Stibaropus
Stibaropus henkei (Jakovlev, 1874)
Order True bugs (Heteroptera)
Family Burrowing bugs (Cydnidae)
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically endangered CR [A2c+4c; B1ab(iii)].
General distribution. Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Central and Southern Russia, Armenia and the Caspian coast of Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. In the past, this species was found in the dune complexes located to the south of Cape Emine: Slanchev Bryag [1, 2], Nesebar [1, 2, 3, 4] and around Alepu Swamp [4]. Its abundance and density were highest in the environs of Nesebar. Until the beginning of the 1970s, it was there that the most appropriate habitats for it (vast areas occupied by white dunes) existed. Stibaropus henkei was found in 2004-2006 in the protected areas of Kamchiyski Pyasatsi and Arkutino, the sand bar between Pomoriysko Lake and the sea, the Oasis camping site near Lozenets Village and on collection specimens it was established for the environs of Shabla (unpublished data).
Habitats. Shore and continental sand dunes. In Bulgaria, it inhabits newly emerged shifting dunes and shifting dunes with European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria).
Biology. A psammophilous species. It lives in the wet sand. The nymphs and the adults feed on the roots of Leymus racemosus, Ammophila arenaria, Elymus farctus, burying themselves at depths between 5 and 50 cm. The species overwinters as adult or as third to fifth instar nymph [5, 6]. Mating of the overwintered adults takes place on the sand surface from May to July. The eggs are laid in the wet sand near the roots of the host plant [5, 6]. The first nymphs of the new generation hatch in June, those of the eggs laid later occur until November. The adults and the nymphs stick around the roots of the host plants and when the sand is shuffled they are first found by their smell [5, 6].
Similar species. None.
Negative factors. The expanding urban and infrastructure development and the increase of the tourist flow along the Black Sea coast leading to change and destruction of the sandy dune habitats.
Conservation measures taken. The localities to the south of the mouth of the Kamchiya river and near Arkutino are included in protected areas.
Conservation measures needed. Conservation of the existing protected territories and creation of new ones, with a strict regime of preservation of the last remaining dune complexes along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
References. 1. Josifov, 1969; 2. Josifov, 1974; 3. Puton, 1888; 4. Ioakimoff, 1926; 5. Putshkov, 1961; 6. Josifov, 1981.
Authors: Michail Josifov, Nikolay Simov
