Subfamilia: PRIONINAE / Tribus: MACROTOMINI
[Photo © Jean-Claude Ringenbach]
Adults of Macrotoma palmata were collected on their host Vachellia tortilis near Germa, Fezzan, in Libya by our friend Jean-Claude Ringenbach. As for the species' distribution in North Africa it has previously only been known from Algeria and Egypt. Therefore this record represents a new species for Libya. According to Jean-Claude the species seems to be quite common in convenient habitats in the Messak Plateau. Attacked host trees have also been observed in Wadi Iyadar in the Akakus range.
Body length: 25 - 60 mm Life cycle: several years Adults in: May - October Host plant: Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia nilotica Distribution: Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Libya
Collected by Jean-Claude Ringenbach
[Photo © Jean-Claude Ringenbach]
Subfamilia: Prioninae Latreille, 1802
Tribus: Macrotomini (Macrotomina) Thomson, 1861
Genus: Macrotoma Audinet-Serville, 1832
Species: Macrotoma palmata (Fabricius, 1792)