Revision of the genus Teratolytta (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

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INTRODUCTION
Teratolytta was described by Semenow (1894) to include the species of Lytta Fabricius, 1775 previously classified by Escherich (1894) as "dives group", and a few additional species.Afterwards this genus was studied by Kaszab (1958Kaszab ( , 1968a)), who published a key and described new taxa, by Kryzhanovskij (1959) and Dvo ák (1983), who added new species and subspecies, by Bologna (1994), who published new faunistic records and taxonomic remarks, and by Dvo ák (1996), who proposed an updated key to the species.
It is a typical Turanian-Mediterranean element (sensu Vigna Taglianti et al., 2000), distributed from Tajikistan and Afghanistan, West to Anatolia and Balkans (North to Fru ka Gora and Banat).This genus belongs to the subfamily Meloinae, tribe Lyttini (Bologna, 1991;Selander, 1991), and it is phylogenetically related to Lytta and to the Lydina phyletic lineage (Bologna & Pinto, 2001).Gupta (1978) erroneously included Teratolytta in the Mylabrini, a tribe clearly distinct by some adult and larval characters (Bologna, 1991;Bologna & Pinto, 2001).Dvo ák (1996) recently considered twelve species in the genus, but Dvo ák (1983) and Bologna (1988Bologna ( , 1994) ) previously evidenced some possible synonymies or specific differences.According to the taxonomic novelties proposed here, 17 species are now recognized in the genus Teratolytta.No records on the ecology, ethology or preimaginal biology have been published, and the larval instars and hosts have been completely unknown, except for a description in Russian of T. pilosella with figures lacking detail and not useful for an advanced discussion (Zaripova, 1973).
Aims of this paper are: (i) to collect all available biological records and briefly describe the courtship of T. gentilis; (ii) to describe the triungulin of T. gentilis; (iii) to propose an updated key to the males of the species; (iv) to propose a tentative classification of the species; (v) to summarize faunistic knowledge in a commented catalogue, which includes the species diagnoses, taxonomic remarks and synonymies, and the descriptions of four new Turkish species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Some 478 adult specimens of all described species were examined, with at least one male of each species: Holotype and 5 paratypes of T. carlae; lectotype, 3 paralectotypes, and 180 other specimens of T. dives; holotype of T. dvoraki; 2 syntypes of T. eylandti, holotype of the synonym T. holzschuhi, and 42 other specimens; 96 specimens of T. flavipes; 1 type (probably the holotype) of T. gentilis, 1 type (probably the holotype) of the synonym T. cooensis, and 9 other specimens; 1 paratype and 16 other specimens of T. kaszabi; 3 paratypes and 3 other specimens of T. klapperichi; 2 specimens of T. kulzeri; holotype and 9 paratypes of T. monticola; 11 specimens of T. optabilis; 12 specimens of T. pilosella; 1 paratype of T. regina; holotype and 26 other specimens of T. senilis; holotype and 4 paratypes of T. taurica; 28 specimens of T. tricolor; 1 paratype and 1 other specimen of T. vanensis.
The examined material is preserved in the following collections ( Ecological observations on the habitat preference, altitudinal range, host plants, etc., were obtained in the field personally (MAB) or by other Italian entomologists in Greece and in Turkey; other records have been obtained from the literature or from collection labels.
Preliminary observations of the male courtship of T. gentilis were performed in a small plastic box in the field, shortly after the sampling (Greece: Sporades Islands: Kos Island: Asklepeion, 23.iii.1989M. Bologna et al. leg., CB), and in the laboratory, during a zoological expedition organized by the Italian National Council of Research in the Aegean islands on board of the Bannock ship.A very short courtship sequence was filmed with a Super 8 videocamera and subsequently analyzed.The reduced number of observed sequences could represent only a portion of a more complex behaviour incompletely detected.
A single female of T. gentilis from Asklepeion laid (25.iii.1989)three small masses of eggs in the rearing plastic box.First instar larvae hatched about three weeks later in Italy, at University laboratory, in three consecutive days (12.-14.iv.1989), and their behaviour was observed for one day.Eggs of T. gentilis were kept in a thermostatic cell with photoperiodic control under ca.24-25°C.The description of the first instar larva of T. gentilis is based on the following material, preserved in 70% ethanol, in the CB and JP: vials 59 (about 10 first instar larvae), 60 (about 20 first instar larvae), 61 (about 100 first instar larvae).
The morphological analyses were made by using a Leitz Laborlux S light microscope for first instar larvae cleared and mounted in Canada balsam on slides M56, M57, M64 (from vial 59), and a Philips XL30 scanning electron microscope for larvae mounted on stub 48 (from vial 61), after critical point dehydration and gold sputtering.The terminology of larval structures follows MacSwain (1956), Lawrence (1991), and Bologna & Pinto (2001).Certain characters used in the larval chaetotaxy were adopted from notational conventions suggested by Selander (1990) and Bologna & Di Giulio (2002).
Species of this genus are apparently diurnal; one single specimen of T. eylandti was collected at Karakul (Uzbekistan), at light.Adult occurrence is restricted to spring and summer.The Mediterranean species are especially active in spring, and the Anatolian or Middle Asiatic steppe species both in spring and summer.The following adult occurrence is documented: T. carlae in the first half of May; T. taurica during May; T. gentilis from the second half of March to the middle of April, and in late May; T. kaszabi particularly from the middle of April to late May (about 83% of records), with a few records in the second half of June, the beginning of July and August; T. klapperichi at the beginning of April; T. regina in late April; T. kulzeri with scattered records in the second half of April and from late May to the end of June; T. pilosella, particularly from the second half of April to the middle of May (80% of records), with scattered records in the second half of March and beginning of April, of June and July; T. dives is active from late March to late June, especially in April; T. dvoraki in the second half of April; T. flavipes particularly from late May to the beginning of June (83% of records) with scarce records in late April and beginning of May; T. monticola in the first half of June; T. senilis in March and April; T. tricolor in April and May; T. eylandti in May, with isolated records in the second half of March and late April; T. vanensis from late April to the end of May; T. optabilis from the beginning of April to the first half of June.
No records on the larval development have been published; scarce data concerning T. gentilis are summarized in the Material and methods paragraph.

BEHAVIOUR
Courtship behaviour has never been studied in this genus.The great sexual dimorphism of middle tibiae, metasternum and metacoxae, might support the hypothesis of a complex courtship behaviour.Male specializations on several body structures as antennae, legs, or abdomen, have been evidenced in Meloidae, particularly in other Lyttini (see Bologna, 1991;Turco & Bologna, 2004, for a review) in some of which the courtship involves these modified structures.
