Zorion batesi Sharp

Schnitzler, Franz-Rudolf & Wang, Qiao, 2005, Revision of Zorion Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endemic genus of New Zealand, Zootaxa 1066, pp. 1-42 : 21-23

Zorion batesi Sharp

(Figs. 15, 4, 5, 6, 24)

Zorion batesi Sharp, 1875: 57 . – Sharp, 1877: 194; Waterhouse, 1876: 14; Aurivillius, 1912: 156; Blair, 1938: 265.

Diagnosis

Zorion batesi can be distinguished from other Zorion species by the combination of a glossy body surface, its small ivory elytral spot, which maybe split into two, and in its light coloured form by a distinct ringed femur as in Fig. 2 . In comparison Z. minutum has a conspicuous plain femur. The spot of Z. batesi may be wider than long but does not form a band as narrow as in Z. angustifasciatum . If the spot forms a band the band is longer than in Z. angustifasciatum . The dark coloured variations can be distinguished from Z. guttigerum by the ivory spot and from Z. taranakiensis by the size and shape of the spot. Zorion guttigerum and Z. taranakiensis in comparison to Z. batesi always have one entire large spot reaching or almost reaching the elytral margin.

Redescription

Body length: Male 3.8–6.7 mm, female 3.6–6.8 mm.

Colour: Body variable in colour. Elytral spot ivory coloured, variable in shape, always small or split into two, spot not touching elytral suture and margin, (Fig. 15). Distance between spot and suture 1.5–2 distance between spot and margin, distance between central axis of spot and elytral shoulder 0.37–0.5 elytral length. Scape and pedicel dark brown; antennal segments 3–6 whitish at base but gradually becoming dark brown towards apex; antennal segments 7–11 dark brown. Trochanter and coxa dark; base of femur whitish; femur club, tibia and tarsal segments dark brown throughout as in Fig. 1 . Abdominal segments dark brown.

Structure: Body surface glabrous, glossy. Elytral apex rounded. Female with a row of hairs on epipleural fold not reaching beyond anterior edge of spot; male without such hairs.

Ovipositor and spermatheca: Ratio of dorsal to ventral baculi being 1:1.2. Spermatheca sclerotised, widest at base, apex more sclerotised and spermathecal gland arising about 0.33 of spermathecal length from base.

Var ia t io n: Body may be dark brown, creamy golden brown, orange­brown to yellow brown throughout, and sometimes may be gradually darkening from posterior to anterior, central axis of the elytral spot may be at a forward or backward angle in relation to suture; distance between spot and suture in relation to the distance between spot and margin variable; spot may be pear­shaped, wider than long or almost small round or split into two (Fig. 15); if elytron has two ivory spots then central axis through spots may be directed forward or backward; sutural spot longer than wide or pear­shaped or small and round; marginal spot may be longer than wide or as long as wide, very small or almost disappearing and/or almost joining with sutural spot or highly reduced in size not touching or joining margin, or spot may form a band almost reaching margin. Scape may be creamy golden brown or orange­brown sometimes with darker apex; pedicel orange­brown or creamy golden brown. Trochanter, coxa or only apex of coxa may be dark brown or light brown; femora with a dark ring at beginning of club as in Fig. 2 , dark ring disguised if overall body colour dark brown as in Fig. 1 ; tarsi are creamy but may be golden brown at base, darkening towards apex. Abdominal segments may have the same colour as remainder of the body, or at least the first two abdominal segments and at the most segments 1–4 dark brown. Apex of elytra may be semi­pointed to pointed.

Biology

Specimens of this species were beaten from Crataegus , Coprosma from edge of swamp, and Hebe and Metrosideros carminea (Myrtaceae) flowers. Adults were found in cabbage tree swamp, Coriaria sarmentosa (Coriariaceae) , mahoe, Melictus ( Violaceae ), under wood in Melictus swamp, monstera, pigeon wood, Phebalium nudum (Rutaceae) , Solanum aviculare (Solanaceae) , and at night. Adults also were collected from Alectryon excelsum (Sapindaceae) , Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (Podocarpaceae) and Nothofagus truncata branch traps, Malaise traps, swept from shrubbery, wild carrot by roadside, grasses, and out of flowers from a Bon Chretien pear tree. Kuschel (1990) found specimens in large numbers on Ligustrum sinense (Oleaceae) and a female ovipositing in Eucalyptus .

Distribution

This species is distributed throughout the northern parts of New Zealand ( Fig. 24 ). One specimen has been found on Kermadec Island. In the Northland region the species’ distribution ranges from Waipoua forest through the Whangarei area to Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty. The distribution also includes Great Barrier Island, Little Barrier Island, and Cuvier Island. The southern distribution boundary includes the Waikato and Taupo region from where only one specimen each was collected.

