Occurrence ofChrysochus asclepiadeus(Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Turkey: two distinct subspecies or the same taxon with slightly different populations?

Abstract

According to the literature, Chrysochus asclepiadeus (Pallas, 1773) is represented by two subspecies in the western Palaearctic, including C. asclepiadeus asiaeminoris De Monte, 1948, which was described from south-western Turkey but has not been recorded since 1948. Recently collected specimens from the provinces of İzmir and Isparta (not far from the type locality of C. asclepiadeus asiaeminoris) were compared with specimens of the nominate subspecies from Kiev (Ukraine). It is concluded that C. asclepiadeus asiaeminoris is a synonym of the nominate subspecies (syn. n.). The distribution of the species in Turkey is discussed.

First Record of Mint Leaf Beetle, Chrysolina herbacea (Duftschmid, 1825), (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Iraq

“…The insect was most probably entered to Iraq from neighboring countries with infected plants. The literature showed that C. herbacea (Duftschmid,1825) is commonly known as The mint leaf Beetle or Green Mint Beetle (2,3,4). It is an aggressive invasive species that is native to the European region and originally described from Austria by Duftschmid in 1825 (5,6,7).…”