Forum Entomologi Italiani

L.6mm.

Hello Georgi !!!
it is a male of Ceratistes cervulus (Reitter, 1894).
Wonderful insect, never seen in my life !!!

George

Hello Georgi,

interesting species, like George I have never seen it before.

You can compare it with the much more frequent C. dilaticornis here http://www.entomologiitaliani.net/public/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=432&t=78856.

G.

Dear Giorgi, if there is a female in your hands or if it occurs in the future, add a photo here (very please !!!).
The original description of Reitter mentions only the male. The female was unknown to him.
So, the subject is interesting.
In addition, there is an unique female Ceratistes sp. in my hands (from Greece), which is clearly different from the other females of the common in Greece C. dilaticornis.

G.

Thank you, Gabriele and George!
Yes, by some chance there is a female.
I found the male on dry branches, while waiting for some Chrysididae to appear. I already had the feeling I have collected this species before ,because I ve been on this same pile of branches many times. The second jar I opened from May last year and it was there. Not a single other Malachiidae, just this female.
Picture will be ready after two days.

Thank you very much Georgi.
I look forward for it !!!

Georgi, this association with Chrysidae might mean more than we think. Pic wrote that the french species C. dentifrons is associated with nests of mason bees (Megachile parietina). Were mason bees around there? Maybe your beetle and the Chrysidae were in the same business.

G.

Gabriele, I agree. There have been diiferent kinds of bees, but I don't remember anything like Megachile parietina, neither seen nests. I will observe again.

F: 21.05.2019 Stara Zagora

Thank you very much Georgi, for the photos of the female !!!
I will make the comparison with the Greek specimen tomorrow, and I will inform from here, immediately.

George

As it seems, with the females, there will probably be no clear conclusion. It definitely needs a male for safe identification.
I quote here photos of 2 females, in the same magnification:
- No1, a unique Greek female in my hands, possibly C. cervulus. Smaller in size, with the 5th antennal segment displaying a smooth curve, without angles.
- No2, a typical female of Ceratistes dilaticornis (common in Greece). Larger in size, with the 5th antennal segment angular.
(once again sorry, for the quality of the photos).

Georgi's female from Bulgaria, seems to be intermediate between the 2 Greek morphs. The problem remains unsolved ...