Forum Entomologi Italiani

Hello,

this 6,5mm specimen is from end of may from a field near Lecce. I think it is a Bangasternus, because of the deep incision for the rostrum on the underside of the prothorax.

When I use the old key from Reitter (claws are equal in length, scales are simple, as far as I can see, rostrum has a constriction in the apical 1/3) I end at B. planifrons or B. siculus.

Can someone conferm or correct it?

Thanks,
Michael

This is bangasternus planifrons. Is the first report for Italy. The species is known of BH BU CR GR PT SP TR N: LB A: AB AF AR CY IN IS LE SY TM TR

_________________
Fabio Talamelli
Centro Studi Naturalistici Valconca
talamellif@libero.it
http://www.csnvalconca.it
Tel. 3384150775

Thank you for the answer. The species seems to be rather widespread in the mediterranean - no big surprise it can be found in Italia.

Michael

Hello,

I sent the two specimen of this species to Christoph Germann from the Naturhistorisches Institut Basel, which confirmed it. There are reports for Bangasternus planifrons from Spain and Portugal, but which are most certainly false. The only verified reports are from the eastern mediterrean (Greece, Balcan). This first report from Italy is now published in the Revista gaditana de Entomología, volumen X, núm. 1 (2019) 135 - 137 which can be read online on
https://sites.google.com/site/unentomologoandaluz/home/revista-gaditana-de-entomologia/revista-gaditana-de-entomologia-volumen-x-num-1-2019

Michael