Diario de fubr

Distributions based on Stamhuis 1992

• Lycus agrestis – Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus alatus – South western Zimbabwe
• Lycus ampliatus – Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cape, Natal, OFS, Transvaal
• Lycus apicalis – Mozambique
• Lycus chirindanus – Zimbabwe, Natal
• Lycus corniger – Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus distanti – Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus duvivieri – Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus elevatus – Cape, OFS, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus foliaceus – Transvaal (Kleine 1937) See Stamhuis 1992 before putting on species list
• Lycus haagi – Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus hamatus – Zimbabwe, Natal Transvaal
• Lycus humerosus – Zimbabwe, Central Cape, Eastern Cape, Natal, NE Transvaal, Transkei
• Lycus inornatus – Zimbabwe, Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus integer – Not southern Africa
• Lycus integripennis – Namibia?, Cape, OFS, N Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus intermedius – Lesotho, Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus kolbei - Transvaal
• Lycus latissimus – Mozambique, Outside of Southern Africa??
• Lycus melanurus – Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Transvaal, Natal, NE Cape, NW OFS
• Lycus palliatus – Cape, Natal, ( OFS & Transvaal not verified)
• Lycus podagricus - Zimbabwe
• Lycus poultoni – Cape, Natal
• Lycus pusillus – Zimbabwe
• Lycus rostratellus – Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Cape, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus rostratus – Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape, OFS, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus scapularis – Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus scrobicollis – Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus staudingeri – Lesotho
• Lycus subtrabeatus – Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Northern cape, OFS, Natal, Transvaal
• Lycus trabeatus – Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cape, natal, Transvaal
• Lycus zonatus – Cape, Natal, Transkei. - (semi coastal)

Interest in the southern African Cerambycid fauna has increased during the years to an extent where we have over 2200 observations representing 316 identified species. This has been achieved by observations posted by more than 210 observers. Although the bulk of the observations are attributed to 15 or so observers, many "first" observations of a species on this platform are contributions from persons that have posted 10 or less observations of Long horned Beetles. Besides the observation of different species, the growing distribution records of the species, together with flight periods is highly important to the scientific community, and any long term conservation efforts.
On the flip side, it may be interesting to note that to date, we as a community have not photographed/observed 50% of the described cerambycid species that occur in southern Africa. Further to this, more than 10 new species were described for the Southern African Region in the last two years, with a few more in the pipe line.

As a matter of interest, I stumbled over a site on the internet that explains the different insect collecting techniques, which may be of interest to others. http://longicornes.com/Hunting_longhorned_beetles.html
Note that most of these techniques can be adapted, to prevent harm to the insect.

1. Legs thickened, femora and tibiae toothed (at least one pair of legs)......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2. All legs simple............................................................................................................................................................... 7
3. Forelegs thickened and toothed (femora and tibia); middle and hind legs simple.................................... 3
4. Hind and/or mid-legs thickened and toothed; forelegs simple....................................................................... 4

5. Elytra elongated (sub-parallel) Length 8 – 10 mm .......................................................................L chirindanus

   • Elytra sides broadly, dilated (forming wings), posterior roundly dilated Length 13 – 18 mm .............................................................................................................................................................. L humerosus .
6. Hind and mid-legs thickened and toothed (fore legs simple)....................................................................... 5
7. Hind legs thickened and toothed (fore and mid legs simple), elytra with slight humeral crests; slightly roundly, dilated latero- posteriorly, with extremities pointing inwards suturally Length 12.5 – 18 mm ......................................................................................................................................................................... L podagricus
8. Elytra with dilated sides (semi-circular in form), with prominent humeral crests Length 9 – 22 mm ........................................................................................................................................................................... L rostratus
9. Elytra elongated, without prominent humeral crests ............................................................................................. 6

10. Elytra slightly broader apically, extremities rounded; distinct scutellar black markings Length 9 – 20 mm ............................................................................................................................... L rostratellus

