Forum Entomologi Italiani

Hello,
Another glaphyrid from Iran, this time a female of Pygopleurus, which gives me a little trouble. The turquoise blue reflection of the apical third of the elytra is poorly rendered in this photo.

Data : Iran - 5 km W Shiraz - 12/04/2018 - size 12.5 mm.

Denis K. thinks without certainty of P. psilotrichius, but personally, I have a doubt because of the genital valves of this female.

Thank you for your help !

This is P. cyanescens, to my knowledge there are no other taxa with that kind of elytral appearance.
Such cyan and blue shining is present only in females. It is commonly less extended than in this specimen, or absent, but it can be also stronger or more extended. However, it is always centered on the distal half.

Dark/patterned specimens of P. psilotrichius normally express their pattern in form of a more or less broad stripe along the base and the suture. Specimens with much more extended pattern are possible, such as the extreme form pictured below (Tunceli, Mazgirt), but color is black or dark/dull blue, never bright and saturated as in cyanescens. In addition, it is very strong in the basal part of the elytra, which does not happens in cyanescens.

Thank you Marco for your indications.

It was to P. cyanescens that I had thought first of all, and I had even arrived to this sp with the key of Baraud. But Denis had a doubt, because he has very similar females of psilotrichius in his collection. He was waiting for the picture of the genital valves to decide, but he is not very available at the moment...

Dominique, the more Glaphyridae I see, the less I am certain about the diagnostic conditions of taxa , so I can understand the caution and doubt expressed by our common friend. This is also the reason for which I wrote which was my way to be cautious

That's what I understood! I think we all have to be cautious (especially me)...