Subfamilia: LAMIINAE / Tribus: PHYTOECIINI
Mallosia graeca ♂ [Photo © M.Hoskovec]
Mallosia graeca (Sturm, 1843) is a species endemic to Greece. It is mainly known from Peloponnese peninsula but can also be found in Atica, the Greek mainland. The host plant of this spectacular European longhorn beetle has long been unknown. In 1967 Carl von Demelt [❖] observed a number of specimens of this insect and suggested that the species developed in "Wurzelstock einer niederen Distelart" (in root system of a small thistle species, Asteraceae, transl. and note by authors). This information has then been repeated in later works (e.g. Bense, 1995). The correct host, Eryngium (Apiaceae), has only been discovered by a French group (Renvaze & Renvaze, ✧) in 2004. Also another species of genus Mallosia Mulsant, 1863 are all associated with plants of the family Apiaceae (such as Ferula and Prangos).
Body length: 13 - 30 mm Life cycle: 1 year Adults in: May - June Host plant: Eryngium creticum Distribution: a species endemic to Greece
The depicted beetles were collected on the host plant (Eryngium creticum) near Kalavrita (Peloponnese, Greece).Collected by M.Hoskovec
[❖]
von Demelt C.:
Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cerambycidenfauna Griechenlands (Col.).
Entomologische Zeitschrift 77: 57-66, 1967.
[✧]
Renvaze F. and Renvaze J.-P.:
Note sur la biologie de Mallosia graeca (Sturm, 1843) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de Mulhouse 601: 4-7, (2004).
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]
Mallosia graeca ♂ [Photo © M.Hoskovec]
Mallosia graeca ♀ [Photo © M.Hoskovec]
Subfamilia: Lamiinae Latreille, 1825
Tribus: Phytoeciini Mulsant, 1839
Genus: Mallosia Mulsant, 1863
Subgenus: Mallosia Mulsant, 1863
Species: Mallosia (Mallosia) graeca (Sturm, 1843)