Forum Entomologi Italiani

Malachius ???stolatus Mulsant & Godart, 1855

You can try to ask strepens for the identification: he studies greek Malachiidae.

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Maurizio Bollino

Good evening Ilya, good evening Maurizio !!!
Here, it is much harder than the other two Greek species that passed these days ...
It is clear that it is a female of Malachius, but not M. stolatus:
In this species, the female is "green" (as M. bipustulatus), in contrast to the "red" males !!! Further, the anterior tibiae, are yellowish.

I think the most probable is:
Malachius demaisoni Ab., quite common in the Aegean islands, in different color variations.

There are 2 still possibilities, but are less likely.
-Malachius rubidus Er., which has not been found in the Aegean, it is mostly mountainous (Mts. Pindos), the unique with black mesepimera (can you check it ???) and
-Malachius mariae Ab, a rare species mainly of Turkey, but "matt" in color, not lustrous.

It would be very interesting to have the male of your specimen!!!

I'm very grateful to you for help! Yes, mesepimera is red. I only have one specimen of this beetle.

Avuta conferma da George/strepens, questa è in realtà una femmina di Malachius stolatus Mulsant & Godart 1855.

G.