Forum Entomologi Italiani

Palmyra,29.4.2005
17mm

Maximus mimosae (Olivier, 1807), cf. The genus Maximus Alonso Zarazaga & Lyal needs revision (as many other genera of Cleonini). The specimens from Palmyra differ somewhat from the specimens of the true M. mimosae, described of Baghdad.
Massimo

Grazie Massimo.

I have checked better and compared with other material from my collection and from not identified Museum specimens that I have in study. I have more specimens of this from Palmyra. This is surely not Maximus mimosae, that anyway lives also in Palmyra, and that differs in many aspects. It is evidently a new species of the genus Maximus. In the same area I have also seen specimens of another species of the genus, probably near to Maximus melancholicus.
Unfortunately, I think that for a long time we will not have any possibility to collect again in Syria - and this of course is the least problem for that country and the people living there.

Massimo