Icosium tomentosum Lucas, 1854
ssp. atticum Ganglbauer, 1881

Subfamilia: CERAMBYCINAE  /  Tribus: ACHRYSONINI
Icosium tomentosum atticum
[Photo © Michal Hoskovec]

Icosium tomentosum is a circummediterranean species represented by two distinct subspecies: tomentosum Lucas, 1854 and atticum Ganglbauer, 1881. Atticum is mainly an East Mediterranean subspecies occurring in Turkey, Balcan Peninsula and reaching South France in the West. The nominotypical subspecies occurs in South-West Europe and Maghreb. Both subspecies develop in various Cupressaceae (Juniperus, Cupressus, Thuja, Callitrix, Tetraclinis, etc.). Larvae first feed under bark and later enter the wood of recently dead or moribund hosts. The adults, active from June to August, are nocturnal and frequently come to light.

Icosium tomentosum has been described from Oum Drou environs (Algeria) by Pierre Hippolyte Lucas in 1854 [❖].

Body length:8 - 16 mm
Life cycle:2 years
Adults in:June - August
Host plant:oligophagous in various Cupressaceae
Distribution:mainly East Mediterranean subspecies occurring in Turkey, Balcan Peninsula and reaching S France in the West


Depicted beetles were reared from larvae found in dying Cupressus sempervirens in Kelefa (Κελεφά) village environs (East Mani municipality, Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece) in May 30, 1998.


Collected by Michal Hoskovec


[❖]
Lucas P.H.:
Séance du 8 Février 1854. [Note au sujet d'un nouveau genre de la tribu des Cérambycins].
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 3 (2): viii-ix, 1854. [download pdf icon]



 
SubfamiliaCerambycinae Latreille, 1802
TribusAchrysonini Lacordaire, 1869
GenusIcosium Lucas, 1854
SpeciesIcosium tomentosum Lucas, 1854
SpeciesIcosium tomentosum atticum Ganglbauer, 1881