the Prince’s the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata

curated by Fabio Lo Valvo

Region of Nello Musumeci President

Assessorato Regionale dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità siciliana Alberto Samonà Assessore

Dipartimento Regionale dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità siciliana Sergio Alessandro Dirigente Generale

Centro Regionale per l’inventario, la catalogazione e la documentazione Selima Giorgia Giuliano Direttore

Scientific manager Thanks Fabio Lo Valvo Piera Iacopelli, Faro Vitale, Nino Vitale Graphic design and editorial care (Museo civico di Terrasini) Guido Mapelli Toti Bommarito, Rosangela Randazzo, Patrizia Rugnetta Photos (Museo Regionale di Storia Naturale e mostra Guido Mapelli permanente del carretto siciliano di Terrasini) Clara Mapelli Toti Bommarito For scientific support, entomologists: Vittorio Aliquò, Marcello Arnone, Attilio Carapezza, Responsible for the Procedure Gabriella Lo Verde, Bruno Massa, Marcello Romano, Marcello Alajmo Ignazio Sparacio; the naturalists: Natalino Cuti, Amedeo Falci, Salvo Pasta Print Officine grafiche soc. coop., Palermo Melo Minnella for kind permission of the historical photos taken at Villa Alliata

The Alliata Collection can be consulted at the Regional Museum of Natural History and permanent exhibition of the Sicilian cart, Palazzo D'Aumale, Lungomare Peppino Impastato, Terrasini (Palermo) (www.museoartecontemporanea.it/museo_dAumale/) for research and study activities, by appointment, by sending a reasoned request to [email protected]; tel. 0918810989. For scientific information contact Fabio Lo Valvo: [email protected]

Gli insetti del principe : la collezione entomologica di Raniero Alliata di Pietratagliata / a cura di Fabio Lo Valvo. - Palermo : CRICD, 2020. ISBN 978-88-98398-20-1 1. Collezioni entomologiche [di] Alliata, Raniero [del] museo regionale di storia naturale e Mostra permanente del carretto siciliano . - Cataloghi. I. Lo Valvo, Fabio <1961->. II. Alliata di Pietratagliata, Raniero. 595.707448235 CCD-23 SBN Pal0339290

CIP - Biblioteca centrale della Regione siciliana “Alberto Bombace” https://gliinsettidelprincipe.cricd.it/

1 p. 11 this number indicates index the page of the paper edition in Italian

4 t h e Prince’s insects 4 The Alliata Prince

5 The Villa Alliata of Pietratagliata

6 The entomological (and natural sciences) cabinet

9 Interventions for the protection, conservation and enhancement of the Alliata Collection

11 Entomological publications in which reference is made to the Alliata collection

13 correspondence: notes and drawings

14 the collection

31 taxonomic catalogue

32 testimonials 32 Attilio Carapezza. Memory of Raniero Alliata

34 Bent Parodi. Il Principe mago ( The Wizard Prince)

37 Marcello Romano. Three centuries of Entomology in Sicily

37 Vittorio Aliquò. The stone of memory. Autobiography of an entomologist magistrate

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata 2 back to index p. 13 the Prince’s insects Fabio Lo Valvo

Sicily has always attracted Italian appropriate evaluation by the scientific and foreign entomologists, due to its community. The Alliata collection, naturalistic peculiarities, its insular unlike more widespread collections nature and its long history. Enrico which often only concern particular Ragusa, Luigi Failla Tedaldi, Francesco groups or taxa of insects, concerns Vitale and Francesco Minà Palumbo, entire classes of insects, demonstrating created the best known Sicilian the great passion that Alliata had for entomological collections in the first entomology. half of the last century. Marcello With the death of Prince Alliata, the Romano, in an exhaustive review collection suffered from a long period published “Il Naturalista Siciliano” in of neglect that threatened its integrity 2006, lists the numerous entomologists and conservation. Informed of this, in who, over the years, have explored the 1980, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, a island creating collections to which, passionate naturalist and mayor of even today, international scholars find Terrasini, and with the support of the useful information for their own re-established Società Siciliana di scientific studies. But there was little Scienze Naturali , proposed to the mention in Romano’s publication, of Chiaramonte Bordonaro family, the collection created by Raniero Alliata Alliata’s heirs, to hand over the between 1920 and 1970, however collection (with the complete library monumental he considered it to be[see and various documentation) to the p. 189], an assessment shared by Regione Siciliana, Assessorato dei Beni entomologists and naturalists alike. culturali , for a subsequent transfer to The Alliata collection, albeit like many the Museo civico di Terrasini , where other historical or current collections, the regional naturalistic collections accumulated tens of thousands of already converged, in view of the insects in hundreds of boxes, was born establishment of the Regional Museum with the main objective of scientific of Natural History. research within a setting that makes it In 1986 the collection was unique in its kind. In addition to his purchased by the Sicilian rigid taxonomic approach that allowed Governement, for 50 million lire, thus him to insert specimens he was becoming public property, and subject collecting, he also added information to protection for conservation and use. on the presence in Sicily and It was entrusted to the municipal annotations, schemes and drawings administration of Terrasini which, in related to his studies. In practice, he collaboration with the sezione per i wanted to give substance to his Beni naturali e naturalistici della compendium dedicated to “Sicilian Soprintendenza per Beni Culturali e Entomological Fauna” to which he Ambientali di Palermo , started the dedicated his entire life and necessary activities for its conservation considering himself “eternal”, he and the study of insects of one of the always considered evolving by inserting most prestigious naturalistic collections new catches and considerations, of Sicily. postponing the publication of the With this publication we want to results to a later time. This however, spread the knowledge of the scientific, never happened, making all his work historical and artistic value of the unpublished, thus preventing the entomological collection of Raniero

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata 3 back to index p. 15 Alliata, composing in part the imposing according to his objectives, had to be amount of documents, writings and representative of the Sicilian notes [see p. 33], a living image of the entomological fauna seen in a modern passionate study and commitment of evolutionary vision. During daytime fifty years of research. Below is a breaks he devoted himself to painting, selection of the 465 boxes, 31 cards while the night was dedicated to illustrated with photographs in scale esoteric activities. The only affection and enlarged details, supported by his was directed to Helga Johannsen, notes [see p. 63], and the taxonomic whom he married in old age, but catalogue of the entire collection [see p. remained segregated from other 161], where among almost three relatives whom he explicitly distrusted. thousand , including specimens His married life did not last long due to considered as first reports of species the untimely death of his wife, which present on the island, and finally some worsened his isolation, dying on 9 direct evidence [see p. 185] to narrate October 1979 with only on duty staff in the figure of the Prince. the villa to give comfort.

The Alliata Prince

Raniero Alliata di Pietratagliata was born in Palermo on 9 June 1897, the fifth son of Luigi, prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Camastra and Bianca Notarbartolo of Villarosa. His noble position allowed him to live a comfortable adolescence. He spent his childhood in one of the most beautiful villas in the suburbs of Palermo [cf. The Villa Alliata di Pietratagliata on p. 15], where he had the opportunity to mix with the local aristocracy and intellectuals with whom the family used to frequent. This social state played a fundamental role in the cultural growth of Raniero Alliata who, being very curious, listened to and subsequently broadened his knowledge thanks to a large family library. Although the library covered many various topics, his main interests were directed towards the natural sciences, art and esoteric sciences. Sad events experienced by the young Alliata, such as a great loss of money at the gaming tables and the passing of his mother, to whom he was very attached, lead him to the point of being more and more socially isolated. He devoted all his time to cultivating cultural passions and scientific interests, hardly ever leaving his luxurious home. He worked hard to create a collection of insects which,

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 4 back to index p. 17 The Villa Alliata of Pietratagliata specimens common to the gardens and villas of Palermo: Ficus macrophylla , In 1864, Prince Luigi Alliata di Cedrus sp ., Phoenix canariensis , Sabal Pietratagliata, father of Raniero, bought palmetto , Washingtonia filifera , the eighteenth-century villa, adorned Strelitia sp ., Chamerops humilis , with an external pincer staircase, which Agave sp ., Tilia sp ., etc. Up until 2010 he immediately wanted to modify in there was also a rare example of the keeping with the style of the time. Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis Entrusting the renowned Palermo which died in the period of maximum architect Francesco Paolo Palazzotto to diffusion of the red weevil remodel using neo-Gothic, and in Rhynchoforus ferrugineus in Palermo particular Catalan Gothic styles, as seen (the same end to another specimen in noble residences from the Aragon found in the nearby Villa Malfitano- period of Sicily. Whitaker). The villa’s main entrance is at 38 via On the death of Raniero, the villa Sirtori, and a secondary entrance at 113 underwent a period of great neglect by via Serradifalco. The monumental the Chiaramonte Bordonaro heirs. complex consists of a central element In 1992 the Superintendence of on three elevations with terraces, Cultural and Environmental Heritage towers and two low lateral bodies, of Palermo, with decree 6935 of 9 surrounded by an English garden . The December 1992 issued by the Regional façade of the main building has several Director for Cultural Heritage, placed decorative elements including the entire complex under protection crowning battlements, zoomorphic but did not interrupt the slow gargoyles and ornamental bovid reliefs . deterioration. Indeed, a nefarious The windows were of coloured stained change of ownership gave the villa to glass, some of which were protected by unreliable subjects who soon lost their grates with motifs and various ornate title, and shortly after, it was designs. The interiors were enriched confiscated and transferred to judicial with damasks and panelling, administration. The new management carved wooden doors and fine coffered caused a stagnation that worsened the ceilings, the furnishings of the highest state of the property, but also acts of quality. vandalism and theft depleted the The garden included a pond with building even further , as well as the water birds (later dismantled to widen damage aggravated by neglect. The the Via Serradifalco), an aviary, and an garden in a state of abandonment and air-conditioned greenhouse with total disinterest was subjected to the ornamental species for apartments. invasion of the trees of heaven Here Alliata collected most of the Ailanthus altissima , a plant of Chinese insects that made up its collection. The origin. However, today the villa has garden had rich ornamental flora with new owners.

