Forum Entomologi Italiani

Hello , I have this Meloe specimen, it was collected on 7 December 2024 in a deciduous forest in Romania, the specimen being active during the night.

It could be Meloe (Eurymeloe) rugosus or maybe mediterraneus? What are the differences between these 2 species? From what I know they look very much alike

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In my opinion, it seems more overlapping to M. rugosus by the aspect of pro and mesosoma;
- antennae slenderer and longer than mediterraneus;
- head less wide, frontal sulcus uniformely deep up to frontoclypeal suture;
- pronotum clearly restricted back, well angled forward, with deep and narrow median sulcus; points, in anterior part at least, apparently rugose.
Genitalia also appear to be similar, but actually very similar to mediterraneus too.
Wait for others more reliable opinions.

Dear Giorgio, thank you very much for your opinion on this one, I will label it Meloe (Eurymeloe) rugosus for now

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I agree that it is M. (Eurymeloe) rugosus; it differs from mediterraneus because of its pronotum less transverse, more pentagonal and with a middle furrow; moreover the integuments are shiner.
The rugosus comex includes two very similar species in Italy, I descibed (digiuliorum, apenninicus, and two new undescribed species in Turkey.
Marco

Thank you very much Marco for your responses!

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