    • Elytra with slightly rounded dilated latero-humeral margins; posterior slightly dilated, with ovally rounded extremities Length 11.5 – 16 mm ...........................................................L scapularis
11. Elytra elongated (sub-parallel), without humeral crest; elytra of males and females similar (no sexual dimorphism) .................................................................................................................................. 30
12. Elytra of males and females of different form (sexually dimorphic characteristics), with or without prominent humeral crests and dilated laterally (varying in form) ........................................... 8
13. With humeral crest ................................................................................................................................................... 9
14. Without humeral crest ............................................................................................................................................ 19
15. Humeral crest spiniform ......................................................................................................................................... 10
16. Humeral crest not spiniform .................................................................................................................................. 11
17. Extremities truncate ................................................................................................................................................ 12
18. Extremities rounded ................................................................................................................................................ 16
19. Elytra sides dilated medio – laterally .................................................................................................................. 17
20. Elytral sides dilated (sides rounded posteriorly); small humeral crests Length 9 – 15 mm .................................................................................................................................................. L intgripennis
21. Extremities curved and prominently spiniform; elytra slightly dilated laterally Length 13 – 15 mm .................................................................................................................................... L apicalis *
22. Extremities truncate to rounded ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
23. Elytral sides broadly dilated, forming “cheeks”; extremities truncate; costae prominent, texture matt (not glabrous) Length 10 – 21 mm ........................................................................ L melanurus
24. Elytral sides not to broadly dilated (no “cheeks”) ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
25. Elytral colouration and truncature of extremities very variable; humeral spiniform sides parallel Length 15 – 23 mm ............................................................................................................ L latissimus*
26. Elytra colouration relatively constant; humeral spiniform sides not parallel, slightly extended ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15
27. Elytra extremities straight to rounded Length 10 -17 mm.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... L corniger
28. Elytra extremities rounded Length 13.5 – 17 mm................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................L integer *
29. Elytra dilation more or less rounded; humeral crest small, bluntly spiniform; sutural margin straight Length 9.5 – 17 mm .................................................................................................... L intermedius
30. Elytra transversely dilated; humeral crest produced, ending in a blunt, rounded incurved spine; sutural margin bloated and overlapping medially, with posterior concave sutural margin Length 19 – 23 mm ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. L alatus
31. Elytra lateral margin with an array of long dense and conspicuous setae ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
32. Elytra lateral margin without setae ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
33. Humeral crests elongately dilated laterally; posterior 1/3 of elytra black Length 10 -16.5 mm.... L haagi - Humeral crests roundy dialated laterally; posterior ½ of elytra black, with black colouration extending medially to humeral area Length 9 – 10 mm........................................................................................................................................................................................................ L pusillus
34. Elytra with extremely long and slender spines .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20
35. Elytra without spines ..................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21
36. Elytra with long, curved latero – humeral spines extending centrally Length 10 – 15.5 mm ....................................................................................................................................................................L hamatus
37. Eltyra with long, curved sutural marginal spines Length 14.5 – 23.5 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... L kolbei.
38. Elytra with humeral calli Length 9 – 17 mm ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... L inornatus.
39. Elytra without humeral calli ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
40. Elytra with anterior sides dilated and margins upturned (trough – shaped) ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
41. Elytra with sides dilated (rounded), margins not trough – shaped ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
42. Elytra sides ovally – rounded dilated ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
43. Elytra with distinct epipleura formed (elytra extended ventrally) ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
44. Elytra roundly dilated (varying from extremely to elongated) in anterior ¾ with vary large epipleura ventrally; with “fingerprint form” black marks on elongated posterior extremities Length 18.5 – 21 mm...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... L trabeatus.
45. Elytra with black “fingerprint” apical markings; form of elytra long and slender Length 18.5 – 21 mm .............................................................................................................................................. L trabeatus.
46. Elytra not so broardly dilated (elongated), with slight ventral epipleura; transverse black apical markings (margin straight) length 13 – 20 mm ........................................... L subtrabeatus..
47. Elytra with humeral area concavely hollow; posterior elongated, extremities ovally pointed, medially Length 10 – 17 mm ................................................................................................. L distanti .
48. Elytra with humeral areas not concavely hollow; extremities pointed ventrally and ovally rounded............................................................................................................................................................. 26
49. Elytra with anterior sides extremely dilated; sutural margin straight Length 13 – 21 mm ................................................................................................................................................................ L poultoni .
50. Elytra with anterior sides slightly dialated, posterior margin of “trough” slightly extended, forming a rounded, blunt protrusion: sutural margin convexly overlapping medially Length 12 – 18 mm ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ L elevatus .
51. Elytra slightly depressed dorso-ventrally; sutral margin slightly convex, overlapping medially with posterior extremities widely apart Length 16 – 24 mm ............................................. L duvivieri.
52. Elytra not depressed dorso-ventrally; sutural margin not convex; extremities not widely separated .................................................................................................................................................................... 28
53. Elytra extremely dilated laterally (transverse rounded form) sutural margins slightly concave medially Length 15 – 23 mm ............................................................................................. L foliaceus
54. Elytra not as extremely dilated; sutural margin relatively straight .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29