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 5 back to index pp. 19-28 The entomological (and natural Siciliano”) and received specimens as sciences) cabinet 1 gifts from other collectors such as his cousin, geologist Enrico Di Napoli It all began in 1913, in the Alliata and Francesco Vitale. Given the greenhouse where some ornamental delicacy of some finds, he preferred to plants were kept, when Raniero Alliata send some to expert hands di Pietratagliata, at almost sixteen years (Dora Schnuse in Dresden in ) old, and out of curiosity for their to perfect the preparation. particular metallic colours collected This phase of rapid growth of the some , and led him to heighten collection, which at the time numbered his knowledge of the wonderful and over 150 boxes, was temporarily varied world of insects (in the photo the interrupted due to the responsibilities two specimens in the collection). An that arose following the loss of his interest which so lively grew within him mother in February 1930. As soon as it that in 1926 he decided to set up a was possible, he began to enrich his personal Entomology Cabinet, similarly collection by operating on two fronts. to what the entomologist Francesco He continued his entomological Vitale (1861-1953) had done in collection, often in the company of his Messina, with whom he had already wife, through specific excursions into initiated correspondence and the Sicilian natural environment, exchanges of specimens for correct especially around the town of Caronia, identification. or in the mountains surrounding In 1926 Baron Ferdinando Pajno Palermo, along the river Oreto, or on Principe di Paternò having learned of the coast of Palermo and in the these scientific interests of the neo- Madonie Mountain range. Returning to entomologist Alliata, gave Alliata his his study from these excursions, he collection of consisting of 24 would concentrate on each individual boxes. Unfortunately without being specimen preserving it according to the able to preserve the battered specimens canons of taxidermic preparations in (“Unfortunately, I had to throw away entomology (drying racks) and applied almost the entire collection because of to each specimen collected the yellowing and aging due to faulty inevitable tag containing the preservation “), including the fundamental information: i.e. the place specimens belonging to the rare Saga of collection, the date and the name of serrata subject of a specific publication the collector, which he knew was (Pajno 1888). 2 The collection also necessary to add scientific value to his includes specimens from the Failla insects. For this purpose, special Tedaldi collection (1853-1933) which identification tags were printed, he purchased in 1928 (100 insects coloured differently to distinguish the catalogued in 71 boxes) and later in place of capture, or alternatively he also 1940 directly from the heirs of the used a stamp adapted for this purpose.

1. Among the manuscripts and Castelbuono entomologist, together Once prepared, the specimens were unpublished notes there are also with part of the specialist library. In the transferred to “warehouse” boxes lists of other taxa of Sicilian and vertebrates, as same period Alliata added insects according to a rough taxonomic well as notions of botany and collected in the garden of his villa or identification pending further mineralogy. These findings confirm the fact that Raniero around Palermo to his collection. investigatio n. Simultaneously, boxes Alliata’s scientific interests, or Aware that in order to achieve his were prepared for final arrangement, rather his insatiable curiosity, objectives he had to acquire a much organised with due diligence and was not directed only to insects but also to other sectors of the larger number of specimens, he availed accuracy, listed taxonomically as island’s biodiversity and natural himself of the help of some collectors defined through consultation the of sciences. (Giovanni Carollo and Enzo Taormina, bibliography. The boxes therefore 2. Pajno F.1888 - On the grandson of the entomologist Enrico acquired a schematic arrangement discovery of the Saga serrata Fab. in Sicily. Naturalista sicil., Ragusa, founder in 1881 of the closely related to zoological taxonomic Palermo, 7: 166-167. scientific magazine “Il Naturalista classification which allowed, on the one

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hand, an effective and rapid placement collection in depth, identifying a new of the specimens already determined, subspecies which he dedicated as a sign and on the other hand, the provision of of gratitude to the prince, naming it the space necessary for the specimens Tasgius falcifer alliatae . However, to be inserted following new since the assignment of the new name acquisitions. Occasionally, personal was not followed by an official considerations, schemes or drawings publication with a complete related to his studies, often typed on his description, this species remained inseparable typewriter were included. unknown to science. 5 The same fate For specimens he considered befell another species of staphylinid significantly different, he gave a third identified and classified by Caesar Koch name, 3 strictly in Latin, followed by his and also dedicated to Alliata, surname “Alliata”, and sometimes Troglophlosus alliatae .6 written in red. He highlighted species The excellent relationship with not yet known in Sicily. Mario Mariani (1898-1967), an Not far away, in another room of his entomologist from Palermo, was of residence was his library which now great help for the study of the counted several thousand Italian and collected in the Villa from foreign publications. which the specimen of Eudarcia Alliata realised that contact with the nigraella also comes, and described as Sicilian entomologists Vitale and Failla a new species by Mariani in 1937 which was not sufficient to satisfy his faunal specifies “Collected a single specimen objectives and studies on infraspecific in Palermo in the Villa of the Prince variability, 4 initially focused on Alliata of Pietragliata, on June 15, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. After a 1932”. Together with the specimens of

3. From the manuscript: “It is brief correspondence with Prince Carlo the new subspecies, Nepticula said: only the variations of Alessandro della Torre and Tasso heringella alliatae , collected in the important characters deserve a name. But in the study, (Duke of Castel Duino and Count of tower of the Villa Alliata, which Mariani especially entomological, where Valsassina), a passionate entomologist in 1939, as a sign of esteem, dedicated should the qualification of and founder of the “Pietro Rossi” to Alliata (the Mariani collection is now importance begin and then finish? For an interested layman, Entomological Museum in Duino, kept at the Terrasini Regional the entire entomology begins by allowed him to establish a close and Museum). As well as sharing a passion not being important, for a scholar who specialises in the fruitful scientific collaboration with for entomology, these two scholars Apollo, even just a flake of a prof. Giuseppe Müller (1880-1964), were co-authors of a publication on different colour in a small spot is important!” director of the Museum. The excellent Sicilian birds written by Mariani and relationship with Müller significantly accompanied by a table of drawings 4. From the manuscript: “I 7 cannot conclude these brief favoured his contacts with other Italian made by Alliata. A few years later, in introductory remarks with more entomologists. Thus, his insects soon 1949, the entomologist M. Hertig also appropriate words to my modest became the subject of study by dedicated the subspecies Rhyacia and prolix work than those already reported at the illustrious Italian and foreign scholars. castanea alliatai , synonymous with the beginning quoting the Master Traces of these collaborations can be nominal species. Antonio Berlese: that is, that the individual and the species vary found in the determination cards Butterflies were studied by continuously in space and over affixed by the same scholars illustrious Italian lepidopterologists time, being only momentary aspects of the living and accompanying the specimens. For the such as Count Emilio Turati (1858- immortal organised matter in study of beetles he had the 1938) and Ruggero Verity (1883-1959) the Universe formed by it matter-energy”. collaboration of Edoardo Gridelli as well as by various foreign (1892-1943), Arturo Schatzmayr (1880- entomologists, Franz Dannehl (1870- 5. Perhaps today attributable to 1950), Marcello Cerruti (1908-1978), 1947), Erich Martin Hering Tasgius falcifer aliquoi Bordoni, 1975. Alessandro Focarile (1927) and the (1893-1967), Friedrich von Hartig Austrians Adrian Schuster (1860-1942) (1900-1980) and Hermann Stauder 6. Perhaps today attributable to Carpelimus vitalei (Bernhauer, and Paul Meyer with whom he (1877-1937), Franz Spaeth (1863-1946) 1935). exchanged specimens and scientific who Alliata hosted in his residence to

7. Mariani M., 1942. The Birds of considerations. Müller was able to study the specimens in the collection. Sicily. Tip. Boccone del povero. study the staphylinid beetles in the During the following decades, relations

