Photographic Guide to Longhorned Beetles of Bolivia: Guía Fotográfica de Escarabajos Longicornios de Bolivia

BOLIVIAN

LONGHORNED

BEETLES

Anoploderma breueri Lameere, 2012

Anoplodermatinae: Anoplodermatini

The peculiar subfamily Anoplodermatinae includes a disparate assemblage of species, including this one. Members of this subfamily have a fully exposed fourth tarsomere, unlike most Cerambycidae. Only three species of anoplodermatines are known from Bolivia. This species (20–26 mm) is recognized by its somewhat globose appearance with a deflexed, rounded pronotum and head. Both sexes have sharp, sickle-shaped mandibles, with those of the male significantly larger. It is known from Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. In Bolivia it has been collected in southern Santa Cruz Department near Camiri and in Tarija Department near Villamontes.

Pathocerus wagneri Waterhouse, 1901

Anoplodermatinae: Mysteriini

This is another unusual member of the diverse but small subfamily Anoplodermatinae. This species (24–30 mm) is immediately recognized by the pale brown color, pectinate antennae, small, narrow head and pronotum, and long tarsi. Like other members of Anoplodermatinae, the usually hidden fourth tarsomere is fully exposed. It is the only member of the tribe Mysteriini recorded from Bolivia. It is also distributed in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. In Bolivia it is known from near Villamontes in Tarija Department and the Camiri region in Santa Cruz Department.

Cupecuara soledari (Martins & Galileo, 2001)

Disteniinae: Disteniini

Like the subfamily Lepturinae, the Disteniinae is poorly represented for Bolivia, with only 13 species known. This is a small (11–14 mm) species, formerly placed in the genus Cometes, with a distinctive yellow and black elytral pattern. The antennae have very long setae along the inner margin of the last antennomeres. Collecting localities in Bolivia include Refugio Los Volcanes, adjacent to Amboró National Park, Potrerillo del Guenda Reserve, and the grounds of the Flora and Fauna Hotel near Buena Vista in Santa Cruz Department.

Distenia chaparensis Tippmann, 1953

Disteniinae: Disteniini

This small (12–16 mm) species is very distinct with its bluish or purple elytra, dark head and pronotum, and bright yellow legs with apically black femora and basally black tibiae. It is known from Brazil and Bolivia. In Bolivia it has been collected from lower-elevation localities in Santa Cruz Department, including the grounds of the Flora and Fauna Hotel near Buena Vista and Potrerillo del Guenda Reserve.

Parandra (Parandra) thomasi (Santos-Silva, 2002)

Parandrinae: Parandrini

This is one of the largest species of Parandrinae known, with large males exceeding 35 mm. The species is very similar to Parandra glabra but can be recognized by the apex of the mandible in males (pictured here) being relatively wide and having the punctation area not distinctly bordered and gradually terminating before the apex (P. glabra has the apex of the mandible in males relatively narrow and with a distinctly bordered punctation area abruptly terminating before mandible apex). This Bolivian endemic is known from the grounds of the Flora and Fauna Hotel near Buena Vista, Potrerillo del Guenda Reserve, and Refugio Los Volcanes in Santa Cruz Department.

Parandra (Tavandra) longicollis Thomson, 1861

Parandrinae: Parandrini

This species averages around 22 mm and is recognized by having the eye margin abruptly constricted posteriorly and having the ventral carina of the gena distinct, narrow, and elevated (as opposed to a gradually arising posterior eye margin and ventral carina of gena absent or vague in other species of Parandra, including P. thomasi). It is a widespread species that occurs from Mexico through Central America and south to Argentina. In Bolivia it is known from the grounds of the Flora and Fauna Hotel near Buena Vista, Potrerillo del Guenda, and Refugio Los Volcanes in Santa Cruz Department and Villa Tunari in Cochabamba Department.

Myzomorphus amabilis (Tippmann, 1960)

Prioninae: Anacolini

This small (8–15 mm) prionine is a highly sexually dimorphic species and one of only three species of the tribe Anacolini recorded from Bolivia. The female (shown here) has fully developed elytra and short, weakly appendiculate antennae, while the male has the elytra short, exposing most of the abdomen and hind wings, and moderately appendiculate antennae nearly the length of the body. It is known only from Brazil and Bolivia. In Bolivia it has been found near Villa Tunari in Cochabamba Province.

Calocomus desmarestii (Guérin-Méneville, 1831)

Prioninae: Calocomini

This unusual prionine is somewhat variable in color. Some specimens are completely black, while others have variably sized yellow or orange maculae on the elytra, sometimes arranged into one or two separate spots before the middle and on the outer edge to the apex. Some specimens have a partially reddish pronotum. The antennae are strongly appendiculate in males, less so in females. Specimens range in size from 32 to 45 mm. This species is widely distributed in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. In Bolivia it is known from the dry Chaco region of southern Santa Cruz Department near Paraguay.

Chorenta reticulata (Dalman, 1817)

Prioninae: Callipogonini

This unusual prionine (38–44 mm) is recognized by its all-black (except yellowish protarsomeres), elongate, parallel-sided shape. The pronotum is short, without distinct lateral spines. The elytra are punctate, and each elytron possesses three distinct costae. The elytral apex is rounded to the unspined suture. This species is known from Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia. In Bolivia it has been collected in Santa Cruz Department from Refugio Los Volcanes, adjacent to Amboró National Park.

Enoplocerus armillatus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Prioninae: Callipogonini

Until recently, this species was placed in the genus Callipogon. With some specimens over 130 mm, it, along with Titanus giganteus (Linnaeus) and Macrodontia cervicornis (Linnaeus), is one of the largest beetles known from Bolivia. Aside from its robust size, it is characterized by the chestnut brown elytra, laterally spined pronotum, and acutely spined inner apex of the scape. The species is widely distributed from Panama to Amazonian South America and Trinidad and Tobago. In Bolivia it has been recorded from Beni, Pando, and Santa Cruz Departments below 1,000 m in elevation.

