Photo © Jean-Claude Ringenbach

The depicted species differs from Agapanthia cardui (Linnaeus, 1767) by distinctly attenuate (or even acuminate) elytra at apex, broadly clothed in yellowisch pubescence (Sama, 2002). The species occurs in Sicily, Spain, North Africa, Turkey and Near East. According to G.Sama, for this species, the oldest available name seems to be Agapanthia suturalis (Fabricius, 1787). Further clarification of nomenclatural status and distributional ranges of A. cardui complex is needed. The part of the last published work about (Sama, 2008) the taxonomy of this group very well explains the status of this valid species.

Body length:	6 - 13 mm
Life cycle:	March - July
Adults in:	May - June
Host plant:	polyphagous in herbaceous plants
Distribution:	Sicily, Spain, North Africa, Turkey, Near East

The depicted species was collected on thistles (Asteraceae) in Janzur (Tripoli suburban area, Lybia).

Collected by Jean-Claude Ringenbach.