Eodorcadion dorcas scabrosum Namkhaidorzh, 1972

Karpinski, Lech, Szczepanski, Wojciech T., Boldgiv, Bazartseren & Walczak, Marcin, 2018, New data on the longhorn beetles of Mongolia with particular emphasis on the genus Eodorcadion Breuning, 1947 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), ZooKeys 739, pp. 107-150 : 121

Eodorcadion dorcas scabrosum Namkhaidorzh, 1972 Figs 3D-F , 11E-H

Material examined.

Govi-Altai Aimag: 3 km E of Khukhmorit [ Хөхморьт] (47°21'N, 94°33'E), 1470 m a.s.l., 13 VIII 2015, 31♂♂, 19♀♀ (12♀♀ striped form, 7♀♀ black form), leg. MW; 29♂♂, 8♀♀ (3♀♀ striped form, 5♀♀ black form), leg. WTS; 19♂♂, 8♀♀ (4♀♀ striped form, 4♀♀ black form), leg. LK.

Remarks.

The taxon is endemic to Mongolia; all hitherto known specimens were collected in the Khukhmorit environs ( Danilevsky 2007).

All of the specimens were collected from one plot in a semi-desert habitat (Fig. 12A, B ) with very poor vegetation. The most common plant species on the plot was Iris tenuifolia (Fig. 12C ), and therefore, it can be possibly the host plant of the larvae. Moreover, we have observed the females eating the leaf blades of irises (Fig. 11F, G ) as well as apparently laying the eggs in their roots (Fig. 11F, H ). During a hot (25 °C) and sunny evening, we observed plenty of incredibly active individuals (more than two hundred), whose males (Fig. 11E ) were quickly moving on the sand. The females were mainly hiding in the tufts of irises and moved only occasionally. The population was dominated by males (ratio of approx. 3:1) and most of the observed females were copulating (Fig. 11G, H ). This was probably the climax of the appearance of this species. It is worth noting that we have never observed any of the Dorcadionini species in such a barren desert habitat.

Figures

Figure 3. Photos of longhorn beetles specimens collected during the expedition to Mongolia in 2015: A Eodorcadion consentaneum (male) B E. consentaneum (female, black form) C E. consentaneum (female, striped form) D Eodorcadion dorcas scabrosum (male) E E. dorcas scabrosum (female, black form) F E. dorcas scabrosum (female, striped form) G Eodorcadion dorcas dorcas (male) H E. dorcas dorcas (female) I Eodorcadion maurum australe (male).

Figure 11. Field photos of imagines in nature and habitats of typical Mongolian cerambycid species: A male of Eodorcadion dorcas dorcas B small enclave with high tufts of grass, the habitat of E. dorcas dorcas C tuft of needlegrass Achnatherum splendens, the possible host plant of larvae of E. dorcas dorcas D remains of a female of E. dorcas dorcas E male of Eodorcadion dorcas scabrosum F female of E. dorcas scabrosum during eating a blade of Iris tenuifolia G pair of E. dorcas scabrosum in copula on I. tenuifolia H attempt to mate while laying eggs by a female of E. dorcas scabrosum in the roots of I. tenuifolia.

Figure 12. Field photos of imagines in nature and habitats of typical Mongolian cerambycid species: A semi-desert in Khukhmorit environs, the habitat of Eodorcadion dorcas scabrosum B detailed view of the habitat of E. dorcas scabrosum C tuft of perennial Iris tenuifolia, the most likely host plant of larvae of E. dorcas scabrosum D male of Eodorcadion consentaneum E female of E. consentaneum (black form) F female of E. consentaneum (striped form) G pair of E. consentaneum in copula H periphery of a drying lake with a sandy substrate and tufts of high grass, the habitat of E. consentaneum.