Orthomegas cinnamomeus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Prioninae: Callipogonini

Until recently, this species was placed in the genus Callipogon. It is highly variable in size, with large specimens exceeding 70 mm. The dorsum of the body is mostly covered in rusty, reddish-brown pubescence. The pronotum is laterally spined, along with the elytral sutural apex. This is among the most widespread New World species of Prioninae known, and it occurs from Mexico to Bolivia and on several Caribbean Islands, including Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago. In Bolivia it is known from lowland sites in Beni and Santa Cruz Departments.

Macrodontia cervicornis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Prioninae: Macrodontiini

This is the largest Macrodontia species and one of the largest of all beetles found in Bolivia, with some males exceeding 170 mm. Much of this length is due to the intimidating mandibles that may extend forward for almost half the length of the body. The body in Macrodontia is compressed, not thick as in other species of prionines. This species is found on maripa palm trees, which is one of its larval hosts. The interconnected network of pale lines and dark brown maculae on the elytra, combined with the acute spines at the apex and base of the pronotum, are very distinctive for this species. It is a widespread species found throughout Amazonian South America. In Bolivia it is known from Pando, Beni, and Santa Cruz Departments.

Macrodontia crenata (Olivier, 1795)

Prioninae: Macrodontiini

This species is smaller than its large cousin, Macrodontia cervicornis, but also has ominous, sickle-shaped mandibles, particularly in the males. Most specimens range from 60 to 70 mm, but females are shorter due to their smaller mandibles. The integument is uniformly chestnut to dark brown and lacks the interconnected maculae as in M. cervicornis. This species is widespread in South America but never common. In Bolivia it has been collected in Cochabamba, Beni, and Santa Cruz Departments.

Mallodon baiulus Erichson, 1847

Prioninae: Macrotomini

This species was formerly a subspecies of the widespread Mallodon dasystomus. It is characterized by the shape of the mandibles and the surface sculpturing of the pronotum and elytra. Most specimens range from 35 to 60 mm. Males have a very distinctly micropunctate pronotum throughout except for calli arranged in the pattern as shown in the photo. The elytra are impunctate but have some wrinkling and puncture-like depressions scattered throughout. It is known from Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, and Bolivia. In Bolivia it has been collected in Santa Cruz, Tarija, and Beni Departments.

Physopleurus exiguus Santos-Silva & Martins, 2003

Prioninae: Macrotomini

The all-black coloration, uniformly punctate elytra, pronotum, and head, and pronotal lateral margins lacking spines are all characteristic of this species. Most specimens are 35–45 mm in length. It is very similar to Physopleurus amazonicus but can be distinguished by its protibiae having spines (these are lacking in P. amazonicus). This species is recorded from Brazil and Bolivia. In Bolivia it is known from the grounds of the Flora and Fauna Hotel near Buena Vista and Potrerillo del Guenda in Santa Cruz Department.

Strongylaspis bolivianus Monné & Santos-Silva, 2003

Prioninae: Macrotomini

This prionine is robust, although not particularly large (most specimens range in length from 30 to 40 mm) as are many others in the subfamily. It is recognized by the posteriorly widened pronotum with posterolateral spines on each side, the heavily granulate, light brown elytra, and the sculptured and partially yellow-pubescent pronotum. The legs, antennae, head, and pronotum are dark brown and contrast strongly with the elytra. It is known only from Bolivia and has been collected in La Paz Department near Coroico and Santa Cruz Department from the Bella Vista road near Cuevas and Refugio Los Volcanes.

Charmallaspis pulcherrima (Perty, 1832)

Prioninae: Mallaspini

Along with Hileolaspis auratus, this is one of the most morphologically variable species of longhorned beetles known. Specimens may range from 28 to 38 mm and can be uniformly green, blue, bronze, or any number of variants with middle yellow elytral maculae and red or yellow maculae on the pronotum. Many of these color forms were erroneously described as new species and have now been synonymized. It is known from northern South America into Bolivia, where it has been collected in Santa Cruz Department from Potrerillo del Guenda Reserve.

Hileolaspis auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Prioninae: Mallaspini

This highly variable species is from 16 to 22 mm and is uniformly green, red, yellow, orange, bronze, or purple and can have many variations of yellow maculae or bands on the elytra. Some may have the legs partially black, all black, or all orange or purple. Because of all the variants, it has been redescribed as 11 new species since Linnaeus’ original description! It is known from throughout northern and central South America. From Bolivia, it has been collected in Cochabamba, La Paz, and Santa Cruz Departments.

Sarifer flavirameus Kirsch, 1870

Prioninae: Meroscelisini

This is the only member of the tribe Meroscelisini known from South America. Ranging in size from 30 to 45 mm, it is immediately recognized by the beautiful, pectinate antennae of the males. The pronotum is small and laterally spined. The elytra are weakly costate and partially covered in yellowish setae. It is recorded from Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, and Bolivia. In Bolivia it has been collected only from Refugio Los Volcanes in Santa Cruz Department.

Psalidognathus friendii friendii Gray, 1831

Prioninae: Prionini

With its large size (50–70 mm), menacing mandibles, very long legs, and metallic, heavily sculptured integument, this is one of the most striking prionines known. This species is diurnal, unlike most members of the tribe Prionini, and prefers high, wet, mountainous terrain and hence has rarely been collected in Bolivia, with the only record from north of Villa Tunari in Cochabamba Department. It is also known from Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.