DISTRIBUTION OF CALCHAENESTHES SPECIES (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE: CERAMBYCINAE) IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Abstract

Three of five species of Calchaenesthes Kraatz are distributed in the Mediterranean Region. Calchaenesthes oblongomaculata (Guérin-Méneville), a data deficient species on the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles, is reported from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Cyprus, Jordan and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In Turkey, it occurs only in İstanbul province. Known host plants include the species of oak (Fagaceae: Quercus) and blossoming hawthorn (Rosaceae: Crataegus). Calchaenesthes sexmaculata (Reiche), an endangered species on the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles, is reported from Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in the Western Mediterranean Region. Known host plants include the species of oak (Fagaceae: Quercus). In addition, Calchaenesthes primis Özdikmen (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) has not been classified on the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles yet, is reported from Cyprus and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In Cyprus, it exists in Paphos and Larnaca Districts. In Turkey, it occurs in Adıyaman, Amasya, Burdur, Gaziantep, Hatay, İçel, Mardin, Niğde and Siirt provinces. Known host plants include kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.), probably also other Quercus species (Fagaceae)

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DISTRIBUTION OF CALCHAENESTHES SPECIES
(COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE: CERAMBYCINAE)
IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN ASIA
Hüseyin Özdikmen* and Naciye Cihan Tüzün*
* Gazi University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 06500 Ankara, TURKEY. E-
mail: ozdikmen@gazi.edu.tr
[Özdikmen, H. & Cihan Tüzün, N. 2018. Distribution of Calchaenesthes species
(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) in the South-Western Asia. Munis Entomology
& Zoology, 13 (1): 157-163]
ABSTRACT: Two of five species of Calchaenesthes Kraatz (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae:
Cerambycinae) are distributed in the South-Western Asia. Calchaenesthes pistacivora
Holzschuh, an endangered species, is reported only from Iran in the South-Western Asia.
Known host plants include the species of pistachio (Anacardiaceae: Pistacia), e.g. Pistacia
vera, Pistacia atlantica mutica and Pistacia khinjuk. Calchaenesthes diversicollis
Holzschuh, an endangered species, is reported from Iran, ?Iraq and ?Turkey in the South-
Western Asia. In Turkey, if present, it probably occurs only in South-Eastern Anatolia.
Known host plants include Brant’s oak or Persian oak (Quercus brantii), and probably also
other Quercus species (Fagaceae).
KEY WORDS: Calchaenesthes, longhorned beetles, distribution, host plants
The family of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) is one of the most speciose and
well-known group of beetles with approximately 35,000 described species
(Švácha & Lawrence, 2014). More than 600 species and 700 species occur in
Europe and Turkey respectively.
The Western Palaearctic genus Calchaenesthes Kraatz (Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) includes only five species as C. diversicollis
Holzschuh, 1977, C. oblongomaculata (Guérin-Méneville, 1844), C. primis
Özdikmen, 2013, C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003, C. sexmaculata (Reiche, 1861)
(Özdikmen et al., 2013; Danilevsky, 2017). C. oblongomaculata, C. primis and C.
sexmaculata are distributed in the Mediterranean Region (C. oblongomaculata
and C. primis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and C. sexmaculata in the
Western Mediterranean Region), and C. diversicollis Holzschuh, 1977 and C.
pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003 are distributed in the South-Western Asia.
South-Western Asia or Western Asia is the westernmost subregion of Asia
(Figs. 1 and 2). It significantly overlaps with the Middle East (or Near East), the
main difference being the exclusion of Egypt. As a geographic concept, it includes
Anatolia, Iran, Armenian Highlands, South Caucasus, the Levant, Mesopotamia,
the Arabian peninsula and the Sinai Peninsula.
South-Western Asia is located directly south of Eastern Europe. To the north,
the region is delimited from Europe by the Caucasus Mountains, to the southwest,
it is delimited from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez, while to the east, the region
adjoins Central Asia and South Asia. The Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts in
eastern Iran naturally delimit the region somewhat from Asia itself. In addition,
the region is surrounded by seven major seas as the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea,
the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the
Mediterranean Sea.
The countries and territories of Western Asia can be listed below:

