New data on the distribution, biology and ecology of the longhorn beetles from the area of South and East Kazakhstan (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)
Author
Karpinski, Lech
Author
Szczepanski, Wojciech T.
Author
lewa, Radoslaw
Author
Walczak, Marcin
Author
Hilszczanski, Jacek
Author
Kruszelnicki, Lech
Author
Los, Krzysztof
Author
Jaworski, Tomasz
Author
Marek Bidas,
Author
Tarwacki, Grzegorz
text
ZooKeys
2018
805
59
126
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.805.29660
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.805.29660
1313-2970-805-59
89E4F806F173432BAA15C18E53A8FAEF
Anoplistes jacobsoni Baeckmann, 1904 *
Figs 3A, B, 11
A-C
Material
examined.
Kyzylorda Region: Tartogay env. [
Tartogai
] (
44°25'N
,
66°13'E
), 135 m a.s.l., 7 VI 2017, 22♂♂, 11♀♀, leg. LK; 38♂♂, 16♀♀, leg. WTS; 20♂♂, 5♀♀, leg. MB; 40♂♂, 17♀♀, leg. MW.
Remarks.
This is an endemic Kazakh species that is only known from several localities along the lower and middle course of the Syr Darya River in the southern part of
the
country. According to
Plavilstshikov (1940)
,
A. jacobsoni
is ecologically associated with
Tamarix
and
Elaeagnus
. However,
Kostin (1974)
and
Kadyrbekov et al. (1996)
barely mentioned the larval development in
Halimodendron
. Many aspects of the species biology including the duration of its life cycle remain unknown. The adults appear from the end of May to June and can be found on host plants (
Kadyrbekov et al. 1996
).
Our own observations clearly indicate that
Plavilstshikov's
data (1940) regarding the host plants are wrong. The species was observed in large numbers in a tugay habitat with
Halimodendron
,
Tamarix
and
Elaeagnus
(Fig. 11D).
Anoplistes jacobsoni
is ecologically associated with the common salt tree
Halimodendron halodendron
(Fig. 11E) and none of the individuals were observed on blossoming tamarisks or on oleasters despite the significant share of these plants in the habitat. Additionally, no emergence holes matching this longhorn beetle were found on the two last plant species mentioned, unlike the common salt tree on which many of them were observed. Therefore, Plavilstshikov probably recorded the main woody plants that formed the tugays in the habitat on which the species was found. According to our observations and based on the distribution of certain plant species,
A. jacobsoni
seems monophagous on
Halimodendron halodendron
. The larvae and feeding galleries (Fig. 11F) of this species were found in the stems and branches 2 to 5 cm in diameter. The adult emergence holes were located at heights that ranged from approx. 10 cm to 1 m above ground level. Although they were not usually concentrated, sometimes a few of them were situated about a dozen cm from each other. The larvae initially feed on living shoots, which died afterwards. The imagines were observed during a scorching (35 °C) day from around 10:30 a.m., when the males (Fig. 11A) were already actively but rather slowly flying in the upper parts of the most impressive shrubs (Fig. 11E). Most of females (Fig. 11B) that were collected were sitting on the shady leaves of the lower branches. However, some copulating pairs (Fig. 11C) were spotted before noon as well. The highest activity of the beetles occurred around noon and although the flight of the adults began to end after that, some individuals were still found sitting on the leaves and branches. At around 1 p.m., the number of visible individuals quickly started to decrease until about 1:30 p.m. when most of the beetles were already hidden from the heat. No adults were observed again until late in the afternoon (about 4 p.m.) and as time passed, their numbers began to gradually increase. Most of the specimens were collected around 5-6 p.m. while they sitting or copulating in different parts of shrubs, mostly in exposed places but sometimes also in the shade. At that time, most of the mating couples were observed; however, despite the largest number of individuals, not many were actively flying. In the evening hours, the beetles started to hide again so the last specimens were observed before 8 p.m. This was clearly the climax of the appearance of this species despite the fact that the
Halimodendron
shrubs were already faded at that time. The males prevailed in the population (ratio of approx. 2:1). Nevertheless, freshly emerged individuals were also found.
Anoplistes jacobsoni
was observed sympatrically with
Chlorophorus elaeagni
, which visited the blossoming tamarisks exclusively.