Skip to main content

Eylon Orbach

  • Biodiversity Journal, 17 (2): 197-200

    Pierpaolo Rapuzzi & Eylon Orbach
    Phytoecia (Musaria) vladyslavi Lazarev et Skrylnyk, 2022 (Coleoptera Cerambycidae), bona species, and description of a new subspecies from the Middle East
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2026.17.2.197.200
    https://zoobank.org/FC0B9C8B-6287-40C9-B57B-E6A5CF227BA1

    ABSTRACT
    Phytoecia (Musaria) vladyslavi Lazarev et Skrylnyk, 2022 was originally described as a subspecies of P. (Musaria) puncticollis (Faldermann, 1837) based on a single male specimen from Jordan. The examination of additional material from Jordan, including both males and females, together with comparative material from Israel and Syria, allows a reassessment of its taxonomic status. All examined specimens from Jordan consistently exhibit completely separated upper and lower eye lobes, a stable morphological character not observed in P. puncticollis sensu stricto. On this basis, P. vladyslavi is here elevated to species rank (status novus), and the female is described for the first time. Specimens from Israel and Syria, previously attributed to P. puncticollis, are morphologically close to P. vladyslavi but differ consistently in coloration, pubescence, punctation, and proportions of the antennae and legs. These populations are described as a new subspecies, P. (Musaria) vladyslavi friedmani n. ssp. Diagnostic characters separating the new subspecies from the nominotypical form are provided. The observed pattern suggests geographically structured differentiation within P. vladyslavi in the Middle East.