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with these entomologists declined due amount of scientific literature, he never to the onset of old age . In April 1955, published the results of his after a period of stagnation, and observations or reports of species as yet probably encouraged by friends and unknown in Sicily. fellow local entomologists, Alliata Despite everything, his solitary decided to devote new energy to the nature took over and characterised his collection and its studies. He therefore final years. He would receive resumed field activities by coming out entomologists sporadically, especially of his self inflicted isolation and from Palermo with whom he returned to exploring Sicily. During this exchanged experiences, but never his period he prepared a register in which jealously guarded specimens. he reported monthly the number of Among these Teodosio De Stefani, specimens collected from which it is Emilio Prestigiacomo, Attilio Carapezza clear that in the period between April (whose collections are also kept at the and October 1955 he added 5,000 new Regional Museum of Terrasini), insects in the collection. Francesco Paolo Romano, Vittorio Concurrently, Alliata established Aliquò and Marcello Romano, who got collaborative relationships with new to know him in old age, some of whom specialist entomologists and left us their memories of the man [see taxonomists. The collaboration with p. 185]. Giuseppe Saccà (1916-2008) was fundamental as regards the vast order Raniero Alliata’s entomological of Diptera (in the 1960s he collected library was large and international in and kept almost 4500 specimens) and scope, with several volumes and with Fabio Invrea (1884-1968) for publications in German, which he some families of Hymenoptera. spoke fluently. Despite sad personal events and He prepared the cataloguing of new interests, Alliata continued to books with original cards and designs maintain his collection with a certain of an ex-libris , but were never printed. diligence. He studied the specimens in The spirit is illustrated by sketches and the collection, reporting his notes: “By studying the Nature of even observations and considerations in seemingly humble effects, you will be hundreds of improvised sheets with well suited to judge yourself and drawings and tables. His systematic others”, but also: “ You will know the approach led him to carry out repeated cause by studying the effects ”. He also “rearrangements”, transcribing the draws various sketches for the creation contents of the individual boxes into of a logo, combining the initials “R” and notebooks and compiling various “A” by Raniero Alliata in a graphic sign. updated inventory catalogues of his A passionate painter, he was gifted collection. He also took the opportunity with a sure technique and mastery of to reapply camphor preservative and the use of colour and attention to detail. remove battered specimens. He added It is not uncommon to find in the more levels of care to the collection impressive correspondence, between when professor Salvatore Monastero scientific writings and figures, (1900-1972), head of entomology at the small drawings that are out of context. University of Palermo, expressed his desire to create an entomological collection for the scientific laboratories of the Palermo University, also offering him a teaching position, which he did not accept. It remains a mystery that despite having frequented numerous scholars over the years and consulted a large the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 8 back to index p. 30 Interventions for the protection, shows the absence of some boxes of conservation and enhancement of , perhaps stolen or destroyed the Alliata Collection (certainly those containing the most striking butterflies). For at least seven years after In total, the collection today consists Alliata’s death, the collection remained of 465 boxes in good condition without the necessary care and containing 89,520 insects and 330 maintenance. Once entrusted to the other arthropods. The general custody of the Museo civico di Terrasini approach remains that established by in 1986, the collection has since been Alliata, only minor changes have been the subject of interventions aimed at made during the restoration, conservation and enhancement. Piera conservation, arrangement and study. Iacopelli, Faro Vitale and Nino Vitale, The table on the following page staff of the Civic Museum, under the shows the orders present in the supervision of the Soprintendenza Beni collection with indications regarding culturali e Ambientali di Palermo , have the number of families and species subjected the collection, the library and found. The majority are coleoptera all the attached documentation to (66.10%), lepidoptera (14.5%), disinfestation, cleaning and preventing (7.03%) and diptera the collection from being attacked by (6.99%). The vast majority of agents that would deteriorate the specimens found in the collection are biological material. Simultaneously, as Sicilian, most of which were collected Alliata used to do, Marcello Arnone, an by Alliata himself, especially within the entomologist who collaborated with the Palermo villa, or collected on his behalf Civic Museum, made contact with other in other places on the island. However, entomologists for the study and one box contains specimens that Alliata research of the specimens in the collected in Norway in August 1960 and collection. another contains 114 insects collected In 2000 the collection was by Giovanni Carollo, his trusted transferred to the Terrasini Regional collector, near Milan. Museum, where conservation and care The cataloguing highlights a continues, with specific maintenance number of over two thousand species and restoration interventions, that could still increase following the entrusted to specialised personnel. analysis of the approximately twenty- In 2009, with the cataloguing five thousand specimens still in the campaign of Sicilian cultural heritage it warehouse boxes. was possible to start a more detailed In conclusion, it should be and in-depth inventory and cataloguing emphasized that since its establishment of the naturalistic collections of the the specimens of the collection have Museum, including the Alliata been the subject of study by numerous collection. entomological experts: A. Adorno, V. The work of comparison and Aliquò, M. Arnone, M. Barbero, A.B. correlation between the specimens in Biscaccianti, M. Bologna, A. Carapezza, the boxes and the large but disordered M. Cerruti, F. Dannehl, G. Fabbri, A. collection of drawings, writings on Focarile, M.E. Franciscolo, E. Gridelli, sheets and notes in notebooks, is very C. Koch, F. von Hartig, F. Invrea, P. important and fascinating. This Leo, F. Lo Valvo, M. Mariani, B. Massa, comparison without certain references P. Meyer, J. Müller, M. Piattella, V. traced by the author, requires a Raineri, FP Romano, M. Romano, G. courageous work of decoding and Sabella, G. Saccà, A. Schatzmayr, A. reinterpreting, which in all likelihood Schuster, F. Spaeth, I. Sparacio, H. will allow us to outline the path of Stauder, E. Turati, R. Verity, F. Vitale research and entomological study of and M. Zampetti. In more recent times Alliata. However, this comparison some specimens from the collection

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 9 back to index

have been selected by specialists as a type of taxonomic reference for the description of species new to science, including Phaleria bimaculata marcuzzii described by Aliquò in 1993, Paederus ragusai described by Adorno & Zanetti in 1999 and camillae described by Fontana & Massa in 2000. Almost a century after its establishment, given the large number of researchers who have studied the specimens and the scientific publications made, one can understand the great cultural value of the collection and above all the substantial scientific contribution that Alliata has given to the entomological knowledge of Sicily.

Qualitative / quantitative list of taxa present in the collection

Classification familie species specimens Blattaria 4 9 33 Coleoptera 100 1629 59.390 Collembola 1 ? 13 Dermaptera 4 5 75 Diptera 54 178 6278 Embioptera 2 2 7 Ephemeroptera 1 1 10 Hemiptera 36 298 6318 Hymenoptera 26 105 2835 Isoptera 2 2 7 Lepidoptera 51 653 13.027 Mantodea 2 6 27 Mecoptera 1 1 5 Megaloptera 1 1 3 Neuroptera 6 14 468 Odonata 5 20 117 Orthoptera 8 45 830 Phasmatodea 1 2 6 Plecoptera 1 1 1 Psocoptera 2 ? 14 Raphidioptera 1 1 2 Siphonaptera 1 ? 27 Thysanoptera 1 ? 9 Trichoptera 2 ? 10 Zygentoma 1 3 8 altri arthropoda (Chilopoda, 330 Isopoda, Arachnida, Pseudoscorpionida) total 89.850 the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 10 back to index p. 32 Entomological publications in Bella S., Parenzan P. & Russo P., 2009. I which reference is made to the Macrolepidotteri della Riserva Naturale Alliata collection: Regionale di Vendìcari (Sicilia Sud-orien - tale) . ( Macrolepidoptera of the Vendìcari Regional Nature Reserve (South-Eastern Adorno A. & Zanetti A., 1999. Description of Sicily) Entomologica, Bari, 41: 113-193. a new Paederus Fabricius, 1775 from Sicily, with systematic, biogeographic and Carapezza A., 1980. Ricordo di Raniero ecological notes on Italian species of the Alliata. (In memory of Raniero Alliata). subgenera Paederus s. str. and Eopaederus Naturalista sicil., Palermo Scheerpeltz , 1957 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Annales - Société Carapezza A., 1999. Gli Eterotteri del Museo Entomologique de , 35(2): 189-201. di Terrasini (Palermo). (Insecta Hemipte - ra) . ( The Etheroptera of the Terrasini Mu - Agoglitta R., Barbero E., Ragusa E. & Zunino seum) Naturalista sicil., 23: 531-585. M., 2006. Catalogo sistematico e topografico dei Geotrupidae e degradatori Di Palma M. G., 1995. Museo regionale e della Sicilia e delle isole circumsiciliane (Co - recupero delle collezioni storiche leoptera Scarabaeoidea) . ( Systematic and naturalistiche . Atti conv. “Un Museo di topographical catalogue of the degrading Storia Naturale, per la Sicilia” ( Regional Geotrupidae and Scarabaeidae of Sicily and museum and recovery of naturalistic the circumsicilian islands ) Boletín Sociedad historical collections. Acts conv. “A Museum Entomológica Aragonesa, 39: 181-204. of Natural History, for Sicily”). (Terrasini, 27 February 1993, typ. Luxograph, Palermo: Aliquò V., 1992. La collezione entomologica 27-39). Alliata del Museo Regionale di Terrasini. Coleoptera: 1. Cicindelidae; 2. Tenebrioni - Fontana P. & Massa B. 2000. Una nuova dae . ( The Alliata entomological collection of specie di Ephippiger Berthold, 1827 delle the Terrasini Regional Museum) Naturali - Madonie (Sicilia) (Insecta Orthoptera sta sicil., 16 (suppl.): 13-28. ) . ( A new species of Ephippiger Berthold, 1827 of the Madonie). Aliquò V.,1993. Dati nuovi e riassuntivi sui Naturalista sicil. , 24 (3-4): 271-280. coleotteri Tenebrionidi delle isole circumsi - ciliane (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) . ( New La Mantia T., Bellavista M., Giardina G. & and summary data on Tenebrionid beetles Sparacio I., 2010. Longhorn beetles of the of the circumsicilian islands) Naturalista si - Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, ) and their cil., 17(1-2): 111-125. relationship with plant diversity (Coleopte - ra, Cerambycidae) . Biodiversity Journal, Arnone M., 1992. Materiali per un catalogo 1(1-4): 15-44. della collezione di Raniero Alliata. I. Cole - optera Meloidae . ( Materials for a catalogue Lo Valvo F., 1994. Nuovi dati sulla of the Raniero Alliata collection. I. distribuzione delle specie siciliane di Coleoptera Meloidae) Naturalista sicil. 16: Mirmeleontidae e Ascalaphidae (Insecta 3-12. Planipennia). (New data on the distribution of the Sicilian species of Mirmeleontidae Arnone M. & Romano M., 1998. Nuovi re - and Ascalaphidae). Naturalista sicil., 18: perti di Chrysididae e Mutillidae in Sicilia e 255-264. Sardegna (Hymenoptera) . ( New finds of Chrysididae and Mutillidae in Sicily and Lapiana F. & Sparacio I., 2006. I coleotteri ) Naturalista sicil., 22: 19-24. lamellicorni delle Madonie (Sicilia) (Insecta Coleoptera Lucanoidea et Arnone M. & Vazquez X.A., 1998. Materiali Scarabaeoidea) . ( The lamellicorn beetles of per un catalogo della collezione di Raniero the Madonie (Sicily) (Insecta Coleoptera Alliata. III. Coleoptera Oedemeridae . ( Ma - Lucanoidea et Scarabaeoidea). Naturalista terials for a catalog from the collection of sicil. , 30: 227-292. Raniero Alliata) Naturalista sicil., 22: 7-18. Mariani G., 1958. Revisione delle specie ita - Baviera C., Bellavista M., Altadonna G., liane di Geotrupes subgen. Trypocopris Turrisi G.F., Bella S., Muscarella C. & Motsch. (Col. Scarabaeidae Geotrupinae) . Sparacio I., 2017. The Cerambycidae Geotrupes subgen. Trypocopris (Coleoptera. Chrysomeloidea) of Sicily. Motsch. Revision of Italian species. (Col. Recent records and updated checklist. Scarabaeidae Geotrupinae). Mem. Soc. en - Proceedings Accad. Pelorit. Danger Cl. Ski. tomol. ital., 37: 23-43. Fis. Mat. Nat., Vol. 95, [79 pages].

