few such attachment elements on one pole in eggs. Biology and present distribution of the species are discussed.