Forum Entomologi Italiani

Is it possible to identify this colorful Malachiidae?

Wow .
Colorful, but not so simple, also because it seems a female specimen. Let me check some papers.

I do hope you collected it. Turkey is still full of surprises.

G.

Thank you alot for your interest. It was not photographed by me but by Ahmet Karataş. He told me that he can visit the same area if it is necessary. Could you find something in the literature?

A wonderful insect !!!
Your locality (Ulukisla) is very near (distance of 25 Km) to Cilician Gates (= Gulek Bogaz), from which was described the endemic Turkish malachiid Nepachys amaenus Peyron, 1877.
The original description of it have some (small) differences from your photo, mainly on the shape of the yellow central elytral spot. But in a so rare insect, such color variations are accepted, as I think.
So, to my opinion, this is the most probable solution.
A 2nd possibility (Malachiomimus erinaceus Abeille de Perrin, 1890 from Iran), seems as much less probable.
G.

Thank you alot George, I agree that this slight difference should only be the cause of a color variation. My friend will be very happy to know that he found such a rare endemic species. I thank you both of you for your help on identification also in behalf of my friend.

But let's waiting for the opinion of Gabriele, before anything else.
Perhaps I was very hasty and this insect is really difficult.

Hello, we are on slippery ground here.
George is right, these are the two possibilities. The beetle in the photo fits well enough with the description of male M. erinaceus, but it is only known of a distant area, and the female is unknown.
N. amoenus is closer, but the description seems to fit less well.
I have not seen either species yet.

So next year, mid June or so, please ask your friend to go back there, and sweep grass and flowers as if there was no tomorrow, like we say in Italy.

G.

Thank you alot! I told him to collect some specimens. I hope he will be able to find some specimens.