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 11 back to index

Mariani, M., 1937. Nuove specie e forme di lepidotteri di Sicilia ed un nuovo parassita degli agrumi. (New species and forms of Sicilian lepidoptera and a new parasite of citrus fruits). Giornale di scienze naturali ed economiche 39 (3): 1-15, 1 pl.

Mariani, M., 1939. Un nuovo genere e due nuove specie di lepidotteri di Sicilia. (A new genus and two new species of lepidoptera of Sicily). Giornale di scienze naturali ed economiche 40 (3): 1-7, 1 pl.

Massa B., 1999. Ortotteri dell’area mediterranea e delle isole Azzorre nuovi o poco noti. (Orthoptera from the Mediterranean area and the Azores islands, new or little known). Proceedings Accad. Rover. Agiati 9: 57-80.

Massa B., 2018. Una inedita corrispondenza entomologica di Raniero Alliata di Pietratagliata (An unpublished entomological correspondence by Raniero Alliata di Pietratagliata). Naturalista sicil. 42: 163-172.

Massa B. & Ragusa E., 1999. Gli Ortotteri del Museo di Terrasini (Palermo) (Insecta Orthoptera) . ( The Orthoptera of the Terrasini Museum. Naturalista sicil. , 23 (?): 131-156.

Nieukerken, Van E. J., 1985. A taxonomic revision of the Western Palaearctic species of the subgenera Zimmermannia Hering and Ectoedemia Busck s.str. (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae), with notes on their phyloge - ny . Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, deel 128, afl. 1, 1985 pp. 1-164, figs. 1-549.

Parenzan P. & Porcelli F., 2007. I macrolepidotteri italiani. Fauna Lepidopterorum Italiae (Macrolepidoptera) Addenda et corrigenda . ( The Italian macrolepidoptera. Fauna Lepidopterorum Italiae (Macrolepidoptera) Addenda et corrigenda). I. Entomologica, Bari, 40 (2006-2007): 153-221.

Romano M., 2006. La ricerca entomologica in Sicilia: protagonisti, cultori e collezioni a cavallo di tre secoli. (Entomological research in Sicily: protagonists, lovers and collections spanning three centuries). Naturalista sicil., 30: 151-226.

Sparacio I., 1992. Su alcuni interessanti Cerambicidi del Museo Regionale di Terrasini (Coleoptera Cerambycidae). (On some interesting Cerambicides of the Regional Museum of Terrasini. Naturalista sicil., 16 (Suppl.): 29-35. the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata the Prince’s insects 12 back to index p. 35 correspondence: notes and drawings

Despite his commitment and the define his studies, he drew basic amount of data of various kinds, Alliata models to then reproduce them in never delivered an elaborate of his series, color them and glue them on studies for publication, only in a few prepared matrices. leaflets he transcribes his intentions for what must have been his compendium [...] entitled in various ways: "Entomological Fauna Sicilian. Catalog The correspondence is an integral raisonné of the Insects of Sicily, part of the collection. The paper accompanied by observations on the documentation is of various types and variability of the design of the wings sizes: school notebooks, also used for various species of Lepidoptera and starting from the last pages; sheets that of the design, sculpture and various he gathered and kept in folders to degree of ornamentation of the head, create large diagrams; and handcrafted corselet and elytra for various species notepads. of Lepidoptera "or even" Only a few reply letters and a few Entomological Fauna Collection copies of letters that he sent or Catalog Siciliae ”, in 1960“ intended to send are part of the Entomology. Catalog-inventory of correspondence, despite the numerous Fauna Siciliae ”. relationships he had with various It was possible to verify the entomologists and naturalists. alphanumeric correspondence between The notes in notebooks could be what was noted in the clipboard and divided into three groups: the tag applied to the single insect. For 1. drawings and schemes for the a year he kept a register in which he analysis of infraspecific variability, in noted monthly the number of insects some cases combined with numerical collected. calculation matrices; However, his studies and 2. what he defined as "reorders", or considerations (drawings, transcription, repeated over several mathematical calculations, diagrams, years, of the contents of each box with schemes) remain transcribed in a rich additions and comments; and often improvised very original 3. scientific considerations for a paper documentation, often copied or scientific compendium, which, correlated with similar considerations however, he never defined. reported inside the corresponding All the paper documentation boxes. Some designs are also placed on arrived at the Museum in a disorderly the inner sides of the boxes. The notes and asynchronous way, involving a were transcribed in albums, notebooks difficult job of arrangement and but above all on handcrafted block interpretation. notes of various sizes, made with pages Below is a selection of notebook of accounting records, also using the sheets and pages, with drawings and back of cigarette packets and the notes that give an idea of Alliata's attached aluminum maps, or even modus operandi. payment receipts for cleaning carpets and laundries, receipts for hiring a coach with coach, receipts for the purchase of furniture or lottery receipts. If necessary, he glued various sheets or cards to create large elevations. In some cases, to better

the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata 13 back to index p. 65 the collection

The entire collection is kept in four observation of the underside of the period-style walnut cabinets and one of wings. A label was applied to spruce, made by the Vittorio Ducrot the front of each box specifying the taxa company in Palermo; one of which is within. Subsequently, other tags were modified to allow storage of the boxes applied in the inventory phase in a horizontal position. In the other following the purchase by the Sicilian cabinets the boxes were normally Region or conservation interventions. stored vertically next to teach other, for Some boxes contain cards that Alliata easy extraction, as if they were books used to apply to the box handle for (see pages 24 and 25 for the simplified easier identification. Periodically he diagram of the arrangement of the would insert camphor inside the box to boxes in the cabinets, from a notebook ward off any infestations harmful to the of 1951). specimens. In most of the boxes, as mentioned previously, the arrangement The boxes are of different sizes, of the insects inside the box followed a Each box is accompanied by a some purchased abroad while others logic strictly related to his studies. This label with the description of the contents, made by Alliata; other were locally commissioned (see table). characterises its appearance and labels are added over time, following cataloguing and Alliata had a dozen fabricated with determines its uniqueness and inventorying by the Terrasini Museum. double glass (lid and base) for better peculiarity.

In 1944, around twenty boxes with front and rear glass were added to the first group of 100 Baumgartner type lime wood entomological boxes of his project. A local craftsman Giovanni Ciacciofera, was commissioned to make the boxes, to facilitate the observation of the underside of the wings of the Ropaloceri Lepidoptera, which by 1948 included over 2,200 specimens. There were not enough because many insects were being added to the collection almost daily, and by the end of the 1950s, Alliata had to purchase boxes, some of which were made to measure by local cabinetmakers (Paolo Di Caro, Antonino Gucciardo, Franco Nobile), bringing the collection to a total of almost 500 boxes.

Here, the 31 boxes, of the 465 of the entire collection, to which he dedicated particular commitment were selected and which, together with his notes, are the testimony of his scientific thinking.

