Anthaxia croesus
{{Short description|Species of jewel beetle}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Buprestidae - Anthaxia scutellaris-1.JPG
| image_caption = Male of Anthaxia croesus
| genus = Anthaxia
| species = croesus
| authority = Villers, 1789
| synonyms =
- Anthaxia ditiscens (Abeille de Perrin, 1872)
- Buprestis croesus Villers, 1789
- Anthaxia scutellaris Géné, 1839
- Anthaxia scutellaris semireducta Pic, 1911
- Anthaxia viminalis Gory & Laporte, 1839
}}
Anthaxia croesus is a species of jewel beetle belonging to the family Buprestidae, subfamily Buprestinae.[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id1262331/ Biolib]
Taxonomy
A group of specialists (V. Kuban, D. Baiocchi, S. Bíly, T. Kwast and M. Kafka) has ascertained the true identity of the species described by Villers 50 years before the description of Gené,[http://www.entomologiitaliani.net/public/forum/phpBB3/db.php?mode=data_list&db_id=12&view=data&field_id=113 Entomologi Italiani] {{ in lang|it}} Consequently, this species has to be interpreted as Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) croesus (de Villers, 1789) = Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) scutellaris Gené, 1839. The latter epithet passed to junior synonym.[https://www.naturamediterraneo.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=314163 Natura Mediterraneo] {{ in lang|it}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=RXukDAAAQBAJ&dq=V.+Kuban%2C+D.+Baiocchi%2C+S.+B%C3%ADly%2C+T.+Kwast+and+M.+Kafka&pg=PA22 New Nomenclatural and Taxonomic Acts, and Comments - Scarabaeoidea – Scirtoidea – Dascilloidea – Buprestoidea - Byrrhoidea]
Subspecies
Subspecies include:
- Anthaxia croesus atlasica Théry, 1930
- Anthaxia croesus croesus (Villers, 1789
Distribution and habitat
File: Buprestidae - Anthaxia scutellaris.JPG
This beetle is present in Albania, Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and in North Africa (Morocco).[https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/28e5a5ad-5e83-49b0-acd1-46598bf9b126 Fauna Europaea] It occurs on meadows, pastures and riparian forests.
Description
The adults of Anthaxia croesus can reach a length of about 5–6 mm. Their body shows metallic blue, green and purple colours.
Biology
Adults can be encountered from April through July, lying above the daisies, but also on flowers of Umbelliferae and other flowers. The larva is polyphagous and lives at the expense of several shrubs and trees. Main larval host plants are in the genera Arbutus, Ceratonia, Cornus, Juniperus, Malus, Pinus, Pistacia, Prunus, Pyrus, Quercus, Salix and Spartium.[http://web.romascuola.net/bups/hostplan.htm Host plants of West-Palearctic Buprestidae]
References
{{Commons}}
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q109099822|from2=Q4771473}}
Category:Beetles described in 1789
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