Revision of the genus Teratolytta (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

• Main Authors: Marco A. BOLOGNA, Andrea DI GIULIO
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2006-01-01
• Series: European Journal of Entomology
• Subjects: coleoptera; meloidae; teratolytta; key; catalogue; synonymy; new species; distribution; larval morphology; courtship
• Online Access: https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200601-0019_Revision_of_the_genus_Teratolytta_Coleoptera_Meloidae.php

The blister beetle genus Teratolytta, belonging to the tribe Lyttini, is revised and a classification is proposed. Two main sections of the genus - one including five groups of species and the other three groups - are tentatively defined. Four new species from Eastern and Southern Anatolia are described (T. carlae sp. n., T. dvoraki sp. n., T. monticola sp. n., T. taurica sp. n.), and a key to the 17 recognized species is proposed. A diagnosis of the species as well as taxonomic remarks are proposed, and a catalogue of localities is presented. In particular, Teratolytta tricolor (Haag-Rutenberg, 1880) comb. n. is re-established as a distinct species, T. cooensis G. Müller, 1936 is confirmed as a synonym of T. gentilis (Frivaldszky, 1877), T. bytinskii Kaszab, 1957 as a synonym of T. senilis (Abeille de Perrin, 1895), and T. holzschuhi Dvořák, 1983 is proposed as a synonym of T. eylandti Semenow, 1894; some infraspecific forms are referred to the variability of T. gentilis and T. flavipes (Mulsant & Rey, 1858). The first instar larva of T. gentilis is described and figured, and the sexual behaviour of this species is also briefly studied.