Subspecies
|
Some
authors regard Agapanthia pannonica as a subspecies of the present
species. This is not adopted here and no subspecies of Agapanthia cardui
are recognized.
|
Synonyms
|
Agapanthia cardui (Linnaeus, 1767)
Agapanthia cardui cardui (Linnaeus, 1767)
The
status of Agapanthia pannonica is debated. Most authors regard it as a
synonym of the present species, and some authors accept it as a
subspecies. However, there seem to be constant differences between the
taxa regarding the morphology of the male copulatory organ. I therefore
provisionally retain them here as two separate species.
|
Identification
|
Body length 6-14 mm.
|
Distribution
|
The distribution of Agapanthia cardui and Agapanthia pannonica is
unclear. Many records of Agapanthia cardui in the literature may in fact
refer to Agapanthia pannonica, because not all authors distinguish
between the two taxa. On the other hand, reports of Agapanthia pannonica
from Germany may all be misidentifications of Agapanthia cardui,
because Agapanthia pannonica appears to be a southern European species
that likely does not occur in Germany. The map only gives a tentative summary
of the area with confirmed Agapanthia cardui records (red area) and the
area with unclear reports of Agapanthia cardui (older records,
unconfirmed or otherwise doubtful records etc.)(hatched area).
|
Biology
|
No information has been entered yet.
|
|
|
|
|
