Forum Entomologi Italiani

Saluti,

# 3926 captured in Cne : Pontoise (Dépt. Val-d'Oise - France) - may 27, 2005 - Lenght (without sheath) : about 8.4 mm.

I thought that this capture was C. pygmeus because it resembled much to C. pygmeus (see : viewtopic.php?f=371&t=20023) , but I observed that this # 3926 has the yellow [on apical tergite, tibiae & tarsi] more extended and clearer.
It is sometimes difficult to differentiate the nuances of yellows varying from most clear to darkest (who can be confused with brown +/- dark), but it is the case here.
It is also a Cephus.
Thus the keys of species of this genus, which I already sent on this forum, are to be supplemented :
I used criteria more refined : those of Quinlan J. & Gauld I.D. (1981) :

- pygmeus : Sheath in a direct line with the oblong plate (to see photo of abdomen # 3888) and hind claws with being almost parallel with the end tooth (to see Drawing).
- cultratus : Sheath forms an angle with the oblong plate (to see photo of abdomen # 3926) and hind claws with erect inner tooth (to see Drawing).

Questo Cephus vive anche in Italia (to see : Masutti L. e Pesarini F. - 1995)

Ciao.
D & JP Balmer