Nemophas ramosi SCHULTZE 1920, new status

My thanks to Francesco Vitali who sent me his paper co-authored with Vitali Nagirnyi entitled Nemophas ramosi SCHULTZE, 1920 A Forgotten Philippine Species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) which tackles the long overdue status revision of this species which has been, according to the authors, erroneously synonymized and treated by Breuning. This paper, published by Lambillionea, corrects this and gives a new key to the genus.

Initially described by W. Schultze of the Bureau of Science in Manila as N. rosenbergii ramosi in 1920 as published in the Philippine Journal of Science entitled Eight Contribution to the Coleoptera Fauna of the Philippines, the two authors find enough unique physical markings to separate it from N. rosenbergii RITSEMA 1881 which is found in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The paper lists 16 species of which three occur in the Philippines:

• Nemophas ramosi SCHULTZE 1920 (Mindanao)
• Nemophas subterrubens SCHULTZE 1924, and (Samar)
• Nemophas subcylindricus AURIVILLIUS 1927 (Mindanao and Luzon)

Curiously, the genus is found only on three inter related faunal regions in the country: Luzon, Samar/Leyte subregion and Mindanao.

Undescribed Pachyrrhynchus sp. from Bukidnon, model

Undescribed Metapocyrtus sp. from Bukidnon, mimic

In the hinterlands of Bukidnon province, island of Mindanao, at the lower elevations of the Kitanglad Mountain Range is an undescribed Pachyrrhynchus sp. with its Metapocyrtus sp. mimic that is also new to Science but undescribed. The similarities are startling and both are found in the same small area feeding on the same plants. However, the former is a little bit larger than the model.

Last month, I added around 14 new images of beetles here in salagubang.net. Click on the images below to go to the individual image or pages.

Acalolepta sp., male

Acalolepta sp., female

Ziglipton sanchezi SCHULTZE 1920, male

Pothyne sp.

Blepephaeus sp.

Pachyrrhynchus taylori metallescens SCHULTZE 1923

Pachyrrhynchus sanchezi HELLER 1912

Pachyrrhynchus sp., female

Pachyrrhynchus sp., male

Metapocyrtus sp., female

Metapocyrtus sp., male

Xenocerus sp., male

Chrysodema sp.

Carabidae sp.

There are some interesting species in this batch of images. The two Pachyrrhynchus sp., shown here as male and female and the Metapocyrtus sp., also male and female, occurs in the same locality and shrubs where these were collected. Because of the striking resemblance, it is safe to say that the latter is a mimic of the former.

Pachyrrhynchus erichsonni eschscholtzi WATERHOUSE 1841

Doliops curculionides WATERHOUSE 1841

The resemblance is uncanny. From the almost similar size to the markings, it can be confused to be a curculionid.

Unidentified Doliops sp. from Mindanao

Possible Pachyrrhynchus sulphureomaculatus

There is one unidentified Doliops sp. in my collection wherein if we go by the elytral patterns, can be mistaken to mimic Pachyrrhynchus erichsonni WATERHOUSE 1841. However, upon a more detailed inspection, the size is just bigger, it is jet black with yellow-green markings that I am more inclined to say that this mimics a Pachyrrhynchus species under the venustus group which also occur in the same area in Mindanao.

While the elytral patterns are not as faithful to the species I have in mind, the color, however, is closer to a species that I suspect to be Pachyrrhynchus sulphureomaculatus.

Stream inside the Tabunan Forest

Tabunan forest stands

I’ve long since wanted to do some field collecting in the remaining stands of forests in my home province, Cebu, and when that opportunity came last Monday, I grabbed a chance to accompany a friend in the hinterlands of Cebu City, specifically, in Tabunan. This is one of the last and smallest forests in the province (or whatever’s left of it) and I wasn’t really prepared for what came before me.

It was rather disappointing. Of the beetle species that I got, majority are the small Metapocyrtus and related Curculionid species, an Onthophagus sp. as well as three specimens of tiger beetles: Tricondyla sp. (species punctipennis and a smaller one). Even Thopeutica and Therates sp. were no shows even if my companion was able to collect several from a previous trip.

I’m not sure but it could have been due to the unfavorable month, December, wherein less insects are found. On the other hand, I was quite sad with the state of this forest. It’s so disturbed and much has been logged over or parceled into farmlands. Settlers have encroached. There were already many areas that have been made into vegetable farms.

On the bright side, I was able to collect three species of Metapocyrtus which should be studied as Schultze, in his monograph of the Pachyrrhynchini never mentioned a species from this island.

Pachyrrhynchus gemmatus WATERHOUSE 1841

Undescribed Doliops sp.

In North Luzon, especially at the end of the Cordillera Mountains, Pachyrrhynchus gemmatus WATERHOUSE 1841 can be collected. It’s beautiful purple sheen and yellow green spots are quite eye catching. In this area, the species has also its own Doliops mimic which I’m sure is still unidentified.

Pachyrrhynchus speciosus samarensis - model species

Undescribed Doliops species - mimic (female)

Undescribed Doliops species - model (male)

The genus Doliops (family Cerambycidae) is known not only for its uniqueness but also for its mimetic relationship with genus Pachyrrhynchus (family Curculionidae).

Pachyrrhynchus speciosus samarensis is present in the islands of Samar, probably Leyte as well as in Mindanao where it is a new record for the species. It is sympatric with P. speciosus prompting me to raise my doubts in a previous post. Like it’s primary species, it has also it’s own Doliops species mimic that is still undescribed.

Pachyrrhynchus amabilis SCHULTZE 1922 - female

Pachyrrhynchus amabilis SCHULTZE 1922 - female

Its a rather common species that is sympatric with Pachyrrhynchus chamissoi SCHULTZE 1922, a smaller version with the elytral markings pinkish in color. Like many other Pachyrrhynchus species, it has two mimics: Doliops edithae VIVES 2009 and Paradoliops cabigasi VIVES 2009

Doliops edithae VIVES 2009 - female

Doliops edithae VIVES 2009 - male

Paradoliops cabigasi VIVES 2009

Paradoliops cabigasi VIVES 2009 is quite rare and this, probably, is the second species of the genus to be described. What strikes me is that it’s also a mimic of P. amabilis which is rather unusual. The author, wrote in his description that this is a mimic of P. chamissoi but because of its rather big size, I would disagree. This species was named after me.