Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher, 1932

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 : 355-357

4. Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher, 1932 ( Figs. 1e, f , 11a , 13b )

Discussion. Until 2005, only three specimens of this endemic Hispaniolan species were known (Lingafelter and Woodley 2007). That year, a remarkable 13 specimens were collected at lights in June and July at the Punta Cana Resort and Ecological Reserve. Nearly all specimens were collected near dry forests in coastal areas. These records, along with the first historical records, were discussed in Lingafelter and Woodley (2007) but are summarized here, along with additional records discovered since that publication.

This is the largest, heaviest bodied cerambycid in the Caribbean Islands, with some specimens known to exceed 85 mm in length (excluding mandibles). It is easily recognized by the densely pubescent elytra, sparsely pubescent scutellum, spatulate prosternal process, spinose lateral margins of the pronotum, and short third antennomere that is shorter than the scape. When this species was originally described, it was placed in the genus Xixuthrus Thomson, 1864 which is otherwise known from Malaysia, Indonesia, northeastern Australia, New Guinea, and eastern Pacific Islands. Ivie (1985) examined the holotype and concluded that it should be placed in Mecosarthron Buquet, 1840 , a small genus of prionines known only from Brazil. Santos-Silva and Lingafelter (2012) made a full morphological comparison of Mecosarthron and Xixuthrus and formally restored X. domingoensis to its original combination.

Hispaniolan Localities. D O M I N I C A N REPUBLIC: Espaillat Province ( Río San Juan, 17°37′17″N, 70°7′45″W, July 23, 2008, at light on beach, Julien Touroult) ; La Altagracia Province (Punta Cana, near Ecological Reserve; Playa Bavaro [ Alain Audureau Collection ]); San Pedro de Macorís Province (San Pedro de Macorís); Santiago Province (Santiago [ USNM holotype], Hato del Yaque [ Natural History Museum of Milano ]) ; Valverde Province ( Esperanza , 19°35′N, 56°88′W, 31 March 2005, L. Helms) .

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. 11. Living Hispaniolan Prioninae (photographs by Rick Stanley). a) Xixuthrus domingoensis, male, b) Hovorodon bituberculatum, female, c) Elateropsis femoratus, male, d) Solenoptera dominicensis, male.

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