The available evidence on the courtship of a single species, T. gentilis, with male modifications on middle tibiae and tarsi, and on metatrochanters, does not support the hypothesis of a complex sexual behaviour.As previously indicated, a very short observation was carried out on T. gentilis in the Kos Island, and Turco & Bologna (2005) reported a comparative synthesis of the courtship sequences of this species for comparison with other lyttine genera.As in other Meloinae genera, the courtship of T. gentilis includes a preliminary phase and a display phase.The brief posterior male preliminary phase includes a very fast palpal touching of the female abdomen apex and elytra, and antennae touching apex of female abdomen and elytra.The dorsal male display includes a lateral stretch of fore tibiae and raising of fore body, and antennal vibration over the female head; no manipulation of female legs with the modified male legs were noted.Both in T. gentilis (M.Bologna, obs.) and in T. monticola (Ph.Geniez, obs.) was evidenced a linear subphase of copulation on flowers (Fig. 1), as in other Meloinae genera.Also the assortative mating previously studied in the genus Lytta (Snead & Alcock, 1985;Bologna & Di Giulio, unpubl.)was noted: the larger males copulate with larger females, while smaller males stay alone and do not copulate.
No information on oviposition of this genus is available.That of T. gentilis was not observed, and eggs were probably laid at night, on the ground of the rearing box.

DESCRIPTION OF TRIUNGULIN OF T. GENTILIS
Habitus.Triungulin campodeiform (Figs 2-4); body elongate, slightly fusiform, slightly sclerotized.Body length about 1.7 mm (from abdominal apex to labrum); head length 0.23 mm (from occipital foramen to clypeolabral suture), maximum width 0.26 mm; diameter of stemmata 24 mm; epicranial stem 72 mm; antennal length 69 mm, terminal seta length 0.13 mm; prothorax length 0.23 mm, maximum width 0.33 mm; abdominal length 0.93 mm, maximum width (segments IV-V) 0.32 mm, terminal setae length 0.23 mm; diameter of spiracles: mesothoracic 12.3 mm, abdominal I 10.7 mm, abdominal II-VIII respectively from 10.5 mm to 8.7 mm.Colour of membranous areas whitish, head, legs and sclerites light brown, distal half of mandibles dark brown.Terga of thorax and abdomen slightly sclerotized and entire; epipleura of thorax and abdomen completely fused with terga displacing the spiracles in a dorsal position; sterna of thorax and abdomen membranous, with the exception of the abdominal sternum IX and small areas around sternal setae.Cuticle reticulate with transverse polygonal meshes, more evident around terga, discal areas of terga smooth.Tergal setae short.
Head .Broader than long, greatest width at the level of temples; sides subparallel and broadly curved in posterior half; basal elevation absent; anterior margin subtruncate, slightly rounded laterally.Epicranial suture Y-shaped; basal half of frontal arms parallel, widely diverging apically to the antennal insertions.Stemmata small, circular, slightly convex, placed dorsolaterally.Frontoclypeal region with 16 setae; apex of frontoclypeus with one transverse row (frontoclypeal row, FCR) of three pairs of setae: FCR1 similar in length to FCR3, FCR2 longer than the others; one additional pair of setae present medially and slightly anterior to FCR, between FCR1; one sensory pit between FCR2 and FCR3.Four pairs of sube- qual setae posterior to FCR along a curved line paralleling the arms of the epicranial suture (setae 1-4 from the posterior to the anterior); one sensory pit present between setae 1 and 2. Basal part of each epicranial plate dorsally with four minute setae and one pit arranged in a longitudinal row (the basal row, BR) paralleling the basal stem of the epicranial suture; one pit posterolateral; nine pairs of setae and four pairs of sensory pits anterior to BR: one pair of setae close to the epicranial stem with one pair of pits placed anteriorly; one pair of shorter setae anterior to the BR; seven pairs of differently sized setae (including the ocular seta) and two pits encircling the stemmata; ocular seta and seta lateral to the stemma very long.Ocular sensory pit distinctly anterior to the stemma; ocular seta medial and slightly anterior to the ocular pit.Posterior half of ventral surface of each epicranial plate with one medial sensory pit.Anterior half with four pairs of setae and four pairs of sensory pits arranged as follows: two pairs of setae transversally lined at the level of cardo and two pairs of setae and three pits (one lateral and two medial, near mandibular acetabulum) placed anteriorly; one large pit placed medially, close to the base of the maxillae.Labrum (Fig. 12) transverse, subrectangular with curved sides, anteriorly bearing 22 setae of varying length transversally arranged in three rows: anterodorsal row with four pairs of long setae and one sensory pit; anteroventral row with four pairs of shorter setae; lateroventral row with three pairs of small setae.Antennae (Fig. 9) short, directed anterolaterally; antennomere I short, ring-like with one dorsal sensory pit; II distinctly asymmetrical, longer on the inner side where subequal to antennomere I, shorter on outer side, with three setae (two dorsal and one ventral), one minute dorsal seta and one dorsal pit medial to the others, near sensory appendix; sensory appendix on the outer side of antennomere II conical, hyaline and broad, positioned at  4); 200 µm (Fig. 3); 100 µm (Fig. 5); 150 µm (Fig. 6).
apex, slightly ventral to the insertion of antennomere III, about as long as the latter; III slender and long, cylindrical, about as long as I and II together, with a long apical seta (about twice as long as the entire antenna), three long subapical setae, two lateral (one on outer and one on inner sides) and one dorsal; one minute seta near the base of apical seta.Mandibles (Fig. 7) conical-falcate, basal half broad and slightly sclerotized, apical half strongly sclerotized, narrowing and abruptly bending inward, ental margin medially keeled and with two edges: one ventral smooth; one dorsal with eight triangular, upcurved teeth (Fig. 8); outer margin of mandible with two setae, one sensory pit between them and one pit mesodorsally.Maxillae with stipes subquadrate and bearing two rows of setae: anterior row with two long setae and one medial pit; posterior row with two shorter setae and one pit between them; mala simple, lobiform, slightly protruding, with 7-8 spiniform setae; cardo transverse, subrectangular, with one short lateral seta; maxillary palpomeres I and II (Fig. 10) short, the first only slightly longer and wider; I with one ventral sensory pit; II with two subequal setae, one dorsal on the outer side and one ventral; III subrectangular, slightly narrower than II, dorso-ventrally flattened and spoon-like (slightly concave dorsally), about 1.8 times the length of I and II together, with one basal and dorsolateral seta (inner side) and one ventrolateral pit (outer side); apex of palpomere III convex and membranous, with a sensorial area composed of about 30 conical and subequal sensilla, one medial, larger and cylindrical with ring-like base, and one very small close to the medial; outer side of palpomere III with one slender digitiform sensillum.Gula without setae; submentum, mentum and prementum poorly sclerotized; submentum with two setae; mentum with two shorter setae and four pits; prementum with four setae, two short and basal and two longer and anterior.Labial palpomeres (Fig. 11) narrow and cylindrical, palpomere I slightly asymmetric (outer side longer) and 1 small ventral seta; palpomere II about twice as long as I, with a lateral pit and an apical circular slightly swollen sensorial area composed of ten conical and subequal sensilla, one larger medially placed and cylindrical with large ring-like base, and one very small close to the medial.
