Puncha ratzeburgi explained

Puncha ratzeburgi is a species of snakefly in the monotypic genus Puncha belonging to the family Raphidiidae.^{[1] [2]}

Distribution and habitat

This species is widely distributed in Central and Eastern Europe^[3] (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland).^[4] Isolated populations have been found from southern France, the Apennine and Balkan Peninsula. These insects inhabit mountains at an elevation up to above sea level.

Description

Puncha ratzeburgi can reach a wingspan of about .^[5] These snakeflies have a long prothorax, hyaline wings with characteristic venation, a distinct pterostigma ranging from yellow-ocher to ocher-brown, and a long ovipositor in females.^[6]

Biology

They are predatory, both as adults and larvae.

References

• E. Haring Molecular phylogeny of the Raphidiidae (Raphidioptera)

External links

• April Design
• Le Monde des Insectes

Notes and References

1. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id61074/ Biolib
2. http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2011/search/all/key/puncha+ratzeburgi/match/1 Catalogue of life
3. H Aspöck - The Raphidioptera of the Apennines Peninsula
4. https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/search/results/taxon?ws=portal%2Ftaxon%2Ffind&query=puncha&form_build_id=form-rLYlgQUVM_VWHGsGv_rG-2u6jkgQBUk7JoN15ufRW1Q&form_id=cdm_dataportal_search_taxon_form&search%5BdoTaxaByCommonNames%5D=&search%5BdoSynonyms%5D=&search%5BdoTaxa%5D=1&search%5BpageSize%5D=25&search%5BpageNumber%5D=0&=Search Fauna europaea
5. Aspöck, Aspöck & Hölzel (1980) Die Neuropteren Europas. Krefeld: Goecke & Evers
6. https://www.naturamediterraneo.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=63169 Keys at Natura mediterraneo