Exochomus cedri SAHLBERG, 1913 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Chilocorini) – eine von E. quadripustulatus LINNAEUS, 1758 verschiedene Art?

Exochomus cedri SAHLBERG, 1913, described from Lebanon, is considered as a species different from the Eurasian E. quadripustulatus (LINNAEUS, 1758) in current literature. Meanwhile the species was recorded from Anatolia, the Balkans and Central Europe (Czech and Slovak Republics, Germany). The examination of numerous European and Middle Eastern Exochomus raised doubts as to whether E. cedri is a distinct species.

In this contribution the characters employed for distinguishing E. cedri and E. quadripustulatus are discussed critically. As a result, the ectomorphological characters proved to be diagnostically unsuitable due to their great variability. Both the male and female genitals of both species show no differential characters.

The two species also do not differ in terms of their CO1 sequence. Nevertheless, typical specimens of E. cedri differ by on average smaller body size, narrower build, stronger punctation of the elytra and often orange-red coloring of the legs, the head and the anterior and lateral margins of the pronotum, while E. quadripustulatus is larger on average, broader in build, and has more finely punctate elytra and usually a black anterior body.

The question of species status and distribution of E. cedri is discussed, but not finally answered. Key words: Lebanon, Nature Reserve Haimberg bei Mittelrode, Exochomus quadripustulatus var. sexpustulatus, Exochomus mülleri, Carulaspis juniperi.