Thorax.Segments transverse, slightly broader than head; prothorax slightly wider than meso-and metathorax; margins of each thoracic segment rounded.Ecdysial line complete on pro-and mesonotum, incomplete posteriorly on metanotum.Anterior margin of pronotum membranous; each half of pronotum with twelve short setae and five pits symmetrically placed along three transverse, subparallel rows; anterior row (AR) with four setae and four pits; medial row (MR) irregular, with four setae and one pit; posterior row (PR) with four setae and two pits; prosternum with three pairs of medial setae arranged longitudinally and one pair anterior.Mesonotum narrower and slightly shorter than pronotum, similarly shaped, anteriorly sclerotized, with AR composed of four setae (very small and irregularly disposed); MR with six setae and one pit; PR with four setae and two pits; three pairs of medial setae on mesosternum, the anterior pair extremely short.Metanotum slightly narrower than mesonotum and subequal in length, more rounded on sides; setae of metathorax similar in number, position and relative dimensions to those of mesothorax.
Legs.Slender, coxa conical and elongate, with one small apical seta, four elongate medial setae, transversally arranged, gradually decreasing in length from basal to apical, three minute basal setae and one pit; trochanter with four apical setae and five pits; femur not enlarged in middle, slightly shorter than tibiotarsus, with six setae and one pit, the longest ventral femoral seta much shorter than femur; fore femora slightly more robust than the others; tibiotarsi and claws increasing in length from pro-to metathorax; tibiae slightly tapered at apex and with five longitudinal rows of 5-7 spine-like, moderately long setae; apical setae of tibiae slightly longer than apical width of tibiotarsus; claw (Fig. 14) conical-falcate, thin, acute and slightly curved at apex, with two setae of different length inserted at different levels near base (the apical distinctly longer than the basal).
Spiracles (Fig. 13).Round, internally papillate, with a small opening.Peritreme round and flat, slightly elevated and with 10-12 triangular projections encircling the opening.Mesothoracic spiracle anterolateral in position, abdominal spiracles medial in position, all spiracles distinctly dorsal and subequal in diameter.
Abdomen.Slightly fusiform, approximately 1.5 times as long as thorax; segments II-VI subequal, maximum width at IV; segment IX smallest and suboval; sternal abdominal area membranous except for sternum IX.Terga anterolaterally converging, with three transverse rows of setae on each half of tergum as follows: AR with three minute setae (four on tergum I) and one pit; MR with three setae at the level of the spiracle, two medial and one lateral (very long in segments II-VIII); PR with seven setae of various size and one pit.AR and MR of tergum IX with the same setation as segments II-VIII, PR composed of five elongate setae, longer than those of segments II-VIII, and one pair of very long setae (caudal setae), about as long as the last two abdominal segments combined.AR and MR of sterna I-IX with one pair of minute medial setae each, PR with four pairs of setae (three pairs on segment I), the two outer pairs (one pair on segment I) very long (except on segment IX).Segment X membranous, divided by a transverse anal fold in two parts: dorsal part semicircular with six extremely small setae transversally arranged, ventral part (pygopod) longitudinally divided in two lobes, moderately produced.
Larval features and relationships.Bologna & Aloisi (1994) discussed some distinctive larval characters of T. gentilis and proposed a preliminary key to the larvae of lyttine genera, but this triungulin remained undescribed.Several characters of this species were also utilized for a cladistic analysis of the family Meloidae by Bologna & Pinto (2001), who recognized the position of the genus within the tribe Lyttini, close to the Lydina phyletic lineage and to Lytta (Turco, Bologna & Di Giulio, pers. obs.).
The first instar larva of Teratolytta is very similar to that of the genus Lytta F., 1775, particularly of its subgenus Poreospasta Horn, 1868, because of the shape of the maxillary palpi II-III, but differs from it by the shape of antennomere II, apically asymmetric and oblique and with the conical sensory appendix about as long as antennomere III, and by the scarce body sclerotization.The dorsal position of the mesothoracic spiracle is common to Lytta and Lydus Dejean, 1821, Alosimus Mulsant, 1857, andProlytta Kaszab, 1959 (only in some species: Bologna & Di Giulio, 2002).The large rounded first abdominal spiracle is common to the same genera plus Oenas Latreille, 1802 and Lydomorphus Fairmare, 1882.

Generic diagnosis.
The genus Teratolytta is generally characterized by species with a marked sexual dimorphism.Several male characters do not represent generic synapomorphies but are present in most species of the genus, as the modifications of middle tibia (apex with a spine-like extension and sometimes with a spiniform tuft of modified setae), of metasternum (two tubercles with tufts of robust setae), or of metatrochanters (depressed and with an appendix).Except for these features, Teratolytta appears slightly distinct from Lytta, and only two autapomorphies can be recognized as diagnostic of the genus: lateral lobes of last male sternum with a long tuft of modified setae, and endophallus with an extremely large apical hook.Females are slightly distinct from those of the genus Lytta.Moreover, all Teratolytta species are characterized by shaggy pubescence and metallic green, blue or cupreous integuments, or bronze-black in a single species (T.pilosella).
The morphology of this genus was only insufficiently treated in literature: Kaszab (1959) described the wing venation, which is similar to that of other Lyttini, and Bologna & Pinto (2001) figured the derived character of the male last abdominal sternum and the modified male tibiae of T. dives.Gupta (1971Gupta ( , 1978) ) described male and female external genitalia of T. dives, and transferred this genus from Lyttini to the tribe Mylabrini.This change is not supported by his discussion of the characters, which are erroneously interpreted, and contradicts several characters in adult and larval morphology of Mylabrini and Lyttini as discussed by Bologna (1991) and Bologna & Pinto (2001).Male and female genitalia, except for the endophallic hook, show the typical lyttine morphology.

Classification and definition of species groups.
In this paper we adopt a tentative classification of the species groups, primarily based on distinctive characters of each group.According to this classification, two sections are recognized on the base of the absence (section I), or presence (section II) of two tubercles on the metasternum, just posteriorly to the base of the middle legs.Eigth groups of species, four of them monotypic, are also defined according to other features.Even if not utilized for a cladistic classification, some characters are here evidenced as possible apomorphies when compared with their state in the whole family Meloidae.
Section I includes five species groups, two of which include more than one species (gentilis and klapperichi The species of this section have, as a primitive condition, the metasternum without tubercles and the pro-and mesotibiae with two spurs; one spur (derived condition) occurs only in the klapperichi group.Other variable features are: (i) apex of mesotibia not modified, or modified (as derived condition) in the gentilis group, and slightly modified in the pilosella group; (ii) hind trochanters variously shaped, and not modified at base, or with a basal appendix (as a derived condition); and (iii) two aedeagal hooks, or (as derived condition) only one hook or the distal one extremely reduced in the klapperichi group.
