A very variable species (Dispons, 1953, 1955a; Dispons & Stichel, 1959). The record from Turkey (Hoberlandt, 1956a) is based on a 5th instar larva of Metapterus linearis A. Costa and the record from TU (P.V. Putshkov, 1994a) is questionable since it is not clear whether the specimens were collected at Cap Bon (TU) or at Bône [= Annaba] (Algeria).