A REVISION OF SOME SPECIES OF RONCUS KOCH,L. (NEOBISIIDAE, PSEUDOSCORPIONES) FROM NORTH-AMERICA AND SOUTH EUROPE

The available material of the species Roncus lubricus L. Koch, 1873, from North America and South Europe has been studied. It was concluded that specimens of R. lubricus from the United States belong to the nominal subspecies. Furthermore, it is assumed that the USA populations of this subspecies were probably introduced by human activity. A new subspecies, R. lubricus pannonius, from Yugoslavia is described. A key to the subspecies of R. lubricus is presented. An analysis of the available type material from the collection of J. Hadzi has supported the elevation of two of his subspecies to full specific rank: Roncus tenuis Hadzi, 1933, new status, and R. dalmatinus Hadzi, 1933, new status, both from northern Dalmatia, Yugoslavia. These two species were formerly regarded as subspecies of R. lubricus, but this study revealed that they are not members of the R. lubricus group (since they both lack microsetae proximal to eb and esb). Both species are considered endemics to the Balkan Peninsula. Most diagnostic characters of the analyzed taxa are thoroughly described or figured. Some taxonomic interrelationships and features of geographic distribution have been also briefly discussed.