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158
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey (Anatolia),
United Arab Emirates and Yemen (Figs. 1 and 2).
Calchaenesthes oblongomaculata (Guérin-Méneville) and C. sexmaculata
(Reiche) are classified as ‘‘Data Deficient’’ and “Endangered” on the European
Red List of Saproxylic Beetles respectively (Nieto & Alexander, 2010). C. primis
was described by Özdikmen (2013 in Özdikmen et al., 2013) from İçel province of
Turkey. This species, therefore, has not been classified on the European Red List
of Saproxylic Beetles (Nieto & Alexander, 2010).
C. diversicollis Holzschuh, 1977 and C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003 are
among the saproxylic beetles in the South-Western Asia. Unfortunately, threat
categories of C. diversicollis Holzschuh, 1977 and C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003
has not been determined up to now. Information on these species is critical to
efforts to protect these species from extinction in the South-Western Asia. Thus,
the primary objective of this paper is to propose for acceptation of C. diversicollis
Holzschuh, 1977 and C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003 as threatened long-horned
species in the South-Western Asia and is to define the known distribution of these
insects along with information on their ecological habits and host plants. In
addition, a bibliography of previous studies related to these species is included.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The material of this work is a comprehensive review of the scientific literature
that was conducted to delineate the known distribution of Calchaenesthes species
in the South-Western Asia. Host plants and ecological habits were recorded when
available. Additional surveys for these insects were conducted by many
researchers and are reported herein. We included information and data that are
important in assessing the level of threat to the species. These protocols included
geographic range, population data, and habitat preferences (Nieto & Alexander,
2010; International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2012). Information and
data of these species are presented under the title Taxonomic history, Reported
occurrence in the South-Western Asia, Host plants, Life cycle and biology and
Status and conservation of threatened species. Moreover, a distribution map of
Calchaenesthes species in the South-Western Asia is also given (Figs. 1 and 2).
Reported global occurrences of Calchaenesthes species with bibliographic
citations are also provided (Tables 1 and 2).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Taxonomic history. The cerambycid genus Calchaenesthes was erected by
Kraatz (1863) with the type species Callidium oblongomaculatum Guérin-
Méneville, 1844. Callidium nogelii Frivaldszky, 1845, Calchaenesthes
oblongomaculatus var. subjunctus Pic, 1945 and Calchaenesthes
oblongomaculata var. quadrimaculata Pic, 1912 are known synonyms of the type
species. Calchaenesthes oblongomaculata (Guérin-Méneville, 1844) is distributed
in Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Greece and Romania), European Turkey, ?Jordan
and ?Cyprus.
The other senior species, Calchaenesthes sexmaculata was described by
Reiche (1861) from Algeria (Kabylia) as Anoplistes oblongomaculatum var.
sexmaculatum. This species occurs also in Europe (Spain) and North Africa
(Morocco and Tunisia). Calchaenesthes 6-maculatus var. junctus Pic, 1922 and

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Purpuricenus (Calchaenesthes) sexmaculatus var. parvimaculatus Rungs, 1947
are known synonyms of the species.
Calchaenesthes diversicollis was described by Holzschuh (1977) from Iran
(Luristan) as a subspecies of Calchaenesthes oblongomaculatus. It was upgraded
by Holzschuh (2003) to the species level. This species is also distributed in Iraq
and Turkey (Löbl & Smetana 2010 and Danilevsky 2017). G. Sama is the real
author for the genus in Löbl & Smetana (2010). According to the catalogue, the
species is distributed in Iran, Iraq and Turkey. However, it has not been any
published record from Iraq in real. So the record of Iraq based on the unpublished
data of G. Sama. In addition to this, the records of Turkey should be belong to
new species C. primis Özdikmen, 2013. Consequently, the species is not known
from Turkey. Moreover, the record of Iraq need to be confirmed.
Calchaenesthes pistacivora was described by Holzschuh (2003) from Iran
(Kerman). This species is endemic to Iran.
Calchaenesthes primis was described by Özdikmen (2013 in Özdikmen et al.
2013) from Turkey (İçel). This species occurs also in Cyprus.
Consequently, the Western Palaearctic genus Calchaenesthes Kraatz, 1863 is
included 5 species.
An identification key for adults of Calchaenesthes species.
1. Pronotum without any medio-lateral extension; postmedian spots on elytra large and
oblong; Eastern Mediterranean species...……..C. oblongomaculata (Guérin-Méneville, 1844)
--- Pronotum with more or less distinct, medio-lateral dental extensions; postmedian spots
on elytra small………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………2
2. Elytra with six black spots at least in males; Western Mediterranean species…………………
…………………..…………………………………………………...…….………..C. sexmaculata (Reiche, 1861)
--- Elytra with four black spots in both sexes……………………………..……...……………………………3
3. Pronotum almost completely black (except reddish anterior angles); Iranian species……….
…………………………….………………………….…………………………....C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003
--- Pronotum with reddish edges at least in anterior half………..…………………………………....…4
4. Basal black spots on elytra always reaching the suture; Western Asiatic species……………….
……………………………..…………………………………………………..…..C. diversicollis Holzschuh, 1977
--- Basal black spots on elytra never reaching the suture; Eastern Mediterranean species…….
……………………………….……………………….…………………………..………..C. primis Özdikmen, 2013
Reported occurrence in Turkey. Only Calchaenesthes diversicollis was
reported by Löbl & Smetana (2010) and Danilevsky (2017) from Turkey. As
mentioned above, the Turkish records of these catalogues should be belong to C.
primis Özdikmen, 2013 (Özdikmen et al., 2013). So this species is not known from
Turkey.
Reported occurrence outside Turkey. Calchaenesthes diversicollis is
recorded from Iran and ?Iraq. The Turkish records of this species should be
belong to C. primis Özdikmen, 2013 (Özdikmen et al., 2013). Citations of
confirmed occurrence of C. diversicollis are listed in Table 1, and the recorded
distribution is shown in Fig. 1.
Calchaenesthes pistacivora is recorded only from SE Iran. This species is
endemic to Iran. Citations of confirmed occurrence of Calchaenesthes pistacivora
are listed in Table 2, and the recorded distribution is shown in Fig. 2.
Host plants. Calchaenesthes diversicollis is apparently polyphagous in
deciduous trees in the plant families Fagaceae (Quercus spp. including Quercus