55. Posterior margin of pronotum with distinct black band, extending medially; sutural margin “bloatated” medially Length 9.5 – 17 mm .............................................................................. L palliatus

    • Pronotum with black markings medially (no black band on posterior margin) Length 8 – 24 mm ...................................................................................................................................................... L ampliatus .
56. Elytra with slight humeral crest and distinct black, humero-scutellar area (anterior 1/5) Length 6.5 10 mm .................................................................................................................... ......... L zonatus.
57. Elytra without slight humeral crest; no black humeral area ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
58. Elytra slightly dilated laterally (ovally – elongated form); black posterior 1/5 of elytra Length 9 – 14 mm ........................................................................................................................... L staudingeri.*.
59. Elytra completely elongated (not dilated latterally) ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
60. Elytra very elongated with prominent costae Length 14 – 20 mm ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. L agrestis.
61. Elytra elongated; apical 1/5 black Length 11 – 18 mm .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. L scrobicollis..

Reference to male genital removed from the Stamhuis 1992 key.
Length of species added based on Stamhuis 1992 text.
Species names with * indicates that they may not occur in southern Africa
All text copied from Stamhuis 1992 no work my own!!!!!!

The basic question is. how many can really ID to Subfamily, Tribe, genus level without Pic's on the Nett.
Now I do not profess to know all taxa, but I have a general understanding of the Cerambycidae .
So lets rather, for the sake of this journal post rather keep the discussion to this family.

I note that there are 1619 Identifiers (world wide) on Cerambycidae (current count). Which implies that there are at-least the same amount of people that know the difference between the sub-families, tribes, and genera. (Genera at-least on a regional scale).
I actually wonder how many of the 1500 odd people can give the definition of the sub-families. And further how many can give the differences between the tribes (of the sub-families) or just for interest sake.... give the characteristics of the genera within one Tribe (in there own regional).
Ag, just rambling ...........

Is it a waste of time posting Identifications to species/subspecies level ???
I have got to the realization that it is, unless there is a pic correct or not on the web, or some thing between an embrio and a Expert agrees . Well, an agreement for no other reason besides getting browny points, means Zilch and is non-relevant... A seriously bad place to be. have reverted to giving genera ID,s but sure if I just agreed that it as a beetle, would get agreements (been told things are plants, insects ect --- OH great what a revelation - maybe I should learn that things with leaves are not insects and things with six legs are not plants - those imparting this fantastic information have + 3000 identifications behind their name, so they should know, amazed that this extreme knowledge, can not get past cerambycidae, come on the sub families are easy, tribes are basic... genera slightly more difficult, and exponential move to species (unless you are in the America continent - just look at pretty pictures - cinder-garden style - why even think of learning what the characteristics if a Tribe is ---------- just look at pictures (oh again we need pictures not knowledge... great) Is this what we call a Citizen Scientist (a pretty picture searcher?????????) Great science is going to move forward in leaps an bounds .......... just not sure of the direction, might need to rewrite some of the 1700 (year) books.
But their is a bright future, as-long as people that do not have a clue want to show how many ID's they have made (sic) --- damn we might even find an insect with flowers -- what a find for nature, --- should be a sensational article, even if written by an embryo.