First record of Leiopus linnei Wallin, Nylander & Kvamme, 2009 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Kosovo: Morphological and Molecular Evidence

Abstract

This study documents the first record of Leiopus linnei in Kosovo based on an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological evidence and DNA barcoding. The specimen was collected in June 2024 in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, located in the Deçan region of western Kosovo characterized by coniferous forest habitats. Both morphology and COI barcode sequences confirmed the identity of the specimen as L. linnei. This finding expands the known distribution of the species into the western Balkans and represents a notable eastward extension of its range. The results highlight the value of integrating molecular and morphological data when dealing with morphologically similar taxa and emphasize the importance of continued faunistic research in Kosovo, where many beetle groups remain insufficiently explored.