AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Redescription and natural history of Meligethes longulus Schilsky, 1894, and provisional revision of the M. coracinus species‐complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2005
Authors:Audisio, P, de Biase, A, Antonini, G, Mancini, E, ÖZBEK, HIKMET, Gultekin, L
Journal:Italian Journal of Zoology
Volume:72
Issue:1
Date Published:2005
ISBN Number:1125-0003
Keywords:Meleagris, Meleagris gallopavo, Phasianidae
Abstract:Abstract The taxonomic identification and a re?description of the problematic Meligethes longulus Schilsky, 1894 from eastern Turkey are presented. This species, belonging to the M. coracinus complex and known so far on the basis of a single immature holo?type, was repeatedly confused in the past with other closely related taxa, thus introducing considerable instability in the nomenclature and taxonomy of the whole group, involving several distinct biological species throughout southern Europe and western Asia. The recent re?discovery of this species in eastern Turkey allowed M. longulus to be definitely identified as being an extremely rare and localized species, with larval stages strictly associated with the host?plant Matthiola odoratissima (Bieb.) R.Br. (Brassicaceae), in dry exposed terrigenous and sandy hill slopes of eastern Turkey. An updated key to the identification of both described and un?described members of the M. coracinus complex is also presented, and a rather isolated species of the M. coracinus complex from southern Turkey, M. cristofaroi n. sp., is described as new. A preliminary evolutionary scenario of the whole species?complex, based also on results from a companion molecular research, is finally discussed.Abstract The taxonomic identification and a re?description of the problematic Meligethes longulus Schilsky, 1894 from eastern Turkey are presented. This species, belonging to the M. coracinus complex and known so far on the basis of a single immature holo?type, was repeatedly confused in the past with other closely related taxa, thus introducing considerable instability in the nomenclature and taxonomy of the whole group, involving several distinct biological species throughout southern Europe and western Asia. The recent re?discovery of this species in eastern Turkey allowed M. longulus to be definitely identified as being an extremely rare and localized species, with larval stages strictly associated with the host?plant Matthiola odoratissima (Bieb.) R.Br. (Brassicaceae), in dry exposed terrigenous and sandy hill slopes of eastern Turkey. An updated key to the identification of both described and un?described members of the M. coracinus complex is also presented, and a rather isolated species of the M. coracinus complex from southern Turkey, M. cristofaroi n. sp., is described as new. A preliminary evolutionary scenario of the whole species?complex, based also on results from a companion molecular research, is finally discussed.
URL:http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/11250000509356655
Short Title:Italian Journal of Zoology
Taxonomic name: 
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