Anthaxia croesus is a species of jewel beetle belonging to the family Buprestidae, subfamily Buprestinae.[1]

Anthaxia croesus
Male of Anthaxia croesus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Buprestidae
Genus: Anthaxia
Species:
A. croesus
Binomial name
Anthaxia croesus
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

Taxonomy

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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,[2] 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.[3][4]

Subspecies

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Subspecies include:[1]

  • Anthaxia croesus atlasica Théry, 1930
  • Anthaxia croesus croesus (Villers, 1789

Distribution and habitat

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Anthaxia croesus

This beetle is present in Albania, Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and in North Africa (Morocco).[5] It occurs on meadows, pastures and riparian forests.

Description

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The adults of Anthaxia croesus can reach a length of about 5–6 mm. Their body shows metallic blue, green and purple colours.

Biology

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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.[6]

References

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