O. Merkl szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 66. (Budapest, 2005)

A new soft-winged flower beetle in the Hungarian fauna, with a national checklist of Malachiidae (Coleoptera) D. SZALÓKI

1 & O. MERKL

2

* 'H-l 183 Budapest, Kálti Márk u. 16, Hungary. E-mail: meloe@interware.hu "-Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary. E-mail: merkl@zoo.zoo.nhmus.hu Abstract - Protapalochrus flavolimbatus (MULSANT et REY, 1853) is recorded from Hungary for the first time. A checklist of Malachiidae of Hungary (33 species) is given. With 2 figures. Key words - Protapalochrus flavolimbatus, Malachiidae, Hungary, new record, checklist. Protapalochrus flavolimbatus (MULSANT et REY, 1853) is a Mediterranean species known from the Spanish mainland, the Balearic Islands, the French mainland, Corsica, the Italian mainland, the Greek mainland, the North Aegean Islands, Crete, Cyprus (CONSTANTIN 2004), Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia (ABEILLE DE PERRIN 1891) and the Caucasus (SOLODOVNIKOV 1994, 1995). This is the westernmost member and type species of the genus (EVERS 1987). In 2001 and 2002, several specimens were collected by the senior author in two nearby spots, about five kilometres apart, in the Danube-Tisza mid-region, in the central part of Hungary. While carrying out a national R&D project focusing on the endemic cerambycid Dorcadion cervae J. FRIVALDSZKY, 1892, the two authors visited both localities in 23 June 2005, but the species was not found at that time. The first locality (Akasztó: Égési-dűlő) is a moderately dry grassland with sparsely planted poplar trees, surrounded by reeds and a channel, and grazed by sheep. The second locality (Akasztó: Sütő) is an abandoned arable field with wetter depressions overgrown by various species of rush and sedge, and surrounded by vineyards on sandy ground. The soil is moderately saline (sodic) in both localities. * Corresponding author.