Cave-adapted Plusiocampinae (Diplura, Campodeidae) from the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula

Abstract

The fauna of the subfamily Plusiocampinae (Campodeidae) in the caves of the eastern Balkan Peninsula was studied based on specimens collected over the past 40 years by scientists from the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Two new species are described from Bulgarian caves: Plusiocampa (Plusiocampa) balcanica sp. nov. , from the Central Stara Planina Mountains, and Plusiocampa (Stygiocampa) petrovi sp. nov. , from the Western Stara Planina Mountains. Plusiocampa isterina Condé, 1993 is recorded from Bulgaria for the first time, and the known ranges of several poorly known species are extended to new geographic areas. With the addition of the new species, the total diversity of subterranean Campodeidae in the eastern Balkan Peninsula has increased from 12 to 14 species. This level of diversity is comparable to that of the Dinarides and the eastern Iberian Peninsula – regions of similar size that are also among the richest in subterranean diplurans across Europe.