The species in this section, which have the primitive condition of two spurs on pro-and mesotibiae, are primarily characterized by the derived condition of metasternum with tubercles apically covered by a tuft of modified setae.These species also have the apex of mesotibia markedly modified and hind trochanters with variously shaped appendix.Section I Group carlae Teratolytta carlae Bologna, sp.n. (Figs 19,48,55) Diagnosis.Small sized.Body monochromatic metallic blue, or metallic bronze-cupreous and partially green; legs red with trochanter and knees black.Setation white, with scattered black setae, especially on the fore part of body.Head puncturation scattered, surface subopaque.Sexual dimorphism almost absent.Pro-and mesotibiae with two apical spurs in both sexes; pro-and metatibiae straight; parameres with robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks close to each other; endophallic hook slightly curved.

Key to the species (males) of Teratolytta
Description.Body metallic, entirely blue or bronzecupreous with green lateral margins and suture of elytra and base of pronotum; maxillary palpi orange-red as well as legs, except coxae, trochanters, apex of femora and base of tibiae black; mouthparts black, antennae subopaque black.Setation white with scattered longer black setae.Modified setae of male last abdominal sternum black.Body length (apex of mandibles to apex of elytra) 9.2-11.6mm; head maximum width 2.0-2.1 mm; pronotum length 1.5-1.6 mm, width 2.0-2.1 mm; elytral width greatest at posterior third 3.9-4.1 mm.
Head short, subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, maximum width at temples; lateral sides of head obliquely narrowed from base to eyes; frons slightly depressed at middle; mandibles short, robust and curved; temples convex without postocular depression; fore margin of labrum slightly emarginate; surface with mod-erately deep scattered punctures, surface between punctures subopaque; frontal sutures straight; maxillary and labial palpomeres slender; last maxillary palpomeres twice as long as penultimate; antennae extending to the basal third of elytra; antennomere I about twice as long as II, subequal to III; III-X elongate, cylindrical; III slightly shorter than the following; XI 1.5 as long as X, cylindrical, narrowing in the apical third; antennomeres I and II with long black setae.
Pronotum subpentagonal, maximal width at middle, slightly wider than long, longitudinally sligthly depressed at middle, transversally depressed along the base and with two small rounded depressions laterally on disk; pronotal punctures as on head.Scutellum large, subquadrate at apex.Elytra short, feebly convex, rounded at apex, without traces of venation, uniformly rugose, setation uniformly distributed.Metathorax without tubercles.Tibiae of all legs with two spurs, both slender and pointed on pro-and mesotibiae; spurs of metatibiae robust, inner pointed, outer spoon-like; male tibiae of all legs cylindrical, not modified at apex, with simple setation, mesotibiae without supplementary spine-like brush of setae (Fig. 19); male mesotarsomere I not modified (Fig. 19), slender and subconical, with simple setation as on mesotarsomere II; male metatrochanters simple (Fig. 48).
Last visible sternite of male abdomen emarginate, with modified setae as long as the entire sternite.Parameres (Fig. 55) robust and with robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks, close to each other, different in shape and size, distal markedly smaller than proximal; hook of the endophallus slightly curved, apically not acutely prolonged (Fig. 55).Variation.Females with shorter antennae and last abdominal sternite not emarginate.Body metallic coloration of this species variable: some specimens are monochromatic blue, others from the same locality are bronze-cupreous with the ventral part of body, lateral margins and suture of elytra metallic green.The holotype and two female paratypes from the type locality (Malatya) have bronze-cupreous coloration; the other three male paratypes (one from the type locality, and two from the second locality) are blue.
Etymology.This species is named after Carla Marangoni, the first author's wife and curator of the Civic Zoological Museum of Rome, who collaborated in the field research of Teratolytta in southern Turkey and kindly accepted the lively life I offered to her.
Remarks.One male paratype from Malatya lacks antennomeres II-XI of both antennae, one female lacks antennomeres X-XI of the right antenna and the fore right claw, another female lacks right antennomeres III-XI and right tarsomeres III-V and claw.One male paratype from Nemrut Da lacks antennomeres II-XI of both antennae.
Discussion.T. carlae appears to be the most primitive species of the genus, because of the almost complete absence of sexual dimorphism.As previously discussed, it belongs to the section I because of the lack of metasternite tubercles and it is similar to T. taurica because of the unmodified male mesotibiae, the presence of two spurs on pro-and mesotibiae, and the absence of postocular depression in male.Differs from T. taurica primarily by the unmodified male mesotarsomere I, and the male metatrochanters without small appendix, but also by the less shiny surface, the black apex of femur and base of tibia, the narrower pronotum, the lack of black robust setae on male mesotarsomeres I and II, the hind tibiae with outer spur smaller, and the endophallic hook slightly curved.Müller, 1936: 91;Bologna & Marangoni, 1990: 353;Bologna, 1994: 8. Teratolytta gentilis, Kaszab, 1957: 230;Kaszab, 1958: 254;Kaszab, 1967: 538;Dvo ák, 1996: 164.Teratolytta gentilis ab.coensis (sic!), Kaszab, 1958: 254.
Diagnosis.Body length: 11.5-16.5 mm.Green subolivaceous or metallic blue.Maxillary and labial palpi red as well as legs (except for coxa and trochanther), antennae black.Head without postocular depression.Metathoracic tubercles absent.Mesotibiae modified at apex (Fig. 20) with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae without basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; mesotarsomere I longer than wide, subtrapezoidal; metatrochanters depressed and with a central carina, without laminiform appendix or tuft of setae.Last visible tergite of abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Male genitalia as in Fig. 56; aedeagus with two hooks very close together, distal one small, endophallic hook slightly angulated, normally curved at apex.Female genitalia as in Fig. 71.
Taxonomic remarks.The colour variability of integuments (green or blue) produced erroneous interpretations of this species.As previously indicated, the holotype is blue as the single examined specimen from southern Turkey (Yarpus, CD); on the contrary, all other examined specimens from Sporades, Central and Western Anatolia (also from the type locality) are green.A similar colour variation is present in other Teratolytta species: T. carlae, T. flavipes, T. senilis.Müller (1936), followed by Bologna & Marangoni (1990) and Bologna (1994), considered the green specimens from the Kos Island (Greece, Sporades) as a distinct species, named cooensis, but actually they represent only the most common chromatic form of this species.
Type material.Single % considered here as possible holotype, was examined at HNHM.It is blue, as indicated in the description (Frivaldszky, 1877); two other specimens from the same locality are positioned close to the type (HNHM), but probably they are not syntypes because they have green integuments.
One syntype of T. cooensis, considered here as possible holotype, was examined by Andrea Colla, Curator of the Trieste Museum (xi.2003).It is a male, lacking the left hind tarsus, and with three labels: "Isola Coo, Amhri, 22.3, XIII" (= 1935); Teratolytta n. sp.M. "(Giuseppe Müller's graphy); Teratolytta cooensis det.G. Müller 1947".This last label was distinctly added 11 years after the description (Müller, 1936).According to the description, another female syntype is preserved in the "Ufficio Agrario Sperimentale di Rodi", but we do not have information about the present situation of this former institution of the Italian administration in Rhodes.
