Lithobius melanops Newport 1845

Lithobius melanops Newport, 1845

Koren (1992): 75, figs 22a–c.

Material examined (NMNHS): 1 ad. ♀, Sofia, Poduene, N 42.422661, E 23.220843, bathroom of an apartment, 16.VI.2003, leg. R. Spasova, det. PS.; 1 specimen, Sofia, National Academy of Art, N 42.696305, E 23.327054, 20.VI.2003, leg. R. Spasova, det. PS.; 1 ♂, Sofia N 42.415175, E 23.191872, in a block, near to a potted plant, 19.IV.2003, leg. I. Borisov, det. PS.; 1 ♂, same place, 18.X.2003, leg. I. Borisov, det. PS.

Remarks. This species is new to the Bulgarian fauna, although it was previously recorded in the city greens of Shumen, identified as Lithobius aff. melanops (Bachvarova et al. 2015). However, this is the first definite record of the species in the country. Lithobius melanops is widely distributed in Europe including Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain I., Canary Is., Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark (mainland and Faroe Is.), Central and North European Russia, Finland, France (excl. Corsica), Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira Is., Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain (mainland, excl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Ukraine; introduced to Newfoundland (Enghoff 2013). The subspecies borgei Eason and Ashmole, 1992 is known only from the Azores (Eason & Ashmole 1992); the N. African (Morocco) subspecies (protectus Brölemann, 1924; dayae Manfredi, 1956; tridentatus Demange, 1957) have been revised by Zapparoli (1984a, 1984b) who believes that they must be referred to species different from L. melanops (Zapparoli 2006). In Bulgaria, the species has been found only in highly urbanized environments—houses (in potted house and garden plants) and city parks.