POSSIBLE EXTINCTION, POPULATION REDUCTION AND REDISCOVERY OF ITALIAN BLISTER BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, MELOIDAE)

In this contribution the first analysis of the conservation status of the Italian Meloidae is carried out. Cases of possible extinction or population reduction, as well as the rediscovery of new populations after long time, are examined and briefly discussed through 21 examples in different genera of subfamilies Meloinae and Nemognathinae. In particular, the following cases are examined: (i) possible complete extinction in species previously recorded, especially from the alpine area and the main Tyrrhenian islands, no more collected after about one century; (ii) cases in which was supposed the extinction of species recently rediscovered; (iii) possible local extinctions; (iv) large reduction of populations. Causes of these phenomena are discussed and strategies of conservation are proposed.