Forum Entomologi Italiani

Hello,

In Brittany, Rutpela maculata is often much blacker than the typical form, as this specimen taken near my home in the northern Côtes d'Armor... Entirely black forms are also cited by some entomologists, but maybe it is an urban legend !

I don't know if there are such blackish forms in Italia ?

I have never seen a similar pattern, here!

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Maurizio Gigli
http://utenti.romascuola.net/bups
http://bup.xoom.it/

Amazing coloration!

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Daniel

Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. (ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ, 1,9)

Hi Dominique, elytral pattern of Rutpela maculata is highly variable, but specimens with blackened elytral pattern are rare in Italy, and I never seen totally black specimens. However, males with antennae and hind tibiae partly or totally black are common in southern regions and Sicily; they rarely occur also in central and northern Italy. This melanic form has been separated as a subspecies (R. m. nigricornis), but it seems clear that it has no taxonomic value, as demonstrated by your finding in France (infact, your specimen belongs to nigricornis). I have addressed this topic in an old paper (see attachment). Of course, this is my opinion... However, if you can send me some specimens (males and females) of these population, I will be very grateful (you can send me a private message).
Ale

Hi Dominique,
your form of Rutpela maculata is very nice. It belongs to the "form" dayremi Pic. According Villiers (Faune de France) it is a common form from Northern France. I know such formes from North East Spain as well.
In Italy these forms are very rare as in other part of Europe.
According the color of antenna they are similar to the subspecies nigricornis from Sicily and Calabria.
Best regards,
Pierpaolo

Thank you very much Maurizio and Pierpaolo for this information.

I'm for the moment on vacation far from my collection. When I will be back, I will also check the R. maculata nigricornis I've caught in Armenia last year.

@ Alessandro : I've sent you a PM.