Callipogon (Callomegas) sericeum ( Olivier, 1795 )

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2015, The Prioninae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of Hispaniola, with Diagnoses, Descriptions of New Species, Distribution Records, and a Key for Identification, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (3), pp. 353-388 : 355

1. Callipogon (Callomegas) sericeum ( Olivier, 1795) ( Figs. 1a, b , 13a )

Discussion. This species occurs in Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico (Monné 2015). Two specimens examined had simply “ Haiti ” as label data, so are represented on the map by a dot on the capital, Port-au-Prince. In Hispaniola, this species has been taken from March through August, with one record from Jarabacoa collected in December. Specimens are attracted to lights and fermenting fruit traps, mostly in lowlands, but are uncommon. This species is remarkable for its sexual dimorphism as well as its allometry in mandibular size in males. Some “major” males have extremely large, upcurved mandibles exceeding 20 mm in length ( Fig. 1a ). The largest males can exceed 100 mm (including mandibles). One very small male from Nisibon, only 33 mm long, was examined.

The combination of densely pubescent elytra with rounded apices with a small sutural spine, densely pubescent scutellum, spatulate prosternal process, and third antennomere longer than scape are diagnostic for this species. The holotype cannot be located in the MNHN and is believed to be lost (G. Tavakilian, personal communication). Callipogon proletarium Lameere from Puerto Rico is very similar and perhaps should be considered a synonym. Examination of photographs of the two syntypes (both females) and the original description of Lameere (1904) show no apparent differences from the characters of C. sericeum .

Hispaniolan Localities. HAITI: (no specific data, 2 specimens [ USNM]) ; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Barahona Province (Larimar Mine near Filipinas) ; Espaillat Province ( Río San Juan ) ; Hato Mayor Province (Parque Nacional Los Haitises; 3.5 km south of Sabana de la Mar ) ; La Altagracia Province (Verón, Hoyo Azul; Nisibon, Finca Papagayo; Punta Cana); La Vega Province (Jarabacoa); Monseñor Nouel Province (Bonao); Pedernales Province (Pedernales; 13 km N. Pedernales) ; Puerto Plata Province (Parque Nacional El Choco; La Cumbre; S. Pico Isabel de Terres, El Cupey Rd. ) ; Samaná Province (Las Terrenas, El Portillo; Laguna Grande) ; Santo Domingo Province (Santo Domingo, Puerto Vaca, Sierra Prieta).

Figures

Fig. 1. Dorsal habitus of Hispaniolan Prioninae. a) Callipogon sericeum, major male, b) C. sericeum, female, c) Orthomegas cinnamomeus, female, d) Strongylaspis corticarius, male, e) Xixuthrus domingoensis, male, f) X.domingoensis, female, g) Hovorodon bituberculatum, male, h) H. bituberculatum, female, i) Stenodontes exsertus, major male.

Fig. 13. Distribution maps of Hispaniolan Prioninae. a) Callipogon sericeum and Strongylaspis corticarius, b) Xixuthrus domingoensis and Hovorodon bituberculatum.