Italian Hanging Fly
Bittacus italicus (Muller, 1766)
Bittacus tipularius Linne: Nedelkov, 1909: 135.
Order Scorpionflies (Mecoptera)
Family Hangingflies (Bittacidae)
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically Endangered CR [A2ac; B1ab(i,iv)+2ab(i,iv)].
General distribution. Spain, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and the Ukraine.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. At the beginning of the 20th century it was found near Svishtov, Varna and at the foot of the Sredna Gora range [1], as well as near Eliseyna Railway Station in the Iskar Gorge; at Dolno Levski Village near Panagyurishte; and near Burgas (unpublished data). Since then it has been observed only twice: in the Euxinograd Park near Varna in 1935 [2] and 4 km to the southeast of Dolni Pasarel Village in the Iskar Valley in 1980 (Zdravko Hubenov, personal communicaion). Preserved in collections are only specimens gathered in 1905-1907. One hundred years ago it was common [1], and 30 years later it was a very rare species with a sporadic distribution [2]. It is probably still found, albeit with a low density, in the Pasarel field in the valley of the river Iskar, where its characteristic habitat is not essentially changed.
Habitats. A hygrophylic species. It inhabits riverside lowland deciduous forests and the neighbouring wet meadows. Observed on the inflorescences of the Hogweed (Heracleum) near Pasarel (Zdravko Hubenov, personal communication). In the Ukraine it prefers the inflorescences of Eryngo (Eryngium) [3].
Biology. The adult spends the day resting in shadowy places, where it perches, hanging with its front legs onto herbaceous plants or shrubs. At dusk, during the sunset, it performs short flights low over the surrounding vegetation. It occurs from July to September. A predator. Mating also takes place in the hanging position and the male specimen transfers an insect victim to the female. Overwintering stage: egg. The larvae are saprophagous and live on the soil, overgrown with dense herbaceous vegetation.
Similar species. None.
Negative factors. Change of the habitat as a result of the drying up of the riverside wet zones. Clearing the woody vegetation along the rivers. Construction activity in the rivers and along their banks. Water pollution. Low density of the species in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures taken. None.
Conservation measures needed. Maintenance and conservation of riverside forests, also of isolated trees. Inclusion of Bittacus italicus in the List of Protected Species according to the Biological Diversity Act.
References. 1. Nedelkov, 1909; 2. Buresch, 1936; 3. Dobosz, Hadas, 1999.
Author: Alexi Popov