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brantii). Known host plants for Calchaenesthes pistacivora include the species of
pistachio (Anacardiaceae: Pistacia), e.g. Pistacia vera, Pistacia atlantica mutica
and Pistacia khinjuk (Hashemi-Rad, 2006; Achterberg & Mehrnejad, 2011).
Life cycle and biology. Adults and larvae of Calchaenesthes diversicollis
can be collected only from the host plants growing in lowland and foothill habitats
up to 2,000 m above sea level. Adults can usually be found sitting on the leaves or
flying around of their host, especially from April to June. Duration of the life cycle
is probably at least 2-3 years. Eggs are probably laid on living twigs. Larvae
probably develop in living twigs of the host plant. Pupation probably takes place
in the autumn and adults overwinter in the pupal cells (Awal, 1997; Hashemi-Rad
et al., 2000; Ambrus & Grosser, 2013).
Adult beetles of Calchaenesthes pistacivora appear in the early April and feed
upon pistachio leaves. Eggs are ovoid, 1 mm diameter and two mm length. The
female usually laid eggs on the young twigs or on the pruned branches sites. She
laid 40- 45 eggs in her life span. The incubation period for eggs lasts two weeks
(approximately) in the natural condition. New hatched larvae penetrate inside the
branches and make a tunnel there. The tunnel length is about 15 cm
(approximately). Larval period takes 16 to 18 months (in the natural condition)
and full-developed larvae pupated in the base of tunnels. Pupa period takes 45
days (approximately). Adults remain five to six months inside the tunnels. Then
they emerge at early April. Thus, this insect has one generation over two years.
(Hashemi-Rad, 2006; Ahterberg & Mehrnejad, 2011).
Status and conservation of threatened species. These members of
Calchaenesthes are more or less rare species.
C. diversicollis Holzschuh, 1977 and C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003 are
among the saproxylic beetles in the South-Western Asia. Unfortunately, threat
categories of C. diversicollis Holzschuh, 1977 and C. pistacivora Holzschuh, 2003
has not been determined up to now. Information on these species is critical to
efforts to protect these species from extinction in the South-Western Asia. We
included information and data that are important in assessing the level of threat
to these species. These protocols included geographic range, population data, and
habitat preferences (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2012).
Subsequently, we propose that C. diversicollis should be classified in the category
of “Vulnerable” on the South-Western Asian Red List. Similarly, we propose that
C. pistacivora should be classified in the category of “Endangered” on the South-
Western Asian Red List.
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Figure 1. Distribution of Calchaenesthes diversicollis in South-Western Asia.

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Table 1. Reported global occurrence of Calchaenesthes diversicollis, with bibliographic
citations.
Country
Regional Unit
Locality
Citations
Iran
Ilam
Hashemi-Rad et al., 2000;
Borumand, 2004; Özdikmen et
al., 2013
Iran
Kermanshah
Ham
Abai, 1969; Awal, 1997;
Özdikmen et al., 2013
Iran
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer
Ahmad
Sisakht env.
Ambrus & Grosser, 2013
Iran
Kordestan
Holzschuh, 2003
Iran
Lorestan
Dorud
Sama, 2012; Özdikmen et al.,
2013
Iran
Lorestan
Khorramabad
Holzschuh, 1977; Abaii, 2004;
Özdikmen et al., 2013
Iran
Özdikmen et al., 2013; Ambrus
& Grosser, 2013; Danilevsky,
2017
?Iraq
Holzschuh, 2003; Löbl &
Smetana, 2010; Özdikmen et
al., 2013; Ambrus & Grosser,
2013; Danilevsky, 2017
?Turkey
Holzschuh, 2003; Löbl &
Smetana, 2010; Ambrus &
Grosser, 2013; Özdikmen,
2014; Danilevsky, 2017
Figure 2. Distribution of Calchaenesthes pistacivora in South-Western Asia.

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Table 2. Reported global occurrence of Calchaenesthes pistacivora, with bibliographic
citations.
Country
Regional Unit
Locality
Citations
Iran
Kerman
Sirjan
Hashemi-Rad et al., 2000;
Holzschuh, 2003; Abai, 2004;
Borumand, 2004; Hashemi-Rad,
2006; Achterberg & Mehrnejad,
2011; Özdikmen et al., 2013
Iran
Löbl & Smetana, 2010;
Danilevsky, 2017