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This species was chosen by Alliata for his studies on infraspecific variability and was the one to which he devoted the most effort (see also the photos, documents and notes in the following pages). Once very frequent in coastal environments, today due to the strong anthropogenic disturbance on much of the Sicilian coast, only small populations of this carabid are to be found in the southern part of the island. The locations of the specimens preserved in the collection are Falconara, Isola delle Femmine and Mondello. Also included in the box are specimens of Nebria psammodes collected in various locations: Caronia, p. 66 Box 8138 Madonie, Foce dell’Irminio, San Martino delle Scale, Oreto, Passo di COLEOPTERA rigano, Boccadifalco, Terrasini, Eurynebria complanata, Castellana, Isola delle Femmine, Piazza Nebria psammodes, Armerina and Palermo (Malaspina) Nebria kratteri, and Notiophilus substriatus collected Notiophilus substriatus. in Caronia. There is also the only specimen of cm 45 x 30 Nebria kratteri , obtained by Failla which he collected in the beech forest of The Eurynebria companata Castelbuono in April 1929, the only lives mainly in sandy beaches where it remaining evidence of the presence of preys predominantly on amphipods. this species in Sicily.

Cephalota litorea goudoti, Cylindera trisignata siciliensis.

cm 45 x 30

The insects present (151) in this box are cicindela and in particular species that generally live near beaches, river mouths and sand dunes. Cassolaia maura cupreothoracica specimens were collected near the Oreto, Milicia and Fiumetorto rivers. The specimens of Myriochile melancholica in Fiumetorto, Isola delle Femmine, Zappulla and one, surprisingly, in Villa Alliata on the night of 14 September 1929 attracted by the light of the lamp. The specimens of p. 74 Box 8131 Cylindera trisignata siciliensis are from Porto Empedocle. COLEOPTERA The specimens have been the object Cassolaia maura cupreothoracica, of study and scientific publication Myriochile melancholica, (Aliquò V., 1992).

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This box contains 179 specimens of Cicindela campestris siculorum . One of the main subject species of his studies on infraspecific variability. This species lives mainly in the hills and mountains. The specimens in the collection were collected in San Martino delle Scale, Boccadifalco, Ficarazzi, Caronia, M. Cuccio, Valle Corta, Montaspro, Madonie, and also in other places such as Addaura, Palermo (Malaspina), Oreto, Balestrate, Passo di Rigano , Casteldaccia where today, given the considerable environmental transformations that these places have undergone, it would be interesting to check if populations still exist there. p. 76 Box 8132 The specimens have been the subject of study and scientific publication of the COLEOPTERA results (Aliquò V., 1992) Cicindela campestris siculorum.

cm 45 x 30

This box contains 130 Cicindela belonging to a species that lives in coastal environments, including reefs. Some were given to him by his cousin Enrico di Napoli Alliata who had formed a small collection, The specimens of Calomera lugens were collected in Isola delle Femmine, Mondello and Porticello where nowadays, considering the remarkable environmental transformations of these places, it is very difficult to observe them. The specimens of Lophyridia littoralis nemoralis show the following locations: Terrasini, Isola delle Femmine, Falconara, Fiumetorto and p. 82 Box 8133 Oreto. All have been the subject of study and scientific publication of the COLEOPTERA results (Aliquò V., 1992) Calomera lugens, Lophyridia littoralis nemoralis.

cm 45 x 30

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This box contains 87 specimens of morbillosus alternans, the species most collected by Alliata (over 600 specimens in 7 boxes). The large amount of specimens available allowed him to study the variability of this carabid in depth. References to this study appear in the many drawings and notes in notebooks and loose sheets.

p. 88 Box 8595

COLEOPTERA Carabus morbillosus alternans.

cm 45 x 30

160 cetoniinae of two different species reclassified by Marcello Arnone, expert entomologist, are preserved here. These beetles are very ostentatious due to their metallic colours, which in spring can be seen resting on large inflorescence, and so accommodating their pollination.

p. 90 Box 8274

COLEOPTERA Cetonia aurata sicula, Eupotosia affinis.

cm 45 x 30

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Coptocephala plagiocephala, Cryptocephalus tristigma, Cryptocephalus moraei, Cryptocephalus flavipes, Cryptocephalus chrysopus, Cryptocephalus politus, Pachybrachis scriptus, Pachybrachis hieroglyphicus, Cryptocephalus rugicollis, Cryptocephalus scapularis, Cryptocephalus chrysopus, Cryptocephalus fulvus.

cm 45 x 30

This box collects 340 chrysomelidae, divided into numerous p. 92 Box 8213 species. Phytophagous insects are very common in spring and autumn in the COLEOPTERA fields. The specimens attributed to Lachnaia paradoxa, Cryptocephalus chrysopus and Lachnaia italica, Cryptocephalus tristigma, if confirmed, Coptocephala unicolor, are proof of the presence of these Coptocephala scopolina kuesteri, species also in Sicily.

Here are collected just over 200 carabidae divided into five species. These beetles can be encountered along the banks of running, stagnant or even brackish waters, and are mainly active at night as skilled predators of diptera. Alliata collected them in places (Pizzo Antenna, Fiume Oreto, Ficuzza, Villa Alliata, Fiume Milicia, Fiumetorto, Licata and Caltavuturo) where, given the altered environmental conditions, it should be checked whether there are still populations.

p. 98 Box 8152

COLEOPTERA Notiophilus geminatus, Notiophilus quadripunctatus, Notiophilus rufipes, Omophron limbatum, Siagona europaea.

cm 45 x 30

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This box contains 200 aquatic beetles that can be observed in ponds, swamps and running waters. In particular, six fairly common species are represented and widespread in natural environments that are not very humanised. Alliata devoted a lot to the study to the variability of elitral spots and striae, identifying notable infraspecific variability. The places where they were collected: Madonie, Caronia (Messina), San Martino delle Scale (Palermo), Ficarazzi (Palermo), Troina (Enna), Valle Corta Pioppo (Palermo), Box 8183 p. 100 Fiumetorto (Palermo) and also the river Oreto and in small damp COLEOPTERA environments in Passo di Rigano (now Graptodytes varius, inside the city of Palermo) where small Stictonectes optatus, populations probably resist. Stictonectes escheri, Deronectes moestus, Potamonectes luctuosus, Potamonectes fenestratus.

cm 45 x 30

This box contains 376 ladybirds divided into 7 different species. Alliata wanted to study the infraspecific variability in these insects as well. As in other collections, he prepared grid patterns inside the box according to hypothetical variability, inserting the corresponding specimens that he collected. To better explain this arrangement of insects within a grid, he himself proposes Mendeleev’s periodic table of chemical elements as a reference, in which some positions/elements, initially unknown, over the years the p. 102 Box 8414 research has subsequently found. So Alliata patiently waited to collect the COLEOPTERA missing insect to insert. Ancylopus melanocephalus, Cyrtoplastus seriepunctatus, Epilachna chrysomelina, Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata, Hippodamia variegata, Scaphiosoma pilosum.

cm 45 x 30

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Hirticomus quadriguttatus, Ochthenomus punctatus, Microhoria nectarina.

cm 45 x 30

In this box Alliata inserted just over two hundred small beetles belonging to the anthicidae family of beetles. It includes species that usually live in the soil, wandering on the ground or under rocks in hills and mountains, often near humid environments, some at times resting on inflorescences of umbellifers. There are 13 different species p. 104 Box 8206 represented, some of which were inserted within schematic grids COLEOPTERA accompanied with drawings showing Stricticomus transversalis, the hypothetical infraspecific variability Stricticomus longicollis, of the elytra. He placed the Clavicomus longiceps, corresponding specimens he collected Clavicomus dichrous, in the boxes, whilst waiting to insert the Tenuicomus velox, missing ones as soon as he came into Omonadus bifasciatus, possession. Anthicus tristis, Marcello Arnone, expert entomolo - Anthicus fenestratus, gist, studied and re-determined the Endomia unifasciata, specimens by inserting the correct clas - Endomia tenuicollis, sification, applying a blue card.

Here Alliata collected 3 species of meloid for a total of 300 specimens. The box also contains the grid scheme for studying the variability in Mylabris variabilis. Marco Bologna, an expert on this family of beetles, redetermined all the meloids in the collection for an update on the biogeographical distribution of these insects, which has over 900 specimens (Arnone 1992).

p. 108 Box 8315

COLEOPTERA Mylabris variabilis, Mylabris schreibersi, Mylabris fabricii.

cm 45 x 30

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Alliata inserted 169 specimens belonging to species of Melolontidae into this box, some of which have crepuscular habits. They live near clearings in the woods, in mountain meadows or even on the coast. He was amazed by the presence in the box of some specimens collected in the city, in Palermo, even at his villa, which is probably unlikely today.

p. 110 Box 8366

COLEOPTERA Anomala ausonia, junii calabrica, Anisoplia monticola marginata, Hoplia paganettii, Anisoplia tempestiva, Hoplia minuta.

cm 45 x 30

The box contains nearly one hundred specimens of Colias crocea , one of the butterfly species that was chosen to study the infraspecific variability in lepidoptera. This species of diurnal butterfly frequents all flowered places, and being a good flyer, it is observed in flight between April and October in the most varied of environments. Since adults species have an evident sexual dimorphism, Alliata studied the variability in both males and females.

p. 114 Box 8530

LEPIDOPTERA Colias crocea

cm 59 x 38

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This box contains 50 particularly ornate butterflies, which can be found in parks and gardens, but were much more common and widespread in the past. The specimens in the collection were collected in his villa by Alliata but also in M. Cuccio, San Martino delle Scale, Caronia, Oreto, Falconara and Sferracavallo.

p. 118 Box 8537

LEPIDOPTERA Papilio machaon, Iphiclides podalirius.

