Parmena pubescens, a nominotypical subspecies occuring in South-West Mediterranean region (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Malta, Sicily, Spain), has been described as Lamia (Dorcadion) pubescens from Algeria by Johan Wilhelm Dalman in 1817 [✧]. Larvae of P. pubescens develop in herbaceous plants (e.g. Euphorbia, Ferula) and on the dead stalks of the host plants it can be also frequently found. It is a nocturnal species, and therefore, it is necessary to inspect the plants at night.

Body length:	5 - 10 mm
Life cycle:	1 year
Adults in:	April - November
Host plant:	polyphagous in herbaceous plants (Euphorbia, Ferula)
Distribution:	Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Malta, Spain

The mounted beetle was collected in Gargano peninsula (Italy). The depicted living beetles were collected in Bosco della Ficcuzza reserve (Palermo province, Sicily, Italy) on October 5, 2015.

Collected by D.Navrátil and Tamás Németh

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[✧]
J.W. Dalman in Schönherr C.J.:
Appendix ad C. J. Schönherr Synonymiam Insectorum. Descriptiones Novarum Specierum Insectorum.
Scaris, Lewerentziana 1 (3): 1-266, 1817. [download ]