Aleksandra Sławska, Kamil Słomczyński, Agata Wasiak, Mateusz Płóciennik

The first record of Tvetenia bavarica, Paralauterborniella nigrohalteralis (Chironomidae), and the Dixidae family in Albania

Abstract The Culicomorpha (Diptera: Nematocera) of Albania are poorly known; there have been only a few studies dedicated to Chironomidae in the 21st century. Small streams are a common habitat in Albania, but their fauna is poorly studied. In 2024 and 2025, the faunistic studies dedicated to aquatic midges were conducted at four sites in two streams. Despite their low elevation, the streams differ from each other in regard to their hydrological features. The Chironomidae and Dixidae were collected using a hydrobiological hand net and identified with morphological and molecular methods. Tvetenia bavarica and Paralauterborniella nigrohalteralis are recorded in Albania for the first time. Chironomus salinarius, previously recorded from Laguna di Karavasta, is confirmed in the country through molecular identification. The current number of Chironomidae reported from Albania is 90. Dixidae (Dixa nebulosa) are detected as a family for the first time in Albania. The study indicates that even small streams at the Adriatic coast may host new aquatic taxa for the country. This concerns especially taxonomically diverse families like Chironomidae. Albania has never been the subject of extensive dipterological research. The progressive degradation of freshwater in the Mediterranean region implies a need for a systematic biodiversity assessment of streams and rivers across the western Balkan Peninsula.

Doi https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2026.1.9

Keywords Aquatic insects; Balkan Peninsula; Culicomorpha; faunistics; freshwater

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