Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. 1156 https://www.munisentzool.org/ 16 (2) (June, 2021) ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ THE FIRST RECORD OF TARUCUS THEOPHRASTUS (FABRICIUS, 1793) FROM STEPPE ZIBAN HABITAT (BISKRA-ALGERIA) Nacima Deghiche-Diab* and Lahcen Deghiche** * CRSTRA. Scientific and Technical Research Centre on Arid Areas. PoBox 1682. Biskra, ALGERIA. E-mail: [email protected]; ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4544-2083 ** Department of Agronomic Sciences, Laboratory of Ecosystem Diversity and Dynamics of Agricultural Production Systems in Arid Region, Mohamed Khider. Biskra University. PB 145 Biskra, ALGERIA. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4104-1146 [Deghiche-Diab, N. & Deghiche, L. 2021. The first record of Tarucus theophrastus (Fabricius, 1793) from steppe Ziban habitat (Biskra-Algeria). Munis Entomology & Zoology, 16 (2): 1156-1159] ABSTRACT: Under steppe conditions, from the valley at Ouled Djellel in Biskra region, it was recorded for the first time around Zizyphus lotus an Afro-oriental Lepidoptera; Tarucus theophrastus (Fabricius, 1793) during a sampling conducted between 2018-2019 using a sweep net. KEY WORDS: First record, Tarucus theophrastus, Zizyphus lotus, Biskra steppe With more than a million of species described on Earth, insects, which represent 90% of all living, are a very important component of the biosphere (Samways, 1994) and the most diverse (Raven & Yeates, 2007). For several years, global changes have represented a significant threat to ecosystems (Tscarntke & Hawkins et al., 2005; IPCC, 2014; Belhamra et al., 2020). Disturbances in the landscape can cause significant erosion of insect biodiversity (Denny, 1994; Belhamra et al., 2014). The number of currently known species is undoubtedly very low compared to the real specific richness (Heywood et al., 1995). Each ecosystem gives, by its nature and its specificity, an opportunity for the emergence and maintenance of a variation of life, which takes advantage from the typical conditions of habitats. Clearly distinct from the surrounding desert environments marked by aridity and severe climatic conditions; in Algeria, the steppe regions which are characterized by poor soils, limited natural resources, discontinuous plant formations (Halitim, 1988; El Zerey et al., 2009) plays an important role in the fixation of dunes and the maintenance of animal life wild (Schhiffers, 1971; Deghiche-Diab et al., 2016). Today, there is increasing pressure on biodiversity through habitat modification due to the changes in agricultural practices (intensification or abandonment). Its intensification and expansion represents a threat to global biodiversity (Bengtsson et al. 2005) because it causes the homogenization of agricultural landscapes and habitat loss. In addition, the pollution and the increasing impact of climate change as well as the spread of invasive species. Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. https://www.munisentzool.org/ 16 (2) (June, 2021) 1157 ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ MATERIAL AND METHODS Study area of sampling insects During a study conducted in steppe habitat at Ouled Djellel municipality, in order to study structural and functional variability of insect species living in, three different plots (34°33'43.54"N5° 5° 7'45.98"E, elevated at 210 m a.s.l) choosing in 1ha surface (Fig. 1) where nine pitfall traps (Barber, 1931) were set in addition to the hand sampling (Dajoz, 1985; Sørensen et al., 2002) effected on 3 transect of 100m of long and 5m of larger to collects insects species living in. a Figure 1. a. Location of insects plots sampling (Deghiche-Diab et al.,2020) b. View of Ouled Djellel steppe habitat during spring time. Identfication The collected specimens were transported to the laboratory where they were identified using guides (La Planche & Gorge, 2008). The specimens were identified and photographed using an ordinary binocular magnifying glass (Optech x45max optical technology) the photos were taken by a Nikon camera. Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. 1158 https://www.munisentzool.org/ 16 (2) (June, 2021) ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION During an insect sampling in three different plots in steppe Ziban habitats’ using sweep net and pitfall traps, 97 species were collected belonging to 10 orders and 40 families, the most represented orders were Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera order (Deghiche-Diab, 2020). A Lycaenidae: Tarucus theophrastus (Fabricius, 1793) from Lepidoptera order (Fig. 2b) was collected using sweep net during a sampling and identified as new-recorded species in the region. Early studies on Tarucus (Bingham, 1907; Swinhoe, 1910) delimited species based on superficial morphological attributes. This species is an Afro-tropical, Mediterranean and Oriental group of butterflies (Evans, 1955). Different from the previous publications of Evans (1955) and based on close inspection of phenotypes of the specimens and dissection of the male genitalia, the newly described distribution, indicated that this species is widely distributed through Southeastern Europe, western Asia, southern Asia and Africa (Basu et al., 2019). The genus Tarucus can be found in coastal plains as in the Himalaya at more than 2000 m. Tarucus theophrastus species (Fig. 2) is a multivoltine, flying throughout the year (Kunte et al., 2013), it was observed in open, dry habitats from scrub forests to large openings and ecotones of evergreen forests (Basu et al., 2019). In theirs study conducted in Algeria Koçak & Kemal, (2015) indicated the presence of species in different localities in Algeria but not in the Biskra steppe habitat. In our study the species was recorded in valley at Ouled Djellel during spring time (March, April) around Zizyphus lotus. The observation of our species in the region was probably related to the presence of Zizyphus lotus belonging to Rhamnaceae family (Fig. 2a) well adapted to the climate conditions of valley at Ouled Djellel steppe (Deghiche-Diab et al., 2016; Deghiche-Diab & Deghiche, 2016), it is indicated as larval host plants. In their study on the distribution and description of the genus Tarucus in india Basu et al. (2019) have recorded Ziziphus jujuba Miller, Ziziphus nummularia, and Ziziphus rugosa Lamarck (Rhamnaceae) all commonly used as larval host plants of T. theophrastus . This species has also been mentioned as host plant by Baz (1988), La Planche & Gorge (2008). In Morocco T. theophrastus was described flying in lowlands near the coast of North Africa around Zizyphus vulgaris (Rhamnaceae) as host-plant (Tennent, 1996). Figure 2. a. View of sampled plot (valley at Ouled Djellel steppe), habitat and host plants b. Tarucus theophrastus (Photo Fateh, 2021). Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. https://www.munisentzool.org/ 16 (2) (June, 2021) 1159 ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ CONCLUSION During spring 2019, an inventory was carried out at the valley of Ouled Djellel steppe, where it was observed for the first time a new species from Lepidoptera order and Lycaenidae family: Tarucus theophrastus (Fabricius, 1793) belonging to the Afro-oriental group. the adult species was recorded flying around Zizyphus lotus, a deciduous shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. LITERATURE CITED Barber, H. S. 1931. Traps for cave inhabiting insects. Journal of the Elisha Michell Scientific Society, 46: 259-266. Basu, D. N., Churi P., Soman A., Sengupta A., Bhakare M., Lokhande S., Bhoite S., Huertas B. & Kunte K. 2019. 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