Anthaxia (Anthaxia) Eschscholtz 1829

Subgenus Anthaxia Eschscholtz, 1829

Type species: Buprestis nitida Rossi, 1794 (currently Anthaxia (A.) fulgurans (Schrank, 1789)); subsequent designation by Westwood, 1838: 24.

Anthaxia (Anthaxiola) Richter, 1945 (unavailable name, without designation of the type species).

Anthaxia (Callanthaxia) Richter, 1945; type species: Buprestis passerinii Pecchioli, 1837.

Anthaxia (Cyclanthaxia) Richter, 1949; type species: Buprestis croesus Ƒillers, 1789.

Anthaxia (Euanthaxia) Richter, 1949; type species: Buprestis millefolii sensu Richter, 1949.

Anthaxia (Homalanthaxia) Richter, 1945 (validiated by Bílý, 1997 with A. funerula lliger 1803 as the type species).

Cratomerus (Trichocratomerus) Richter, 1949; type species: Buprestis manca Linnaeus, 1767.

Eoanthaxites Haupt, 1950 (fossil); type species: Coraebus carniolica Pongrácz, 1935.

Usually flattened, rarely subcylindrical species; elytra more or less parallel-sided, covering lateral parts of ventrites from the dorsal view (Figs. 1–5, 11), elytral epipleura wide, not reaching elytral apex or very narrow (namely in middle of elytral length), almost missing in small, subcylindrical species (Fig. 29); subhumeral lobe very weak or absent (Figs. 26–29), lateral sides of elytra not or very weakly emarginate posterior to subhumeral lobe (Fig. 26– 29); pronotal sculpture consisting of simple, polygonal cells with or without central grains, lateral margins of pronotum often with oblique or longitudinal rugae (Fig. 42), in some species-groups pronotum with concentric rugae (Fig. 41) or with strongly prolonged, lateral cells (Fig. 40), sometimes all these types of sculpture are combined; very rarely pronotum with rather rough basal microsculpture and very weak, polygonal reticulation (Fig. 4); lateroposterior pronotal depressions usually well-developed, rarely weak (in some small, subcylindrical species—Figs. 4, 5); male antennae not widened, male metatibiae usually simple or only with fine, simple, inner serrations (Figs. 1–3, 11), very rarely more or less curved; aedeagus usually spindle-shaped, sometimes apical half strongly narrowed (Figs. 55, 56), median lobe without lateral serrations, parameres without lateral spines; coloration very diverse, from uniformly bronze to metallic green, dorsal surface often multicolorous (Figs. 1–5).

BIONOMY. Development both in broad-leaved trees or shrubs and Conifers, very rarely also in herbs (e.g. Anthaxia (A.) anatolica or A. (A.) funerula species-groups).

DISTRIBUTION: the whole Palaearctic region with a few species in the Oriental region.

Many species or species-groups currently treated in this subgenus have to be transferred to the subgenus Haplanthaxia.

SPECIES INCLUDED: amasina species-group, anatolica species-group, candens species-group, dimidiata species-group, fulgurans species-group, funerula species-group, glabrifrons species-group, hypomelaena speciesgroup, midas species-group, nitidula species-group, passerini species-group, plicata species-group, salicis speciesgroup, sedilloti species-group, senicula species-group, spinosa species-group; besides above mentioned speciesgroups also many other species which are not currently attributed to any species-group will be included.