Description.Body metallic green or slightly blue; maxillary palpi orange-red as well as legs, except coxae and trochanters black, and apex of femora slightly infuscate; mouthparts black, antennae subopaque black.Setation white with scattered longer black setae.Modified setae of male last abdominal sternum black.Body length (apex of mandibles to apex of elytra) 12.0-12.2mm; head maximum width 2.5-2.6 mm; pronotum length 1.9-2.0mm, width 2.4-2.5 mm; elytral width greatest at posterior third 4.5-4.7 mm.
Head short subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, maximum width at temples; sides of head obliquely nar-rowed from base to eyes; frons slightly depressed at middle; mandibles short, robust and curved; temples convex without postocular depression; fore margin of labrum slightly emarginate; surface with scattered moderately deep punctures, surface between punctures shiny; frontal sutures straight; maxillary and labial palpomeres slender; last maxillary palpomeres twice as long as penultimate; antennae almost extending to middle of elytra; antennomere I about twice as long as II, subequal to III; III-X elongate, cylindrical; III slightly shorter than the following; XI 1.5 as long as X, cylindrical, narrowing in the apical third; antennomeres I and II with long black setae.
Pronotum transverse, almost hexagonal, maximal width at middle or just in front, clearly wider than long, longitudinally sligthly depressed at the middle, transversally slightly depressed along the base and laterally on fore third of disk; pronotal punctures as on head.Scutellum wide, subquadrate and depressed at apex.Elytra short, feebly convex, rounded at apex, with vague traces of venation, uniformly rugose, setation uniformly distributed.Metathorax without tubercles.Tibiae of all legs with two spurs, both slender and pointed on pro-and mesotibiae; spurs of metatibiae robust, inner pointed, outer very large, subtruncate apically; male tibiae of all legs cylindrical, not modified at apex, with simple setation, mesotibiae without supplementary spine-like brush of setae, metatibiae slightly curved on inner side; male mesotarsomere I slightly modified (Fig. 21), subrectangular with a few robust black setae in the posterior half, tarsomere II not modified but with scarce black robust setae at base; male metatrochanters simple, only with a very small and nude appendix.
Last visible sternite of male abdomen emarginate, with modified setae as long as the entire sternite.Parameres (Fig. 57) robust and with robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks close to each other, different in shape and size, the distal one markedly smaller than proximal one; hook of the endophallus straght, not acutely prolonged apically.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 72.
Variation.The holotype and a male paratype have slight blue reflections on dorsal surface and abdomen.Females with shorter antennae, and last abdominal sternite non emarginated.Body length: 11.2-13.9mm.Etymology.The name of this species is derived from the Taurus Mts (Toros Daglari), the southern mountain chain extended along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, rich in endemic species of Meloidae, where the new species is distributed.
Remarks.The holotype lacks the left antenna and both fore claws; one male paratype lacks hind left claw.
Type locality.Tajikistan: Kvak in Varzob valley on the southern slope of the Hissar range (Kryzhanovskij, 1959).
Diagnosis.Body length: 11.8-17 mm.Metallic bronzecupreous, with a green longitudinal stripe at middle of pronotum and along elytral suture and sides.Maxillary and labial palpi and legs (except coxae) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depression.Metathoracic tubercles absent.Male mesotibiae not modified at apex and without a spine-like brush of setae (Fig. 22); metatibiae distinctly depressed on inner side, slightly curved; two spurs on all tibiae; mesotarsomere I and metatro-chanters not modified.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Parameres (Fig. 58) extremely slender, lobes curved at apex, aedeagus with two hooks very close together and both apical, the distal one small, endophallic hook slightly angulated, very long and slender, with anterior apex large and forming a keel.
Taxonomic remarks.Kryzhanovskij (1959) compared this species to T. regina because of the similar body coloration, but T. kaszabi has unmodified temples, two proand mesotibial spurs, and two aedeagal hooks.Dvo ák (1983) discussed size (9.5-21mm) and colour variability: the cupreous longitudinal stripe on elytra is more or less extended and more or less dark, similarly as in T. dives, T. regina, T. vanensis and T. carlae.
The Turkmenistan and part of the Uzbekistan citations of T. dives (cited as phalerata) refer to T. kaszabi, after the examination of material from these countries.T. kaszabi is easily distinguishable from T. dives and T. tricolor by the following characters: lack of sternal tubercles, middle legs slightly modified (Fig. 22), unmodified metatrochanters, pronotum trapezoidal rather than pentagonal, parameres slender and aedeagal hooks differently shaped (Fig. 58), wider bronze-cupreous elytral stripe, denser setation of the fore part of body.(Kryzhanovskij, 1959).Holotype and other type specimens at ZMAS, not examined; one paratype examined in FSCA.
Diagnosis.Body length: 10.7-16.5 mm.Dark metallic green, with bluish reflections.Maxillary and labial palpi red as well as legs (except coxae, which are black), antennae black.Male genae with a deep impression extended from the postero-ventral to the postero-dorsal margin of eye (Fig. 35).Metathoracic tubercles absent.Male mesotibiae not modified at apex and without a spine-like brush of setae (Fig. 23); one spur on pro-and mesotibiae of male, two on metatibiae; male mesotarsomere I semilunar, wider than long, posterior margin convex, ventrally strongly depressed; male metatrochanters depressed, with a carina and a slender and very narrow apical appendix, hook-shaped, without setae; male metatibiae straight, with a large tuft of agglutinated long black and yellow setae.Last visible tergite of male abdomen conically projecting in the middle (Fig. 44).Parameres (Fig. 59) apically very wide, lobes almost indistinct, short and robust, aedeagus with two hooks subequal in size, separated, endophallic hook markedly angulated, apex large, forming a long keel.
Diagnosis.(From Kaszab, 1958, modified).Body length: 10.5-16.0mm.Head, thorax and ventral surface bronze-or green-cupreous, elytral suture blue-violet and margins green or bronze-green; maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except coxae, which are black) yellowred, antennae black.Male genae with a deep impression extended from the postero-ventral to the postero-dorsal margin of eye.Metathoracic tubercles absent.Mesotibiae not modified at apex and without a spine-like brush of setae; one spur on pro-and mesotibiae of male, two on metatibiae; male mesotarsomere I semilunar, wider than long, posterior margin convex, ventrally strongly depressed; male metatrochanters depressed, without carina and apical appendix; metatibiae straight, not modified, with normal setation.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated in the middle.Parameres apically wide, lobes almost indistinct, short and robust, aedeagus with two hooks subequal in size, close together, endophallic hook angulated, apex large and forming a keel.
Taxonomic remarks.Types of this species were only briefly examined (HNHM), but the validity of the species was confirmed.Colour variation was previously discussed (see T. kaszabi).T. regina differs from T. kaszabi primarily by the black knees, slender antennae, and the mesotarsomere I expanded.
