Meliboeus fulgidicollis (Lucas, 1846)

Niehuis, Manfred, 2020, A review of the jewel beetles of the genus Meliboeus in Israel (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Israel Journal of Entomology 50 (2), pp. 159-176 : 166

Meliboeus fulgidicollis (Lucas, 1846)

( Fig. 6)

Théry (1929) presented a long list of synonyms and placed the species in the genus Nalanda . Now, for the reasons mentioned above, it is listed in the genus Meliboeus ( KubÁŇ 2006) . Material examined: Israel: Upper Galilee: 1♀ Kefar Meron, 700 m, 11.v.1996, D. Gianasso (CNA). Jordan: 1 ex., 4 km NE Ajlun, 32.36542N / 35.77664E, 1010 m, 10.vi.2011, C. Monnerat (CCMN).

Distribution: These are first records of the species for Israel and Jordan. The species has a circum-mediterranean distribution that extends northward up to Austria and eastward to the Ukraine, Turkey, Syria and Kazakhstan ( KubÁŇ 2006).

This widespread Mediterranean species is found in Israel and Jordan only at high altitudes, on Mount Meron (700 m) and on Gilead Mts. (1010 m), respectively, where the climate is more temperate, and flora and fauna include significant percent of ‘northern’ elements. It is most possible that this species pupates and hatches in Israel earlier in the season (March or even February), when Mt Meron is usually not visited by entomologists, due to cold and wet weather, and therefore, has not been found until recently.

Host plants: According to Schaefer (1949) the larva develops under the bark of small twigs, mainly of treetops, and in cut branches. Pupation is in April, in sap wood. According to Bílý (2002) the larva develops in Castanea sativa Mill. and in different Quercus species, like Q. cerris L., Q. coccifera L., Q. ilex L., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. , Q. pubescens Willd. , Q. robur L., and Q. suber L. ( Fagaceae ). In Israel on the slopes of Meron Mts. occur three species of oaks: Q. calliprinos Webb , Q. boissieri Reut. and Q. ithaburensis Decne. , the two latter are good candidates for being host plants.