6cm0 x 40

This is one of the boxes that Alliata had made with double glass to allow observation of the underside of the butterfly wings. Here 250 are gathered and divided into 7 different species, perhaps more common at that time than they are now.

p. 120 Box 8533

LEPIDOPTERA Vanessa atalanta, Vanessa cardui, aetherie, Melitaea didyma, Melitaea nevadensis, Melitaea cinxia, Melitaea aurelia.

cm 60 x 40

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Glaucopsyche alexis, Celastrina argiolus, Polyommatus icarus.

cm 60 x 40

In this box Alliata gathered 211 butterflies belonging to the Libytheidae, Satyridae, Lycaenidae families representing 10 different species. He paid particular attention to the ‘eyespots’ that appeared on the wings, studying their variability in p. 122 Box 8535 shape and position, analysing with a mathematical-statistical approach as is LEPIDOPTERA reported in the notes. Lasiommata megera, This box is also with double glass. Lasiommata maera, Libythea celtis, Callophrys rubi, Satyrium ilicis, Thecla quercus, Lycaena phlaeas,

There are 6 species of common moths or sphingidae collected, for a total of 40 specimens. To highlight the striae and colours of the wings for conservation, Alliata preserved them in an unnatural position.

p. 124 Box 8532

LEPIDOPTERA Agrius convolvuli, Marumba quercus, Macroglossum stellatarum, Deilephila elpenor, Hyles livornica, Hippotion celerio.

cm 47 x 40

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In this box, 43 butterflies representing 7 different species are collected. pyri is the largest European night moth . Inside there are also 6 specimens of the famous death’s head hawkmoth (see page 133 and the detail on page 132). Alliata used special wooden drying racks for the preparation of the moths (see photo)

p. 126 Box 8504

LEPIDOPTERA Gastropacha quercifolia, taraxaci, Saturnia pyri, Thaumetopoea processionea, Acherontia atropos, Bombyx mori, Saturnia pavoniella.

cm 60 x 40

Thymelicus acteon, Ochlodes sylvanus, Pyrgus malvoides, Pyrgus armoricanus, Pyrgus onopordi, Malacosoma neustrium, Malacosoma franconicum, Lasiocampa trifolii, Bombyx mori, Pyrgus alveus.

cm 60 x 40

In this double-glazed box, Alliata p. 130 Box 8505 gathered 170 butterflies belonging to the Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, LEPIDOPTERA Lasiocampidae families representing Polyommatus icarus, 17 different species. Some of these Cupido minimus, specimens of the genus Pyrgus were Leptotes pirithous, examined by Ruggero Verity, one of the Cyaniris semiargus, leading European lepidopterologists of Cupido argiades, the last century. Thymelicus lineolus,

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This box contains 71 specimens of a single species of nocturnal moth for which were captured at night using a lamp to attract them. Together with the Palermo entomologist Mario Mariani, he would go to the terrace of Villa Alliata to catch as many moths as possible and then, with great care, having preserved them in the correct box, would study them, focusing on the variability of the striae and the designs on the wings. See the notes and the study plan on p. 44. p. 134 Box 8604

LEPIDOPTERA Agrotis puta.

cm 45 x 30

Menaccarus dohrnianus, Dyroderes umbraculatus, Sciocoris maculatus, Sciocoris sulcatus, Sciocoris cursitans.

cm 44.5 x 34

This box contains 171 specimens belonging to sixteen species of hemiptera. are among those to which Alliata paid particular attention, always with the aim of p. 136 Box 8567 studying infraspecific variability. To better interpret his research, it is HEMIPTERA useful to check the numerous notes and Psacasta tuberculata, drawings that are part of the Eurygaster maura, documentation attached to the Eurygaster testudinaria, collection. Eurygaster austriaca, In the study he analysed both the Psacasta conspersa, dorsal and the ventral parts of the Psacasta exanthematica, insect (see Photo on the next page). Ventocoris rusticus, Alliata prepared a specimen of Ventocoris falcatus, with open wings Tholagmus flavolineatus, to better observe the wing veins. Ancyrosoma albolineatum, , italicum,

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Holcostethus albipes, Carpocoris mediterraneus, , varia.

cm 44 x 34

This box has 12 species of hemiptera for a total of 171 specimens. These insects, similar to the common and foul-smelling green stink bug, were also chosen for his research on infraspecific variability. All specimens have been the subject of study and taxonomic revision (Carapezza 1999). p. 138 Box 8564

HEMIPTERA Aelia acuminata, Aelia rostrata, Aelia germari, Staria lunata, Eusarcoris ventralis , Stagonomus bipunctatus, Dryadocoris analis, Holcostethus strictus,

In this box Alliata inserted 137 notonecta which were also the subject of a study on infraspecific variability. Notonecta are typically aquatic insects, which in order to breathe exploit the reserve of air that surrounds the body, retained by the water-repellent hair. They colonise the calm waters of ponds and lakes, but some species are also found in streams. The hind legs are long and used like oars to enable movement.

p. 140 Box 8273

HEMIPTERA Notonectidae.

cm 40.5 x 28.5

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Pyrrhocoris apterus, Scantius aegyptius, Spilostethus pandurus, Graptostethus servus, Apterola kunckeli.

cm 44.5 x 34.5

This box collects 13 species of hemiptera for a total of 179 specimens that have been the subject of study and taxonomic revision (Carapezza 1999). These insects were also chosen by Alliata for his research on infraspecific variability. p. 142 Box 8566

HEMIPTERA Brachycarenus tigrinus, Stictopleurus abutilon, Stictopleurus pictus, Liorhyssus hyalinus, Maccevethus corsicus, Maccevethus errans, Chorosoma schillingii,

141 specimens belonging to various species of hemiptera are collected here. Of note is the presence of some specimens of the Nepidae family, aquatic hemiptera with front legs which have been adapted to capture prey. In some species this feature makes them look similar to scorpions (see photo on the next page).

p. 144 Box 8602

HEMIPTERA Naucoris maculatus conspersus, Nepa cinerea, Ranatra linearis, Notonecta glauca, Notonecta meridionalis, Notonecta maculata, Notonecta viridis.

cm 60 x 40

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Stenomutilla argentata, Mutilla quinquemaculata.

cm 45 x 30

In this particular box there is a collection of 80 insects belonging to uncommon and very striking species. Chrysidids are hymenoptera with the iridescent livery of various colours. The study of these specimens (Arnone & Romano 1998) highlighted the presence in the Alliata collection of a specimen of Cleptes saussurei , the only one found in Sicily. Mutilla wasps have a distinct sexual p. 146 Box 8443 dimorphism that distinguishes the winged males, which Alliata collected HYMENOPTERA from various parts of Sicily. Scolia sexmaculata, In 1958, Alliata took advantage of Sapyga quinquepunctata, Count Fabio Invrea visiting Palermo, Pseudospinolia incrassata, the President of the Società Physetopoda punctata, Entomologica Italiana . As an expert on Ronisia brutia, these insects, he was able to correct Myrmilla capitata, taxonomic identification of the Smicromyrme lucasii, specimens in the collection. Smicromyrme rufipes, The Scolia wasps are among the Nemka viduata, largest hymenoptera.

Diptera are the order to which Alliata dedicated himself after 1950, with great commitment and scientific interest despite the difficulties involved in studying these insects. This box contains 125 specimens, without a precise determination of the species with a few exceptions, thanks to the help of Giuseppe Saccà, an expert dipterologist. These in particular are Hoverflies, very skilled flyers who, due to the colourations of the abdomen, appear very similar to common wasps.

p. 150 Box 8430

DIPTERA Syrphidae.

cm 37.5 x 27

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Ruspolia nitidula, Tettigonia viridissima, Rhacocleis annulata, Platycleis grisea, Platycleis affinis, Eupholidoptera chabrieri brunneri, Platycleis intermedia, Platycleis concii, Decticus albifrons.

cm 60 x 35

This box collects 64 grasshoppers and similar, which are common and widespread in various environments. There are 13 species represented which have been the object of study and scientific publication (Massa & Ragusa, Box 8543 p. 152 1999). ORTHOPTERA Phaneroptera falcata, Phaneroptera nana, Tylopsis liliifolia, Odontura arcuata,

Melanogryllus desertus, Gryllomorpha dalmatina, Mogoplistes brunneus, Trigonidium cicindeloides, Arachnocephalus vestitus, Oecanthus pellucens, Gryllotalpa quindecim, Stenonemobius gracilis.

cm 44 x 35

Here 95 specimens are collected including grasshoppers, crickets and mole crickets. In total, 15 different species are represented which have been the object of study and scientific p. 154 Box 8474 publication (Massa & Ragusa, 1999). One particular specimen, with the ORTHOPTERA name of Ephippiger camillae, identified Uromenus brevicollis trinacriae, with a red card, has great scientific Uromenus bonneti painoi, value as it represents a new species Ephippiger camillae Typus, found in the Madonie Mountain range Gryllus campestris, (Fontana & Massa, 2000). Gryllus bimaculatus, Modicogryllus burdigalensis, Modicogryllus algirius,

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Chalcolestes viridis, Lestes dryas, Sympecma fusca, Ceriagrion tenellum, Coenagrion puella, Cercion lindeni, Ischnura genei, Cordulegaster boltoni, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope.

cm 60 x 35

This box contains 38 specimens mainly of dragonflies as well as some p. 156 Box 8481 specimens of minor orders. They are MECOPTERA ODONATA very common insects although some TRICOPTERA species are less so. Most of them were Panorpa annexa, collected in Villa Alliata, near the lake Calopteryx virgo, and the beautiful fountains that were Calopteryx splendens, present in the garden.