Diagnosis.Body length: 11.6-15.6mm.Dark green metallic, with bluish reflections.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except coxae and trochanthers) red, antennae black.Head without depressions.Metathoracic tubercles absent.Mesotibiae not modified at apex and without a spine-like brush of setae (Fig. 24); one spur on pro-and mesotibiae of male, two on metatibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 24) semilunar, wider than long, posterior margin convex, ventrally strongly depressed, with normal setation; male metatrochanters (Fig. 49) without carina and appendix; metatibiae normally shaped and setose.Last visible tergite of abdomen of male (Fig. 43) projecting at middle with an appendiculate semilunar expansion.Parameres (Fig. 60) apically very wide, lobes short and quite robust, aedeagus only with the distal hook, very small and apical in position, endophallic hook markedly angulated, apex large and forming a long keel.
Taxonomic remarks.This species is easily distinguishable from others of the same group at least by the last abdominal tergite expanded at apex (Fig. 43).
Diagnosis.Body length: 10-15.5 mm.Bronze-black or with dark green-bronze reflections, rarely metallic black.Maxillary and labial palpi black, legs red except the black base of femora, knees and tarsi, antennae dull black.Setation white with scattered black setae, denser ventrally and on head and pronotum, grouped in scattered tufts.Male genae (Fig. 36) with a large impression extended from the middle of posterior margin of eye to the middle of occiput, where both impressions converge in a longitudinal depression, posteriorly extended to vertex; frons depressed.Metathoracic tubercles absent.Male mesotibiae not modified, only slightly expanded internally (Fig. 25) without spine-like brush; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 25) longer than wide, subtrapezoidal, with normal setation; male metatrochanters without depression and carina.Last visible tergite of male abdomen conically projecting at middle.Parameres (Fig. 61) cylindrical, abruptly narrowed at apex, lobes slender and straight; aedeagus with subequal, spaced two hooks, endophallic hook markedly angulated, apically bent, apex normally curved.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 73.
Taxonomic remarks.Kryzhanovskij (1959) considered this species as polytypic and described the ssp.tadzhika, but Dvo ák (1983) synonymized this subspecies with the nominate form.We agree with this synonymy because the examined Tajikistan specimens do not differ from those of other populations.According to Escherich (1894) the body colour, usually bronze-black, varies to olive or ligth green.
Type material.Types of the nominate form of this species, not examined, are probably preserved at ZMAS.
Diagnosis.Body length: 12.4-19.4mm.Monochromatic green metallic or with a bronze-cupreous longitudinal stripe on middle of elytron and on genae.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except metallic coxae and black throcanthers) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with conical tubercles.Male mesotibiae markedly modified at apex (Fig. 26), with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 26) longer than wide, subrectangular with black spiniform setae on inner side, II without modified setae; male metatrochanters (Fig. 50) depressed and with a central carina, with a great laminiform appendix bearing an apical tuft of setae.Last visible abdominal ter-gite of male slightly emarginated at middle.Parameres (Fig. 62) wide, short lobes, gradually narrowed; aedeagus with two subequal and spaced hooks, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 74.
Taxonomic remarks.This species, widely distributed from the Balkans to Anatolia, was misinterpreted in the literature by several authors because of its colour variability.The nominate form was described from Morea (Greece) by Brullé (1832) as uniformly metallic green, but also striped specimens are present in the type series; the phalerata form was described by E. Frivaldszky (1837) from Thrace, and synonymized by Reiche (1859).This last phenotype is characterized by a longitudinal bronze-cupreous strip on the metallic green integument.Both forms are usually mixed in the populations in the whole range of the species, with an evident dominance of the striped form.The frequency of phenotypes in samples populations of T. dives with more than 5 specimens, confirms this dominance: Macedonia, Ohrid: 10 of 10; Macedonia, Jaratock E of Monastir: 11 of 11; Albania: 1 of 5; Greece, Souli: 15 of 16; Greece, Mega Spiliò: 10 of 15; Turkey, Istanbul: 4 of 5.
According to the examined material, the citations from Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan refer to T. kaszabi and T. tricolor.Escherich (1894), in the first revision of this group, erroneously synonymized several taxa (T.flavipes, T.eylandti, T. tricolor and T. gentilis) to T. dives.Also Kaszab (1958) erroneously synonymized T. flavipes to the nominate form of T. dives (see Bologna, 1994).Several authors adopted this erroneous synonymy and specimens of both species are usually mixed in the collections.
Type material.Four damaged specimens are preserved at MNHN collection, the first of which has the labels "Cantharis dives Brullé Morée M. Brullé" (handwritten, white); "417" (handwritten, white).They represent syntypes of this species.One % was designated as lectotype (M.Bologna des. 1988); another % and 2& without labels but positioned just close to the lectotype, were designated as paralectotypes (M.Bologna des. 1988).All types lack antennae, and have elytra monochromatic metallic green or with indistinct narrow cupreous longitudinal stripe.

Teratolytta dvoraki Bologna sp. n. (Figs 27, 63)
Diagnosis.Medium to large sized.Body monochromatic metallic green, legs red with trochanter and knees black.Setation white with scattered black setae particularly on fore part of body.Head puncturation scattered, surface shiny.Sexual dimorphism conspicuous: male metathorax with two short and conical tubercles; apex of male mesotibiae obliquely expanded and pointed, with an additional spine-like brush of setae, male mesotarsomere I enlarged and rectangular, with modified black setae, male metatrochanters with a short laminar appendix without apical setae; pro-and mesotibiae with two apical spurs in both sexes; pro-and metatibiae straight; parameres with robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks close to each other; endophallic hook straight.
Description.Body metallic, entirely green, without olivacous reflections; maxillary palpi orange-red as well as legs, except coxae, trochanters, apex of femora and base of tibiae black; mouthparts black, antennae subopaque black.Setation white with scattered longer black setae.Modified setae of male last abdominal sternum black.Body length (apex of mandibles to apex of elytra) 16 mm; head maximum width 3.3 mm; pronotum length 2.1 mm, width 3.4 mm; elytral width greatest at posterior third 6.5 mm.
Head short subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, maximal width at temples; lateral sides of head obliquely narrowed from base to eyes; frons slightly depressed at middle; mandibles short, robust and curved; temples slightly convex, without postocular depression; fore margin of labrum slightly emarginate; surface with scattered deep punctures, surface between punctures shiny; frontal sutures straight; maxillary and labial palpomeres slender; last palpomere twice as long as penultimate, longer than third; antennae extending to the basal third of elytra; antennomere I about twice as long as II, slightly shorter than III; III-X elongate, cylindrical; III slightly shorter than the following; XI 1.5 as long as X, cylindrical, narrowing at apical third; antennomeres I and II with long black setae.
Pronotum pentagonal, maximal width at middle, wider than long, longitudinally sligthly depressed at middle, slightly depressed in the middle of base; pronotal punctures as on head.Scutellum large, subquadrate at apex.Elytra short, feebly convex, rounded and more flattened at apex, without traces of venation, uniformly and densely rugose, sparsely setose except on margins.Metathorax with 2 short and conical tubercles.Tibiae of all legs with 2 spurs, both slender and pointed on pro-and mesotibiae; spurs of metatibiae robust, inner pointed, outer spoon-like; male pro-and metatibiae cylindrical, not depressed or curved, with simple setation; mesotibiae enlarged at apex, with an inner suboblique and pointed laminiform expansion and a few slightly modified setae at apex, and with a spine-like brush of setae beyond the middle of the tibia (Fig. 27); male mesotarsomere I modified, subrectangular with spiniform black setae on inner margin (Fig. 27), mesotarsomere II not modified and without black setae; male metatrochanters with a short and nude laminiform appendix.
