New data on distribution, biology, and ecology of longhorn beetles from the area of west Tajikistan (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)
Author
Kadyrov, Abdysalom Kh.
Author
Karpinski, Lech
Author
Szczepanski, Wojciech T.
Author
Taszakowski, Artur
Author
Walczak, Marcin
text
ZooKeys
2016
606
41
64
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.606.9190
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.606.9190
1313-2970-606-41
97DF23C828994B22B61332E19159DB99
Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Cerambycidae
Agapanthia (Stichodera) soror Kraatz, 1882
Figs 2A, B, 4H
Material examined.
Region of Republican Subordination, Karatag [
Karatag
] (
38°43'N
,
68°22'E
), 1108 m, 30 VI 2014, 1♀, leg. MW.
Region of Republican Subordination, Takob [
Takob
], alpine meadow, on
Ferula
sp., (
38°49'N
,
68°56'E
), 1850-1900 m, 8 VII 2014 - 9 VII 2014, 10♂♂, 2♀♀, leg. AT; 22♂♂, 16♀♀, leg. WTS; 16♂♂, 8♀♀, leg. LK; 20♂♂, 17♀♀ leg. MW.
Region of Republican Subordination, Tojikobod (
Tochikobod
), alpine meadow (
39°05'N
,
70°51'E
), 2223 m, 13 VII 2014, 2♂♂, leg. AT.
This species occurs in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan (
Danilevsky 2016
). It is common in alpine meadow at altitudes of between 1000 and 3000 m (Fig. 3G). The larvae feed on the stems and rhizomes of
Prangos
spp. The adults
feed
on host plants from May until the end of July, although they were also observed on mallows
Malva
spp. The imagines usually stay on the stems of host plants, where they copulate and supplementary feed during summer. After that, the females lay eggs in the incisions in the stems. A female usually lays only one egg on each stem. In 8 to 12 days, the larva hatches and bites into the core of the stem where it moves towards the root. The larva forms a pupal cell and overwinters in the lower part of stem or the upper part of root. Pupation occurs in the spring (
Kadyrov 2007
).
A massive mating of this species was observed in the Takob environs between 8 and 10 July. The beetles performed characteristic slow flights during the day. It is noteworthy that no more species of the genera
Agapanthia
or
Phytoecia
were caught during the entire expedition, despite the very frequent use of the sweep-netting method in appropriate habitats (e.g. alpine meadows) in various parts of the country. This species seems to occur much later or longer than the other related species.