Jd. Pinto, A new Meloe Linnaeus (Coleoptera : Meloidae, Meloinae) from southern California chaparral: A rare and endangered blister beetle or simply secretive?, COLEOPTS B, 52(4), 1998, pp. 378-385
Meloe ajax, a new species of Melee Linnaeus in the subgenus Treiodous Duges
from southern California chaparral, is described. It is closest to M, barb
arus LeConte, another western species. The fact that this relatively large
meloine blister beetle escaped attention until now may be due to extreme ra
rity. secretive habits, or both. Melee is primarily a continental and monta
ne genus in North America; its occurrence at the Limits of its range in sou
thern California is briefly summarized.