Last visible sternite of male abdomen emarginate, with modified setae as long as the entire sternite.Parameres (Fig. 63) robust and with very short robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks, close to each other, different in shape and size, distal smaller than proximal; hook of the endophallus straigth, not acutely prolonged apically.
Etymology.This species is named after Miroslav Dvo ák, a Czech entomologist working on blister beetles, who has published a couple of papers on the genus Teratolytta.The single specimen of the new species was found in the very interesting material of his collection that he kindly sent to me for study.
Remarks.The holotype lacks last tarsomeres and claws in both fore legs.
Discussion.T. dvoraki clearly belongs to the same group of T. dives by the shape of metathoracic tubercles and mesotibiae.It is easily distinguishable from the nominate form of T. dives by the shape of the nude and short appendix of metatrochanters.The same characters, as well as the elytral coloration, separate it from T. tricolor (with a cupreous strip) and T. flavipes (more olivaceous).Differs from T. senilis because of the pentagonal pronotum and the black trochanters.It appears more similar to T. monticola, which has a wider pronotum, usually infuscate legs, wider humeri, and the metabia slightly depressed on inner side.
Diagnosis.Body length: 11.2-16.4mm.Monochromatic metallic green.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except metallic coxa and black throcanther) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with conical tubercles.Male mesotibiae markedly modified at apex (Fig. 28) with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 28) longer than wide, subtrapezoidal and, as well as segment II, without spiniform setae; metatibiae not enlarged and with normal setation; male metatrochanters (Fig. 51) depressed and with a central carina, with a great laminar appendix apically bearing a tuft of setae.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Parameres (Fig. 64) wide, short, in lobes gradually narrowed, aedeagus with two subequal and spaced hooks, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 75.
Taxonomic remarks.As previously noted, this species was misinterpreted in the literature and synonymized with T. dives (e.g., Escherich, 1894;Abeille de Perrin, 1895;Wellman, 1910b;Kaszab, 1958) and it was firstly revalidated by Bologna (1988).The integuments coloration of T. flavipes varies from complete metallic green (nominate form) to partially (form semividua: head and pronotum black, elytra blue), or completely metallic blue (form saphirina).Specimens of the form semividua were examined from SE Turkey (Taurus: Namrun, Camliyayla; Nur Da lari) mixed with the nominate form.Also the form saphirina was collected together with the nominate one in SW Turkey, Akbez, as well as another specimen (identified as "Halosimus bicolor Haag"), showing traces of a cupreous longitudinal stripe, similarly to T. dives of the phenotype phalerata.
This species differs from the monochromatic nominate form of T. dives by: (i) the lateral expansion of mesotibiae longer and larger ( Type material.The description of this species is based on a single % (collection Godart) probably preserved in the Lyon Museum (Mulsant & Rey, 1858) and not examined.
Distribution (Fig. 16, black squares).Turkey: Anatolia (MNHN).( Antalya Teratolytta monticola Bologna sp.n. (Figs 1,29,52,65,76) Diagnosis.Medium sized to large.Body monochromatic metallic green, legs red, more or less infuscate (particularly tarsi), with trochanter and knees black.Setation white, with scattered black setae particularly on fore part of body.Head puncturation scattered, surface shiny, frontal depression broadley extended to occiput.Sexual dimorphism distinct: male metathorax with two short and conical tubercles; apex of male mesotibiae (Fig. 29) obliquely expanded and pointed, with an additional spinelike brush of setae, male mesotarsomere I enlarged and rectangular, with modified black setae, male metatrochanters (Fig. 52) with a laminar appendix without apical setae; pro-and mesotibiae with two apical spurs in both sexes; protibiae straight, male metatibiae slightly depressed on inner side; parameres with robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks close to each other; endophallic hook straight.
Head short subtrapezoidal, clearly wider than long, maximal width at temples; lateral sides of head obliquely narrowed from base to eyes; frons distinctly depressed in the middle, this depression, even if slightly, extends posteriorly as a wide parallel area, almost to the occiput; mandibles short, robust and curved; temples slightly convex, without a postocular depression, only sligtly flattened; fore margin of labrum almost straigth; surface with scattered deep punctures, surface between punctures shiny; frontal sutures straight; maxillary and labial palpomeres slender; last maxillary palpomere twice as long as penultimate, longer than third; antennae extending to basal third of elytra; antennomere I about twice as long as II, slightly shorter than III; III-X elongate, cylindrical; III slightly shorter than the following; XI 1.5 as long as X, cylindrical, narrowing at apical third; antennomeres I and II with long black setae.
Pronotum transversally subtrapezoidal, clearly wider than long, maximal width at middle, sligthly longitudinally depressed at middle and transversally at base; pronotal punctures as on head.Scutellum large, subquadrate at apex.Elytra short, wide on humeri, slightly convex, rounded at apex, without traces of venation, uniformly and densely rugose, sparsely setose except on margins.Metathorax with two short and conical tubercles.Tibiae of all legs with two spurs, both slender and pointed on pro-and mesotibiae; spurs of metatibiae robust, inner pointed, outer spoon-like; male protibiae cylindrical, metatibiae slightly depressed on inner side, both with simple setation; mesotibiae enlarged at apex with an inner subperpendicular and pointed laminar expansion, with few modified black setae at apex (Fig. 29), a spine-like brush of setae beyond middle of tibia; mesotarsomere I of male modified (Fig. 29), subrectangular with spiniform black setae on inner margin, mesotarsomere II not modified and without black setae; male metatrochanters with a moderately long nude laminar appendix (Fig. 52).
Last visible sternite of male abdomen emarginate, with modified setae as long as the entire sternite or slightly longer.Parameres (Fig 65) robust and with very short robust apical lobes; penis with two apical hooks, close each to other, different in shape and size, distal smaller than proximal; hook of the endophallus straigth, not acutely prolonged apically.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 76.
Variation.Some paratypes have less shiny integuments.Females have shorter antennae, and last abdominal sternite not emarginate.Etymology.The name of this species is derived from its adaptation to mountain habitat.
Remarks.One male paratype lacks the antennomeres IV-XI of right and VIII-XI of left antenna, and tarsomeres IV-V of both fore tarsi; one male paratype lacks tarsomeres IV-V of left fore tarsi; one male paratype lacks antennomeres II-XI of right antenna, the complete right and tarsomeres IV-V of left foretarsus; one male paratype (MNHN) lacks antennomeres III-XI of both antennae and of left metatarsus; one female paratype lacks tarsomeres III-V of right metatarsus; the male paratype from Palandöken lacks the left middle tarsus.
