Forum Entomologi Italiani

Hi,

I am not sure about the identity of this one :


32 mm, Leg. V. Dolin

Regards,

Stéphane

It can be only Morimus verecundus, however I aint sure if it`s a valid taxon. Personally I think, that all of them ( ganglbaueri, verecundus, asper, and of course funereus ) are just all variations or if you want then subspecies of M. asper.

Thank you Zdeno.

Stéphane

Yes, it is M. verecundus.

But it's right, genetic studies that will be published soon by a research group of Rome University, demonstrated that all the European Morimus species are likely synonyms of M. asper.

Yes it is right. But the different forms belong to local subspecies (funereus, verecundus and orientalis). Morimus ganglabueri is only a transition form between asper asper and asper funereus (all the specimens from Friuli, Wesyern Slovenia, Southern Istria, Albania and so on).
Ciao
Pierpaolo