Tragidion densiventre Casey

Swift, Ian & Ray, Ann M., 2008, A review of the genus Tragidion Audinet-Serville, 1834 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Trachyderini), Zootaxa 1892, pp. 1-25 : 19-20

Tragidion densiventre Casey , new status

( Figs 3 D–E, 7E)

Tragidion densiventre Casey, 1912:322 Tragidion auripenne: Linsley, 1962:115

Material examined: 57 specimens, including the type at USNM.

Diagnosis. Linsley (1962) considered this species to be conspecific with T. auripenne . However, males of these two species are morphologically distinct. The integument of the head, legs, and scape of T. densiventre is red-brown, the elytra are tawny-tan in color with very deeply impressed elytral costae that curve slightly inward toward the suture, the basal black band of the elytra is broad and exceeds the scutellum by 2 × its length, the antennal tubercles are large and pronounced, and it is larger in size. Females of T. densivente are similar to females of T. auripenne . Tragidion densiventr e females can be distinguished by costae that curve inward toward the suture, and elytra that are red-orange (contrasted to yellow-orange in T. auripenne ).

Distribution ( Fig. 7 E). The southern portions of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, USA, and in northern Sonora and Chihuahua Mexico.

Ecology. This species is predominantly found in xeric lowland desert habitats. Adults have been reared from Prosopis glandulosa and Acacia greggii . Adults aggregate on sap of Baccharis sarothroides , as well as on the flowers of the larval host plants. The biology of the larvae is unknown. Cope (1984) reported on the larval hosts of T. auripenne , however, this material now likely represents T. densiventre .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Dorsal habitus photos of Tragidion spp. A, Tragidion coquus (female); B, T. deceptum (male); C, T. deceptum (female); D, T. densiventre (male); E, T. densiventre (female); F, T. dichromaticum (male).

FIGURE 7. Distribution map of Tragidion spp. A, Tragidion agave; B, T. gracilipes; C, T. annulatum; D, T. deceptum; E, T. densiventre; F, T. auripenne.