Sybaris Stephens, 1832

Bologna, M. A. & Pinto, J. D., 2002, The Old World genera of Meloidae (Coleoptera): a key and synopsis, Journal of Natural History 36 (17), pp. 2013-2102 : 2054

29. Sybaris Stephens, 1832

Prionotus Redetenbacher, 1842 . Type species: Prionotus praestus Redtenbacher, 1842 , by subsequent designation (Wellman, 1910) (see Selander, 1991).

Type species. Sybaris immunis Stephens, 1832 , by monotypy. 30 spp. Geographic distribution. Africa south of the Sahara (except S Africa and

Madagascar), India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, east to Burma.

References

Taxonomy. Pic (1913); Mohamedsaid (1979); Saha (1979 key to Indian spp.). Anatomy. Gupta (1971, 1978); Yadav et al. (1977).

Notes

Kaszab (1969a) considered this genus close to those Mediterranean lyttine genera which also have serrate claws (i.e. Lydus , Alosimus , Muzimes , Oenas , Eolydus ). This feature may prove to be independently derived in Sybaris as it is not obviously related to any other genus. While very similar to Lydomorphus in the shape of the head, eyes and pronotum, it diVers considerably in male genitalic structure (aedeagus with a single hook, gonoforceps very elongate, phallobase wide in dorsal view), and, of course, in claw structure as well. As indicated above, it is possible that Pseudosybaris is a Sybaris with unmodi ed claws.

The generic assignment of the African species originally described as Zonitis validiceps Pic, 1916 , remains uncertain. Kaszab (1963a) referred it to Sybaris , citing presence of serrate claws as justi cation. However, we examined two specimens identi ed by Kaszab (HNHM) as Sybaris validiceps , and both have smooth claws. In our opinion these specimens represent Lydomorphus pici , which, as previously discussed, diVer from typical Lydomorphus and do resemble Sybaris .

As indicated above, fryi is herein transferred from Sybaris to Lydomorphus .