Phaeostigma Superboraphidia H. Aspoeck & U. Aspoeck , 1968

Aspoeck, Horst & Aspoeck, Ulrike, 2023, The snakeflies of the Mediterranean islands: review and biogeographical analysis (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 70 (1), pp. 175-218 : 175

Subgenus Phaeostigma Superboraphidia H. Aspoeck & U. Aspoeck, 1968

Superboraphidia H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1968 (odescr) (described as a subgenus of Raphidia L.) [type species by original designation: Raphidia auberti H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1966]: H. Aspöck et al. 1989 (biogeogr, distr; ill: distrmap); U. Aspöck and H. Aspöck 1990 (syst); H. Aspöck et al. 1991 (mon); Oswald and Penny 1991 (cat, nom); H. Aspöck et al. 2001 (anncat); H. Aspöck 2002 (biol); H. Aspöck 2012 (cat); H. Aspöck and U. Aspöck 2013 (cat, etymol), 2014 (cat).

Taxonomy.

H. Aspöck et al. (1991). Superboraphidia comprises five species ( Phaeostigma (S.) auberti , Ph. (S.) rauschi , Ph. (S.) mammaphila , Ph. (S.) turcica , and Ph. (S.) minois ), which are not closely related but show a special synapomorphy in the male genitalia, which justifies to unite them in a subgenus. One of the five species occurs on a Mediterranean island.

Biology.

Larvae of probably all five species are soil-dwelling. Development insufficiently known, probably two years or longer. Last hibernating stage: full-grown larva. Adults: V-VII in various habitats, usually with rich low vegetation in higher elevations (800-1200 m), sometimes even above timberline.

Distribution.

The distribution of Superboraphidia comprises southern parts of the mainland of Greece, the Peloponnisos and the west of Anatolia (H. Aspöck et al. 1991; Rausch and H. Aspöck 1992).