Neuropterida and Mecoptera from the North-Western Caucasus

An extensive study of Neuropteroidea and Mecoptera collected in Krasnodar Region and the Republic of Adygea in 2018 allowed the discovery of new species for the regions and for Russia, clarification of the taxonomic affiliation of some dubious specimens, and establish wellfounded conclusions about the ecological preferences of species.Nine species of Neuroptera are recorded for the first time from the North-Western Caucasus (and the Caucasus as a whole); 13 species (mainly Coniopterygidae) are new for Krasnodar Region and 7  for Adygea. Two species of Neuroptera (Coniopteryx haematica McLachlan, 1868 and Chrysoperla mutata (McLachlan, 1898)) are recorded from Russia for the first time. The finding of the thermophilic species Chrysoperla mutata in the north of Krasnodar Region is especially noteworthy. This is northern-most known occurrence of the species. The occurrence of the chrysopid species Peyerimhoffina gracilis (Schneider, 1851) in Russia is reliably confirmed for the first time by specimens from Krasnodar Region and Adygea. A  larva of Dendroleon pantherinus (Fabricius, 1787) was found in the fruiting body of a tinder fungus, a previously unknown habitat, expanding our understanding of the ecology of its preimaginal phase. In total, 72  species of Neuroptera are known now from the North-Western Caucasus, 52  from Krasnodar Region and 24 from Adygea. The occurrence of the raphidiopteran species Xanothostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832) in Krasnodar Region is new. In total four species of the order are known now from the North-Western Caucasus. Megaloptera is represented in this region by two species. Sialis zhiltzovae Vshivkova, 1985 is recorded from Krasnodar Region, Adygea and from Russia for the first time. Data on the distribution (including altitudinal) and phenology of three species of the family Panorpidae (Mecoptera) are significantly updated. Panorpa connexa McLachlan, 1869 is recorded for the first time from the North-Western Caucasus, and P.  similis Esben-Petersen, 1915 is recorded for the first time from Krasnodar Region