Osmopleura chamaeropis ( Horn, 1893 )

Austin, Thomas, Heffern, Daniel, Gemmill, Robert, Raber, Brian & Quinn, Mike, 2018, Notes on the biology and distribution of the tribe Agallissini in North America (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), Zootaxa 4457 (3), pp. 444-454 : 446

Osmopleura chamaeropis ( Horn, 1893)

[ Figs. 3 & 4 ]

History. Horn’s original description states “Collected at Biscayne, Fla., by E. A. Schwarz on Chamaerops palmetto .” Blatchley (1925) reported that specimens were collected from blossoms and foliage of palmetto . Turnbow & Hovore (1979) reported that individuals were most frequently found “in the deep interspaces between living stems in the basal rosettes of the palmettos.” They also reported, “feeding larvae, pupae and teneral adults were collected from dead, dried inflorescences, and from dead leaf bases persisting on the trees.” Linsley & Chemsak (1997) report the only host plant of Osmopleura chamaeropis as Sabal palmetto , and the known distribution of this species as Florida and Georgia ( Linsley 1964).

Biological notes. Along with Zagymnus clerinus , numerous specimens of O. chamaeropis were collected on fire-damaged S. palmetto in Pinellas County , Florida (R. F. Morris, II, R. M. Brattain, J. A. Green, pers. comm.). Their observations indicate that these two species will congregate on damaged plants.

In Texas, a specimen was collected along the coast: Calhoun County, Port O’Connor , 7-VI-2007, by Mr. B. Freeman ( TAMU) (new state record). Two additional specimens were observed , V-2009, by Freeman at the same location, but only one was collected ( DJHC) .

In South Carolina, one living specimen of O. chamaeropis was photographed by Dr. P. Hendley on 8-VII-2016, along the Stono River, Charleston, Charleston County (new state record), ( Bugguide 2018a). The beetle was resting on Dr. Hendley’s upper-level porch but was not collected. The presence of numerous transplanted S. palmetto in the neighborhood, with occasional emergence holes, is consistent with dispersal by commercial landscapers. This observation constitutes the only record of this species from the state.

Distribution. A distribution map ( Fig. 15 ) for Osmopleura chamaeropis was prepared based on records from DJHC, FSCA, TAMU, RFMC, Fattig (1947), and Bugguide (2018a).

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. 1. Agallissus lepturoides (typical pattern), female. 2. Agallissus lepturoides (melanistic form), male. 3. Osmopleura chamaeropis (typical color), female. 4. Osmopleura chamaeropis (atypical dark color), male.

FIGURE 15–16. 15, Known distribution of Osmopleura chamaeropis. 16, Known distribution of Zagymnus clerinus.