Forum Entomologi Italiani

mm 8,5; presa di sera in una caccia notturna con Lucio Morin, mi sembra simile a Chrysolina (Hypericia) geminata 1799. Si può confermare? Grazie.

Not easy to identification. Two extremely similar species are possible: Ch. geminata and Ch. quadrigemina. The best distinguishing character is shape of flagellum in internal sac of male genitalia. But your specimen appears to be a female because males have distinctly dilatate first segment of fore tarsi. I don't know about the distribution of both species in Italy. At first glance specimen on photo has rather sparse large punctures in rows on elytra and this character points rather to Ch. quadrigemina than Ch. geminata but they are very variable and their characters partially overlap.

Thank's Lech. Actually quadrigemina was my first choice but puncturation on interstriae is quite evident, not so fine as I read in quadrigemina; that's why I changed my opinion. Captured in xeric calcareous environments. Both species are present in the region.