NOTES ON AGAPANTHIA (SYNTHAPSIA) KIRBYI (GYLLENHAL, 1817) WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUBSPECIES AND THE CONFIRMATION OF ITS OCCURRENCE IN ITALY (COLEOPTERA CERAMBYCIDAE LAMIINAE)

Rapuzzi P., Parisi F. - Notes on Agapanthia (Synthapsia) kirbyi (Gyllenhal, 1817) with description of a new subspecies and the confirmation of its occurrence in Italy (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lamiinae). In this paper, we investigated hundreds of specimens within the Agapanthia kirbyi (Gyllenhal, 1817) with the aim of finding relevant discrepancies in the Western and Southeastern populations. Amongst the species, the most diverse characters are body shape and pubescence color; however, based on the different geographical distribution it is possible to classify it into three different subspecies. One of these subspecies is new and is described below as Agapanthia (Synthapsia) kirbyi samai new subspecies. We also consider the characters used to create the Genus Synthapsia by Pesarini & Sabbadini (2004) not sufficient for a genus rank but at least for a subgenus rank (new status) due to the fact that other species close to A. kirbyi (Agapanthia hirsuticornis) shows intermediate characters between Synthapsia and Agapanthia. We also formalize the following new synonym: A. kirbyi ssp. zawadskyi Fairmaire, 1866 (name resurrected, new combination) = A. kirbyi ssp. valandoensis Sláma 2015 (new synonym) on the base of many specimens studied from the type localities of both the Taxon. In addition, the occurrence of A. kirbyi (Gyllenhal, 1817) is ascertained in Italy; in fact, eleven specimens were reported in the Matese Mountains, central-southern Apennines, between the years 2019 and 2021. This extends its known distribution into southern Europe and further confirms the important biogeographical role of this mountainous territory. Key Words: Longhorn beetles, Geographical range, Holotype, Matese mountain, central-southern Apennine.