Calchaenesthes primis Özdikmen, 2013

Subfamilia: CERAMBYCINAE  /  Tribus: TRACHYDERINI

Calchaenesthes primis
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]


Calchaenesthes primis
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]
Body length:10 - 13 mm
Life cycle:2 - 3 years
Adults in:May - June
Host plant:kermes oak (Quercus coccifera)
Distribution:endemic species to Turkey


Very rare Anatolian species, described in 2013 (Hüseyin Özdikmen et al.; ❖), develops in living twigs of the kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and probably also other Quercus species. The mounted beetles were found sitting on oak leafs in Erdemli-Güzeloluk (W of Mersin, İçel prov., SW Turkey) and in Haberli (33 km SE Midyat, Mardin prov., SE Turkey). The living specimen was catched on wing in sparse kermes oak groove in the close proximity of Karadut village (Nemrut Dagi National Park, Adiyaman prov., Anatolia, SE Turkey). Species was reported also from Cyprus by Ambrus et al. in 2013 [✧].

Interestingly, the beetles tend to gather on selected living trees showing a strong preference for stunted oaks growing on poor stony grounds. This behaviour implies that a infochemical (aggregation or sex pheromone) mediated communication might be used by this species.

Collected by M.Hoskovec, M.Rejzek and P.Jelínek


[❖]
Özdikmen H., Aytar F., Cihan N., Şamlı N., Özbek H., and Kaya G.:
A synopsis of Palearctic genus Calchaenesthes Kraatz, 1863 with a new species of C. primis sp. n. from Turkey (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae).
Munis Entomology & Zoology Journal 8 (1): 148-153, 2013. [download pdf icon]


[✧]
Ambrus R., Grosser W. and Hrbek J.:
Contribution to the knowledge of longhorn beetles from Cyprus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).
Humanity space International Almanac 3 (2): 173-190, 2014. [download pdf icon]


Calchaenesthes primis
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]


Subfamilia: Cerambycinae Latreille, 1802
Tribus: Trachyderini Dupont, 1836
Genus: Calchaenesthes Kraatz, 1863
Species: Calchaenesthes primis Özdikmen, 2013