Agapanthia (Epoptes) zappii Sama, 1987

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

North-African Agapanthia zappii, described by Gianfranco Sama in 1987 [❖], differs from a close species Agapanthia asphodeli (Latreille, 1804) by the green elytra with lateral-longitudinal grey pubescence band. Agapanthia zappii, replacing Agapanthia asphodeli (Latreille, 1804) in North Africa [✧], develops in asphodels (Asphodelus spp.).

Body length:12 - 16 mm
Life cycle:1 year
Adults in:March - May
Host plant:Asphodelus spp.
Distribution:North Africa (Morocco, Lybia, Algeria, Tunisia)


The depicted beetles were photographed by our friend Jean-Claude Ringenbach in Sidi as Sahi (Tripolitania, Libya).


[❖]
Sama G.:
Note préliminaire pour une faune des longicornes de l'Afrique du Nord.
Biocosme Mésogéen, Nice 4 (1): 43-64, 1987. [download pdf icon]


[✧]
Sama G., Ringenbach J.-C., and Rejzek M.:
A preliminary survey of the Cerambycidae of Lybia (Coleoptera).
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, Paris 110 (4/5): 439-454, 2005. [download pdf icon]


Subfamilia: Lamiinae Latreille, 1825
Tribus: Agapanthiini Mulsant, 1839
Genus: Agapanthia Audinet-Serville, 1835
Subgenus: Epoptes Gistl, 1857
Species: Agapanthia (Epoptes) zappii Sama, 1987