Sphindus dubius (Gyllenhal, 1808)

Material examined: BULGARIA: Sakar Mts, W of Ustrem Vill., near Manastirska Reka River, 42°01.452’N 26°27.094’E, 103 m a.s.l., riverine vegetation, small swamp (Fig. 1), 12.vii.2020, 1 ♀ (BFUS-COL000012) (Fig. 2), at light (white & UV), Denis Gradinarov leg.

Sphindus dubius is the only species from the genus Sphindus, found in Europe (Jelínek 2007). This species is widely distributed throughout the continent and is also known from Algeria and Canary Islands (North Africa) (Jelínek 2007). Among the neighbouring countries of Bulgaria S. dubius has been recorded for Romania and Greece (Jelínek 2007). The species has also recently been reported from Anatolia (Harman & Avcı 2023). Sphindus dubius can be distinguished from the similar in habitus Odontosphindus grandis Hampe, 1861, reported from a number of European countries (Jelínek 2007, Freeman et al. 2003), in particular by its 10-segmented antennae (11-segmented in species of the genus Odontosphindus) (Freeman et al. 2003). Only single female of the species was collected in the study habitat, despite intensive light trapping in the period 2020 – 2023, which can be attributed to the relatively poor suitability of the method used for collecting adults of the family Sphindidae (McHugh 2002).