ssp. kadleci Miroshnikov, 2000
Subfamilia: LEPTURINAE / Tribus: XYLOSTEINI
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]
The beetle in the picture was collected in Bolu (NE Turkey) where it develops in firs (Abies). Dead stumps of smaller diameter is the preferred larval substrate. The species is nocturnal. An interesting experiment was performed by our colleague Ladislav Karaus. In Bolu (NE Turkey) he captured a female of this species and placed it into a wire cage. The cage was placed on top of a fir tree stump and covered by fresh fir branch. During the following night he inspected the trap several times and captured about 20 males that had been attracted to it. In our opinion this experiment implies that a female-released long range sexual pheromone is involved in this species' reproduction strategy. In general we believe that Lepturinae ovipositing and developing in rotten wood use long range sexual pheromones for the larval substrate is physiologically inactive and difficult to detect. On the other hand xylophagous longhorn beetles developing in recently dead wood can rely on volatile chemicals still emitted by the recently dead trees and consequently no long range sexual attractant is necessary as the beetles meet on the larval substrate.
Body length: 12 - 16 mm Life cycle: 2 - 3 years Adults in: April - June Host plant: polyphagous in coniferous and deciduous trees Distribution: North Turkey, Caucasus
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]
Subfamilia: Lepturinae Latreille, 1802
Tribus: Xylosteini Reitter, 1913
Genus: Xylosteus Frivaldsky, 1838
Species: Xylosteus caucasicola Plavilstshikov, 1936
Subspecies: Xylosteus caucasicola kadleci Miroshnikov, 2000