Discussion.T. monticola clearly belongs to the T. dives group because of the shape of metathoracic tubercles and mesotibiae.It is closely related to T. dvoraki and differs from other species in the group by the same characters.Differences from T. dvoraki include the shape of pronotum, which is distinctly wider and more trapezoidal, head depressions, infuscate legs, wider humeri, and the metatibia slightly depressed on inner side.
Ecological remarks.The type locality is a basaltic plateau, characterized by humid mountain vegetation, and all the specimens have been collected on an undetermined Asteraceae, probably belonging to the genus Achillea (Geniez, pers. comm., 2003).In the second locality, several specimens, forming an aggregation, have been examined (N.Gompel, pers. comm., 2001).
Diagnosis.Body length: 17 mm.Monochromatic green metallic.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (including coxae and trochanters) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with conical tubercles.Male mesotibiae markedly modified at apex (Fig. 30) with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 30) longer than wide, subtrapeizoidal and, as well as metatarsomere II, without spiniform setae; metatibial apex not distinctly enlarged and with normal setation; male metatrochanters depressed and with a central carina, with a great laminar appendix apically, bearing a tuft of setae.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Last visible sternite of male abdomen as in Fig. 45.Parameres (Fig. 66) wide, short, lobes gradually narrowed; aedeagus with two subequal and spaced hooks, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.
Taxonomic remarks.The possible synonymy of T. bytinskii with T. senilis was hypothesized by Kaszab (1958) and confirmed by Dvo ák (1983) and Bologna (1988).This synonymy is supported after the examination of the types of T. senilis (MNHN), of a paratype of T. bytinskii, and of some additional specimens from Israel.
The species is similar to both T. flavipes and the nominate form of T. dives, but differs by the red male metatrochanters, the long white and dense body setation, the deep longitudinal depression of pronotum, and the pronotum puncturation with large punctures without ridges.Male genitalia as in Fig. 66.
Teratolytta tricolor (Haag-Rutenberg, 1880) comb.n.Diagnosis.Body length: 11.6-19.4mm.Metallic green with a bronze-cupreous longitudinal stripe on the middle elytron and on genae.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except metallic coxa and black trochanter) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with conical tubercles.Male mesotibiae markedly modified at apex (Fig. 31) with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 31) longer than wide, subtrapezoidal with black spiniform setae on inner side, II without modified setae; male metatrochanters (Fig. 53) depressed and with a central carina, with a very great laminar appendix bearing a tuft of setae only on the side of apex.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Parameres (Fig. 67) wide, short, lobes gradually narrowed; aedeagus with two subequal and spaced hooks, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.Taxonomic remarks.Escherich (1894) and Kaszab (1958) considered "Lytta" tricolor Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 as a variety of T. dives.We did not examine the type of the former taxon, but only some specimens from different regions of Iran and from Buchara in Uzbekistan.Based on the following distinctive characters, we consider this taxon as a species distinct from T. dives: aedeagal distal hook more gibbose (Fig. 67, tricolor, and Fig. 62, dives, respectively), mesotarsomere I very enlarged at base (Fig. 31, tricolor, and Fig. 26, dives, respectively), laminar expansion of apex of mesotibiae wider (Fig. 31, tricolor, and Fig. 26, dives, respectively), metatrochanter with appendix wider and externally curved at apex, and wider also at base (Fig. 53, tricolor, and Fig. 50, dives, respectively), metatibiae more depressed internally, denser setation of fore part of body, legs longer and lighter red.
Type material.According to the description (Haag-Rutenberg, 1880), the types, not examined, are preserved in the Bates (probably in BMNH ) and Haag-Rutenberg (probably in the Zoologischen Sammlung des Bayerischen Staates in München) collections.
Diagnosis.Body length: 8.2-14.1 mm.Dark green-blue metallic, subopaque.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except black coxa and trochanter) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with elongate oval tubercles .Male protibiae (Fig. 42) subcylindrical but depressed on inner side.Male mesotibiae modified at apex (Fig. 32) with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae not borne on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; mesotarsomere I (Fig. 32) longer than wide, subrectangular, without black spiniform setae on inner side, II without modified setae; metatibiae depressed on inner third, but not expanded at apex and normally setose; male metatrochanters (Fig. 54) depressed and with a central setose carina, without appendix.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Parameres (Fig. 68) robust and with short lobes; aedeagus with two subequal and normally spaced hooks, proximal hook subapical in position, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 77.
Taxonomic remarks.The new synonymy of T. holzschuhi with T. eylandti was confirmed by the examination of types of both taxa.Dvo ák (1983) considered T. holzschuhi as distinct from T. eylandti based on Kaszab (1958), who erroneously considered the shape of trochanter of the last species as unmodified.Actually, the modification of this structure was already mentioned in the description (Semenow, 1894) and confirmed on types.
The elytral colour varies from blue to blue-green; two specimens from Kara-Kala have blue elytra and green head and prothorax.
Diagnosis.Body length: 9.6 mm.Monochromatic green metallic or with a bronze-cupreous longitudinal stripe on middle of elytron, sides of pronotum and genae.Maxillary and labial palpi, and legs (except black coxae and trochanters) red, antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with elongate oval tubercles.Male protibiae subcylindrical but depressed on inner side.Male mesotibiae modified at apex (Fig. 33) with a spine-like brush of agglutinated setae not borne on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 33) longer than wide, subrectangular with black spiniform setae on inner side, II without modified setae; male metatibiae depressed on inner third, but not expanded at apex and normally setose; male metatrochanters depressed and with a central setose carina, without appendix.Last visible tergite of male abdomen slightly emarginated at middle.Last visible sternite of abdomen as in Fig. 47.Parameres (Fig. 69) slender, lobes gradually tapering, subclavate at apex; aedeagus with two subequal and broadly spaced hooks, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.Taxonomic remarks.A poorly known species; the single male examined from a new locality differs from the description by the elytral coloration, which is not monochromatic as in the type, but shows a longitudinal bronzecupreous stripe, and by the pronotum coloration, vaguely bronze on sides.
Diagnosis.Body length: 10.0-20.8mm.Monochromatic opaque metallic green, including the whole legs; mouthparts and antennae black.Head without postocular depressions.Male metathorax with large, oval tubercles.Male mesotibiae modified at apex (Fig. 34) with a spinelike brush of agglutinated setae not borne on a basal protuberance; two spurs on all tibiae; male mesotarsomere I (Fig. 34) longer than wide, subrectangular, ventral side not depressed, with normal setation as on mesotarsomere II; male metatibial apex not distinctly enlarged, with normal setae; male metatrochanters depressed and with a central carina, with a great laminar appendix apically bearing a tuft of setae.Last visible tergite of male abdomen obtuse in the middle.Parameres (Fig. 70) wide, short, lobes gradually narrowed; aedeagus with two subequal and very approached hooks, endophallic hook slightly angulated, curved at apex.Female external genitalia as in Fig. 78.
Taxonomic remarks.An easily distinguishable species because of the body micro-punctures and coloration.Probably close to the eylandti group according to the shape of the mesosternal tubercles.
Type material.Not indicated in the description and not examined.