Comments

According to the original description there were two type specimens, one in the Bates collection and the other in the Lawson collection. There is no information on the Lawson material. The Bates specimens should be in Paris in the Oberthur or Lawson collection (S. Shute, pers. comm.). I contacted the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris several times and unfortunately received no reply. This species was therefore determined on the basis of Sharp’s original description.

Material examined

Types: Could not be located 60 ɗ, 74 Ψ. KE: Kermadec Islands, Raoul Island, Fleetwood Bluff area, in building (1 Ψ AMNZ 36272); ND: Kaitaia (1 Ψ NZAC f– 240700 –6/12); Maungakaramea (2 ɗ, 1 Ψ WMNZ m– 240700 –10/12, m– 240700 –12/12, f– 240700 –11/12); Waipu (1 ɗ NZAC m– 240700 –8/12); Waipoua State Forest (6 ɗ, 3 Ψ NZAC m– 240700 –4/12, f– 290500 –1/4, f–2905002/4, m– 290500 –3/4, m– 290500 –4/4, f– 240700 –5/12); Omapere, Hunoke (1 ɗ NZAC); Whangarei, Maungakaramea (1 ɗ MONZ m– 240700 –9/12); Whangarei heads (2 Ψ NZAC f– 240700 –7/12, f– 120600 –3/6); Hen Island (1 ɗ NZAC m– 240500 –4/8); Paparoa (1 ɗ BMNH 1922–482). AK: Auckland (2 ɗ, 7 Ψ BMNH 1905.100, 1905–313, 1905. 353, 1913–117, 1922–482); Auckland, Green Bay (1 ɗ NZAC); Auckland, Swanson (1 Ψ NZAC); Auckland, Takapuna (1 Ψ AMNZ 18821, f– 010800 –6/9); Howick (1 Ψ BMNH 1922–482); Waitakere Ranges (1 ɗ BMNH 1986– 274; 1 Ψ NZAC f– 010800 –7/9); Spragg’s Bush (1 ɗ NZAC m– 240500 –3/8); Piha (1 ɗ NZAC m– 300500 –3/4); Titirangi (1 ɗ BMNH 1922–482; 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ NZAC); Parau (3 ɗ, 6 Ψ NZAC m– 300500 –2/4, f– 300500 –4/4); Huia (1 Ψ NZAC f– 010800 –9/9); Pukekohe (1 ɗ NZAC m– 010800 –8/9); Mangatawhiri (1 ɗ, 2 Ψ NZAC f– 010800 –5/9). CL: Kopu (3 ɗ, 6 Ψ NZAC m 010800 –3/9, f– 010800 –1/9); Fletchers Bay, Coromandel (1 Ψ NZAC f 120600 –6/6); Tairua (1 ɗ, 2 Ψ BMNH 93–60, 1905–313, 1922–482). Little Barrier Island. Little Barrier, 363, H. Swale, (2 ɗ, BMNH 1913–117, 1922–221; 1 Ψ MONZ f– 120600 –5/6; 2 Ψ, NZAC f– 170700 –1/1). Great Barrier Island. Okiwi, Great Barrier Island (1 Ψ NZAC f– 310500 –1/4). Cuvier Island. Cuvier Island (8 ɗ, 6 Ψ AMNZ 18835 – 18844, 18846, m– 220500 –1/4, m– 220500 –2/4, f– 220500 –3/4, f– 220500 –4/4). BP: Tui Ck, Mt Te Aroha (1 ɗ, 2 Ψ NZAC m 010800 –2/9, f– 010800 –4/9); Tokata (1 ɗ LUNZ m 240400 –3/12); Rereauira Swamp (6 ɗ, 6 Ψ LUNZ f 230500 –1/8, m– 240500 –1/8, m 240500 –2/8, f– 240700 –2/12, m 250500 –1/1; 4 ɗ, 2 ΨNZAC); Lottin Point Road, Waenga (3 Ψ NZAC); Waiaroho (1 Ψ NZAC); Papatea (1 Ψ NZAC); Hicks Bay (2 Ψ NZAC); road to Blue Lake, Rotorua (1 ɗ, 1 Ψ FRNZ); Rotorua Lake side; (2 ɗ, 3 Ψ, BMNH 1913–117). GB: Awatere River (1 Ψ, 1 ɗ NZAC); Tolaga Bay (1 ɗ NZAC). TO: Desert Road, Outere Stream (1 Ψ NZAC f– 120600 –2/6). WO: Owairaka (1 ɗ NZAC). Unknown localities: no data, (3 ɗ, 2 Ψ BMNH 93–60, 1927–409, 1913–117).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Known distribution of: Z. angustifasciatum; Z. batesi; Z. dugdalei; Z. kaikouraiensis; Z. minutum; Z. nonmaculatum; Z. taranakiensis; Z. opacum. The Z. batesi record on Kermadec Island is not shown here. (Map with permission from Ian Henderson, Massey University).

FIGURES 1 – 3. Ventral view of hind femora representing features of: 1, dark coloured femur; 2, light coloured femur with dark ring; 3, light coloured femur without ring.