Malachius (Malachius) ensiculus Abeille de Perrin 1891

Franzini, Gabriele & Plonski, Isidor S., 2021, Short Communication Notes on the Malachiini of the East-Mediterranean region, with description of a new species (Coleoptera, Melyridae, Malachiinae), Natural History Sciences 8 (2), pp. 75-78 : 76

Malachius (Malachius) ensiculus Abeille de Perrin 1891 Malachius ensiculus Abeille de Perrin 1891: 405 [loc. typ.: “Monts Amanus ( Syrie)” = Nur Mountains]; Evers (1985: 24, 33); Mayor (2007: 448).

Material studied: Turkey: “prov. Adana / Hasanbeyli / 37°07.3N 36°34.7E / m 900 25.V.2011 leg. G. Liberti ” 2 ♂♂ 1♀ ( CGL) ; “prov. Adana / Hasanbeyli 4 km SE / 37°06.6N 36°36.5E / m 1115 25.V.2011 leg. G. Liberti ” 1 ♂ ( CGL) ; “ Karahmanmaraş / Göksun 17 km SE / 37°54.2N 36°35.5E / m 1156 26.V.2011 leg. G. Liberti ” 2♀♀ ( CGL) ; “prov. Kayseri / Env. Uzunahmet / 38°35N 36°25E m 1700 / 19.V.2010 leg. M. Uliana ” 2 ♂♂ ( CMU, CGF) ; “prov. Kayseri / Bakirdaği km 13 E / 15.V.2011 leg. F.Angelini ” 2 ♂♂ ( CGL) ; “ Iskenderun / Nur Dag - Topbo- gazi Gec. / m 750 / 19.V.2010 leg. L. Saltini ” 1 ♂ ( CLS) .

The ancient Amanus (Greek: Ἁμανός) is a mountain range in the Hatay Province of south-central Turkey (rather close to the border with Syria), also known as the Nur Mountains (Turkish: Nur Dağları, “Mountains of Holy Light”), formerly known as Alma-Dağ (information found in “Wikipedia” online encyclopedia). Therefore, M. ensiculus must be included in the fauna of Turkey and its presence in present-day Syria requires confirmation.