In this box Alliata inserted 22 examples of stag beetles which he brought from Germany. Together with a few other collections from Norway and around Milan, they represent the only non-Sicilian specimens in the collection.

p. 158 Box 8264

COLEOPTERA Lucanus cervus.

cm 45 x 30

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The catalog lists all the species present in each entomological box, of which specimens are preserved, and those mentioned in the notes. The species are reported in systematic order and cited according to the most recent scientific nomenclature, reporting any syno - nymies and taxonomic revisions updated on a bibliographic basis. The taxonomic catalog is organized as follows: the first item is the CLASSIFICATION; the second, in bold, the Familie ; the Species , the species and the first descriptor follow in italics; the [synonyms] are reported in square brackets; this is followed by the number of the reference box, or “MS” for the 106 species mentioned in the manuscripts, not found in the boxes and probably removed or moved to warehouse boxes awaiting more exact de - termination. The catalog shows in red the 224 species that are not yet reported in Sicily, (compared with the database of «Fauna Europea» https://fauna-eu.org), therefore they need confirmation for a possible update of the areas of biogeographic distribution. The species to which Alliata paid particular attention and studied their infraspecific va - riability are indicated in blue .

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Attilio Carapezza naturalists, Italian and foreign, who Memory of Raniero Alliata were able to direct him in the “The Sicilian Naturalist” techniques of collecting, preparing and Palermo, 1980 studying insects and above all with what he was learning from the Raniero Alliata di Pietratagliata, the immense amount of scientific readings, last of one of the most illustrious from his library where we still have a Sicilian families, was born in Palermo precious trace, conducted with the in 1897 and died there at the age of 82 disordered insatiability of the self- on 10 October 1979, at the end of an taught. And self-taught in the existence spent in industrious solitude entomological field Raniero Alliata was, and entirely dedicated to study and in the sense that he had no direct meditation. Thanks to an insatiable teachers to guide him. His interests curiosity for knowledge, extraordinary began to take shape, during the great intellectual and artistic abilities and a Sicilian season of naturalistic studies, remarkable versatility, he could freely which flourished between the end of exercise in the most diverse fields, from the 19 th century and the beginning of philosophy to painting to occultism. Of the 20 th century around the prestigious all his activities his commitment in the magazine “Il Naturalista Siciliano”, naturalistic and entomological fields in founded and directed by Enrico particular, is the one that perhaps Ragusa. Of all the protagonists of that occupied the central position in his school, to which he ideally connected interests, and certainly the one of which and of which he represented the the most extensive documentation epigone, he only ever met an old Luigi remains. Had his paintings and non- Failla-Tedaldi, of whom he bought one scientific writings not been irretrievably of the entomological collections and dispersed, we would have been allowed library, which he incorporated into his a more complete insight into one of the own. Many of those volumes are still most interesting and singular recognizable for the dedication to the personalities of the Palermo culture of first owner by the authors, naturalists this century. However, thanks to the of the late nineteenth century who had acquisition by the Sicilian Region of his strong scientific bonds with Failla. large entomological collection and the From the naturalistic setting of Ragusa, adjoining library, the conservation of Alliata inherited the idea of these are fortunately ensured. regionalism, restricting the scope of its entomological studies to Sicily alone, Raniero Alliata began to devote but compensating for this limitation himself to the study of entomology as a with the openness to consider all orders boy, during his of high school years of insects. The methodology of attending boarding school in Tuscany, systematic investigation can be traced to which the first collections of back to the same nineteenth-century Coleoptera and Lepidoptera date back, ancestry, mainly based on the made more with the curiosity of the examination of external morphological adolescent rather than with the characteristics. awareness of the scientist . This will The memory of those who have come in the following years, with dealt with science is generally entrusted knowledge gained from other to the testimonies that document their

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activity or, more precisely, the The collection, largely determined and publication of their activity, in the form studied personally by Raniero Alliata, is of contributions to the progress of their accompanied, for several species, by an branch. In the case of Raniero Alliata interesting and valuable graphic we would try in vain to reconstruct representation of the infraspecific these manifestations in which the variations, didactically placed inside results of research and reflection are the same box in which the depicted fixed, supported by often illuminating specimens are kept. This variability intuitions, and exhausted in solitary within which he was certain that the meditation or in the short space of a extremes were connected by a series of conversation. This is because he never intermediate forms without wanted to open his vast knowledge and interruption, represented for him the the results of his research to the public. proof of the harmonic contiguity The reasons for this persistent silence is operating in the natural world and not our right to speculate or put expressed by the famous phrase of forward hypotheses; we must limit Leibniz, which he loved to repeat , ourselves to taking note of it, respecting according to which Natura non facit the wishes of those who wanted it to be saltus (nature does not make jumps). so . If the writer wanted to remember He saw ‘saltus’ in nature impossible in what Alliata’s printed works were, by the form accomplished by his peers and constructing a bibliography, as is taking place in the contemporary customary, it would be an anomaly world, a world which he defined as the limited to remembering only one of the “plastic civilization “ to signify the several aspects with respect to the his definitive rupture of a relationship of central interests, namely the mutual respect with the natural iconographic part of Mario Mariani’s environment. It was this proud and volume, The birds of Sicily . However, aggressive arrogance that he needed to this simple illustration alone is an escape from by retreating into complete eloquent testimony both to the wide isolation within his villa in Palermo, curiosity that moved Raniero Alliata in not to keep the past nostalgically alive, the most diverse fields of natural or because he was susceptible or wary sciences and to his remarkable artistic of the contemporary world, but to talent. surround himself with an oasis of The memory of him will remain culture, sensitivity, and a primacy of linked to that naturalistic monument humble rationality. From isolation represented by the entomological Raniero Alliata left this world in collection created in more than half a silence, without fanfare, as he had lived century of intense research; a collection in it. of all the orders of the Sicilian entomofauna and with a total consisting of around three hundred thousand specimens. Its historical scientific interest is enormous both because part of the Failla collection of Madonite insects was incorporated into it in the first half of the century and, above all, because the Alliata collection constitutes the largest existing documentation of Sicilian entomofauna. This is an unrepeatable documentation because numerous species are represented whose presence in Sicily were linked to environments that have been irreversibly destroyed. the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata testimonials 33 back to index p. 187 Bent Parodi Rodrigo, Anna and Bianca, all much The Wizard Prince older (the eldest son, Fabrizio, was Sellerio Editore, 1987 born in 1873) than Raniero. The castle in via Serradifalco, built Raniero Alliata di Pietratagliata, by Prince Luigi, was a hybrid of various prince of the Holy Roman Empire, who styles inspired by the most famous died at 82 on 9 October 1979, possessed museums in , with two large all the traits of a Sicilian “Leopard”, and wings, fifty rooms, stuccoes, furniture perhaps more. and coffered wooden vaults of great From 1925, following a bad run on value, and crenellated towers; a the “green tables” of the “Bellini” reminder of the Palermo of the belle nobles club, he lived in complete époque, and an irreplaceable meeting isolation in a castle, surrounded by a place for aristocrats and scholars. vast garden, in via Serradifalco in Even the garden, later deplorably Palermo. For many years a card hung abandoned and reduced by the voracity on the gate, or rather, a small picture of the builders, enchanted visitors, rich with an inscription indicative of the as it was in exotic flora that the prince man (“Welcome friends, damn had commissioned from all over the relatives”), where the relatives were world. A small lake, in the centre, symbolized by a devil, complete with animated by flocks of quacking ducks, horns, tail and fork. Raniero was like made a fine show of itself for the daily that, eccentric beyond measure, a bit silent reflections of an aristocrat misanthropic but deeply human in his devoted to the cult of beauty. own way. In this refined environment, little In solitude he had found his Raniero Alliata’s formative years were purpose, cultivating many varied greatly influenced by his severe branches of knowledge. As a naturalist, German nanny and deeply engraved he had created the largest collection of the child’s personality. Raniero thus Sicilian insects and butterflies of the became a composite figure; a bit century: five cabinets, overflowing with German, a bit Sicilian but with a embalmed specimens, which is a great prevailing taste for Pan-Germanism. testimony to this activity of his. Admiration for German culture was As a painter of metaphysical at home in the castle; the very name of sensibility, he drew all the aspects of the child, Raniero, was of direct the fantastic and named his Germanic derivation, taken from mediumistic compositions “ trachettili “. mythology. And jokingly, parents and A s culptor, evolutionist and linguist, friends enjoyed comparing the name unknown to the general public by Raniero to Ragnaröck, the Nordic choice, he used to receive visits from apocalypse. And with this biologists and occultists who came extraordinarily revealing name, the boy from all over the world to visit him. grew up with a specific destiny. He Occultists, it has been said: yes, drew inspiration from Wagner, “The because Raniero Alliata di Twilight of the Gods” was a favourite of Pietratagliata, a singular figure his, and the biological and philological metaphysician supported by a great schools of the German Empire. familiarity with all currents of thought, By the age of fifteen, and already was also a well-trained spiritualist, not intrigued by the vast literature available devoid of mediumistic skills, like other in the castle library, he began to take an aristocrats of the time . interest in occultism, under the not Born in Palermo on 9 June 1897, he displeased gaze of his austere father, was the late fruit of the reconciliation of who was also a practitioner of science Prince Luigi, a stern bearded and occultism, as was the fashion of the nobleman, with his wife. The parents time. had already had four children: Fabrizio, By the nineteenth century, Allan

