Agapanthia (Agapanthia) suturalis (Fabricius, 1787)
[= Agapanthia ruficornis Pic, 1918]

Subfamilia: LAMIINAE  /  Tribus: AGAPANTHIINI
Agapanthia suturalis
[Photo © Jean-Claude Ringenbach]

The depicted species differs from Agapanthia cardui (Linnaeus, 1767) by distinctly attenuate (or even acuminate) elytra at apex, broadly clothed in yellowisch pubescence [❖]. The species occurs in Sicily, Spain, North Africa, Turkey and Near East. According to Gianfranco Sama, for this species, the oldest available name seems to be Agapanthia suturalis (Fabricius, 1787). Further clarification of nomenclatural status and distributional ranges of A. cardui complex is needed. The part of the last published work about [✧] the taxonomy of this group very well explains the status of this valid species.

Body length:6 - 13 mm
Life cycle:1 year
Adults in:March - July
Host plant:polyphagous in various herbaceous plants (Carduus, Cirsium, Knautia, Centranthus, Silybum)
Distribution:Sicily, Spain, North Africa, Turkey, Near East


The depicted species was collected on thistles (Asteraceae) in Janzur (Tripoli suburban area, Lybia).

Collected by our friend Jean-Claude Ringenbach


[❖]
Sama G.:
Atlas of the Cerambycidae of Europe and the Mediterranean Area.
Volume 1: Northern, Western, Central and Eastern Europe. British Isles and Continental Europe from France) excl. Corsica to Scandinavia and Urals..
Nakladatelství Kabourek, Zlín (Czech Republic), 173 pp. [ISBN: 80-86447-04-3].


[✧]
Sama G.:
Notes on the genus Agapanthia Serville, 1835 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Agapanthiini).
Boletín Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 42: 123-127, 2008. [download pdf icon]


Subfamilia: Lamiinae Latreille, 1825
Tribus: Agapanthiini Mulsant, 1839
Genus: Agapanthia Audinet-Serville, 1835
Subgenus: Agapanthia Audinet-Serville, 1835
Species: Agapanthia (Agapanthia) suturalis (Fabricius, 1787)