Graphosoma Copula

Copulation posture of the Minstrel Bug (Graphosoma lineatum/italicum)
There is some discussion on the correct name/identity of this species. The species was originally described by Linnaeus from specimen sent to him from North-Africa. Later G.italicum was described from Italy. David Rider has synonymized the two for the Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region (Aukema & Rieger, eds) but many Heteropterists from southern Europe disagree. In their view the continental European species (== italicum) and the North-African species (== lineatum) are two separate species. Confusingly a very good French insect-gallery lists them as such, whereas Fauna Europae and many, many other very serious European sites/references will name the continental European species lineatum, as the synonymy requires.

More research is needed to clear things up. Iif synonymy is reverted the continental European specimen would be renamed to italicum. An example of the "true" Graphosoma lineatum is here: