01 Oca 2026 Perşembe
Biodiversity hotspots in Türkiye's transitional regions: First host record for Gargara genistae (Fabricius, 1775) and new locality for Stictocephala bisonia (Kopp et Yonke, 1977)
Abstract : Fieldwork was carried out between July and August 2025 in two locations: Kemaliye district of Erzincan province and the Keydan locality of Sivrice district in Elazığ province. During the surveys, Gargara genistae was observed on the endemic plant Genista aucheri (Boiss.). Specimens were collected using sweep nets and a hand aspirator, resulting in a total of 14 individuals (8 females and 6 males). Although faunistic records of G. genistae in Türkiye have been previously documented, there has been no information regarding its host plant associations. This study confirms, for the first time, the presence of natural populations on G. aucheri, a thornless, perennial shrub with a limited distribution across Türkiye’s transitional zones. These findings emphasize the ecological value of such transitional regions, which provide crucial habitats for both endemic plant species and their associated specialist insect fauna. Additionally, the detection of Stictocephala bisonia in Elazığ extends the known distribution of this species within Türkiye. The results contribute valuable data toward documenting entomological diversity and supporting habitat-based conservation strategies.