Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Psychomyiidae), a new species from the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in Kosovo.

Abstract

Background: Knowledge about the caddisfly fauna of Kosovo has expanded significantly in recent years; however, new species continue to be described from less-studied regions.

New information: In this paper, we describe a new species, Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov., from the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains of Kosovo. The new species is closely related to Tinodesurdhva Olah, 2010 and Tinodeskimminsi Sykora, 1962, but differs in the shapes of segment IX, coxopodites, harpago, phallicata and the basal plate process.Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov. represents the sixth recorded species of the genus Tinodes Curtis, 1834, in Kosovo. The species was found in a small, isolated population within a region highly impacted by anthropogenic activities, especially the construction of hydropower plants. Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov. was found in sympatry with some species rarely encountered in Kosovo, such as Plectrocnemiageniculata McLachlan, 1871, Rhyacophilaloxias Schmid, 1970 and Rhyacophilasiparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2021. Ongoing human activities have placed increasing pressures on the river's ecosystem, further emphasising the conservation importance of identifying and protecting these rare and specialised species within Kosovo's freshwater habitats.