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Kardec’s spiritism had rapidly Failla of Castelbuono, and Enrico established itself in the intellectual Ragusa (founder of the Hotel des circles of France. Fashion, albeit late, Palmes), the two greatest Sicilian also arrived in Sicily and spread to the entomologists of the late nineteenth salons of the aristocracy ready to accept century, Raniero discovered many mediumistic practices, varying between unknown insects and variants of the serious and the facetious. An entire species. With the help of enthusiastic generation of young Leopards enjoyed assistants under his guidance, he themselves at the gaming table, looking searched with painstaking patience the for excitement. In addition to Raniero, then still uncontaminated woods of the among these adepts of the afterlife was Madonie and Nebrodi Mountain Giuseppe Tomasi and the Piccolo ranges, for butterflies and beetles. brothers from Calanovella. Even from the enclosure of the Then the First World War broke out castle, Raniero’s fame reached and Raniero, like many young people, academic and scientific circles. After was forced to leave for the front, to the Second World War he was unwillingly fight against the exponents repeatedly offered a chair at the of the culture he loved so much. Three University of Palermo. But to no avail; years in the trenches, then defeat at the prince, his brothers now dead, Caporetto, followed by hundreds of preferred the solitude of his study. kilometres on foot, until exhausted, he During the day he slept to neutralize reached the military hospital in external noises, he got up at six in the Ferrara. His war experience ended evening and worked at night to end his here; Raniero was not made for war. day at dawn. He returned to Palermo, where shortly And so he did, almost to the point of thereafter in 1921 his father, Prince his death. But in those years, between Louis, died. 1945 and 1965, assisted in his voluntary Without paternal restraint, and with seclusion by a Norwegian woman who a weak and permissive mother, Raniero he ended up marrying, Raniero Alliata began to cultivate vices as well as his broadened his horizons. Every day he scientific interests. He quickly wasted a painted very personal pictures that fortune on gambling and horses (his would come to life in a different was the most beautiful gig in Palermo, dimension to ours and began to live in pulled by a splendid white foal). - - He the world of spirits and to anathemise spent all his evenings at the “Bellini” the growing urban advance of Palermo, club distinguishing himself with his which seen from the windows of the eccentric features. castle he could not escape and was a But his career as a Don Juan and as constant obsession. It was the period of an inveterate player was destined to his greatest misanthropy and only a few have a short life. One last, sharp blow at close friends found hospitality in the the gaming tables, suddenly led him to castle, animated by precise cultural do away with the banalities of the affinities, and a taste for the esoteric. outside world, which, after all, he had The prince of the Holy Roman never really appreciated. He locked Empire (a rather strange and pompous himself in the castle, never leaving title for a man who considered himself, except for rare, episodic trips and visits and was, outside the world) coined his of a scientific nature. It was 1925 and personal classification of humanity at from then on, for 54 years, Raniero’s that time, with denominations perfectly destiny was that of a proud, solitary indicative of his way of thinking. nobleman, consumed by his zoological Thus most men - that of the poor and metaphysical interests. The great devils, whose survival depended on entomological collection took shape working every day - were identified as and form. the golden flock of tameneri, aimed at Following in the footsteps of Luigi the sole purpose of reproducing the the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata testimonials 35 back to index

species. Below, the adipose, who in the last five years was imposed necrophytic and convulsive, and finally to almost total immobility. placed at very low category, the He inadvertently came to an end, coprotids, morally despicable and without a will, without even a grave in repugnant to contact. Obviously, these the cemetery. The last of the Leopards were symbolic definitions that he who lived with the spirits left in silence wanted to reflect the mental and without a complaint. And with him, the spiritual levels of the “species”, studied last prince of the Holy Roman Empire by Raniero with the coldness of a also disappeared. laboratory scientist. At the top of In the manor, now dilapidated and humanity he placed a small elite of the surrounded by a circle of reinforced spirit, destined for its transparency to concrete, the signs of his sleepless the primacy in psychic life: the palesi . activity remain. That green island The prince deeply believed in this deserved to be transformed into a classification. museum of scientific and metaphysical Meanwhile, he continued to memories. But, unfortunately, the cultivate his interest in the occult. He prince who did not believe in death did claimed to be in contact with a group of not leave a will. disembodied souls who communicated On his final journey, Raniero had with him every night. From these already been preceded by his interactions came dialogue of extreme contemporaries and relatives in blood interest, unpredictable revelations and and culture: Giuseppe Tomasi and the above all messages in languages Piccolo brothers from Calanovella, unknown to him, which under the Corrado Niscemi and Fortunio di control of a few expert friends revealed Belsito. We should also remember that they really existed in the past: such Bebbuzzo Sgadari, a rather unique as Greek dialects, Aramaic and other character, patron and musicologist, the languages. historian Corrado Fatta and Prince At times, under particular Mirto. They all shared the trait of the conditions and in a state of trance great lord, with vast cultural int erests Raniero Alliata ventured into the favoured by the objective situation of experience of the so-called phenomena freedom from need. of mediumistic materialization; clouds The disappearance of these of ectoplasm would take the human characters historically coincided with form, under the worried eyes of the few the dissolution of the last Leopards. close friends admitted to these séances . Then came the time of “black magic”, which the prince did not want to overlook, as the “white” one had left him partially dissatisfied. And, at that point, his more prudent regular guests to the castle, preferred to stay away. So Raniero was even more alone. When his Norwegian wife, who had assisted him with silent discretion for so many years, died prematurely the few friends who had loved him were troubled by the remorse of having to reduce visits to that fascinating world, outside of time. His growing ailments (there was no heating in the castle in the winter period), bad nutrition and excessive smoking had corroded the great resistance of the magician prince, the Prince’s insects the entomological collection by Raniero Alliata of Pietratagliata testimonials 36 back to index p. 190 Marcello Romano Vittorio Aliquò Three centuries of Entomology The stone of memory. in Sicily Autobiography of an “Il Naturalista siciliano ”, Palermo, 2006 entomologist magistrate. Ed. Mohicani, Palermo, 2018 [...] A unique and unforgettable figure who I got to know while I was [...] I met him on my return from still a boy, when accompanying my Syracuse to Palermo; these were the father who from time to time would last years of his life, when I was visit him in his (then) magnificent and permitted to frequent his very reserved for me “magical” Villa residence, where he lived in isolation While the Prince was entertaining among his collection, his spectacular cordially in conversation with my library, his paintings and the whole father, I spent hours observing with outline of his home, which looked like a amazement the large boxes of his very ancient castle. [...] There, I was collection, full of insects from all orders able to not only enjoy viewing his huge which he allowed me to view freely! [...] collection of Sicilian specimens from this monumental collection [...] today every order of insects, but also his very this represents the only but exceptional pleasant conversation, despite testimony of the scientific activity of occasionally turning to the subject of Prince Alliata, having never had the black magic, which was a little ‘ fixation results of his research published. of his’, [...] The great entomological However, he wrote down all his collection of the prince, was sold on his observations, often using an old death to the Museum of Natural typewriter, on any old scrap of paper, Sciences of Terrasini, where it can still even on the back of the numerous be found today, was difficult to consult cigarettes packets unrolled and ironed by scholars and moreover put in great for this use. Alliata was an exceptional disorder by the owner himself in his draftsman. The only track published later years, when he wanted to illustrate that demonstrates these great gifts of many species with very detailed him is a black and white plate that was drawings, which he produced to show printed to illustrate a work from 1942 all possible variations. I am referring by another great entomologist we have above all to the drawings of the body, already talked about: Mario Mariani. for example the spots on the elytra , but However, knowing the illustrator, one not only in the drawings found . would spontaneously and legitimately However, I was able to publish a work think the drawings depict butterflies, concerning the Cicindelidae and beetles or other insects, but instead Tenebrionidae beetles preserved there. there are ninety-five birds of Sicily, [...] whose facial features and legs with the most characteristic shapes are splendidly outlined. He began to form his own collection around 1926, enrolling in the Italian Entomological Society in 1931. He continued the collection without interruption until his death. Most of the specimens were collected by Prince Alliata in the Nebrodi mountains or near to Palermo. Around 1940, part of Luigi Failla Tedaldi’s collection which included Madonie Coleoptera and Lepidoptera was purchased and merged into his collection.

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