Arhopalus syriacus (Reitter, 1895)

Subfamilia: SPONDYLIDINAE  /  Tribus: ASEMINI

Arhopalus syriacus
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]



Arhopalus syriacus is apparently distributed in the whole of the Mediterranean region. It develops in pines (Pinus pinaster, Pinus nigra salzmanni, Pinus nigra laricio, Pinus halepensis). Larvae feed first under the bark, later in the wood of dead, fallen or standing trunks of greater diameter, in stumps and often in shallow roots. Adults of this nocturnal species can be found on the host plants at night or in bark crevices and under loose bark at day.

Body length:12 - 23 mm
Life cycle:2 - 3 years
Adults in:May - August
Host plant:pines (Pinus), rarely spruce (Picea)
Distribution:Mediterranean region, Canary Islands


The depicted beetle was found in the pupal cell built in the wood of a dead Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis). The beetle was collected in Paleokastritsa village, Corfu Island (Greece).

Collected by M.Hoskovec.


Subfamilia: Spondylidinae Audinet-Serville, 1832
Tribus: Asemini Thomson, 1860
Genus: Arhopalus Audinet-Serville, 1834
Species: Arhopalus syriacus (Reitter, 1895)