ssp. tschitscherini (Semenov, 1889)
Subfamilia: PRIONINAE / Tribus: PRIONINI
[Photo © David Navrátil, click on the picture for 4K resolution]
Pogonarthron tschitscherini tschitscherini, an endemic taxon to Kyrgyzstan, has been described as Polyarthron Tschitscherini from Kyrgyzstan (Osh environs) by Andrej P. Semenov Tian-Shanskij in 1889 [▽]. The nominative subspecies occurs in foothills at the east part of Fergana valley from central foothills of Fergana Ridge (Dzhalal-Abad environs) to the north-east part of Alay Ridge (Kara-Buura river valley, environs of Osh-city and Papan water reserve).
The species inhabits savanoid steppe areas in foothills. The biotopes could be totally lacking trees and bushes, or often with numerous Pistacea trees. Larval development in the soil, larvae probably feed on roots of available plants. Each subspecies is characterized with certain hours of male activity. Males of the nominative subspecies are mostly active at the end of the daylight in about 18:00-19:00, several specimens were observed later after sunset in the twilight. The period of female activity coincides with male activity. Females spend almost whole life inside in their holes in soil. Female ready for copulation leaves the soil through this opening and attracts males by rotate her ovipositor (sexual pheromone emission). Female hides herself inside her hole immediately after copulation. Males are able to penetrate inside female holes and copulate there, so many females are not obliged to leave the soil. [❖].
Body length: ♂♂ 13.5 - 20.5 mm / ♀♀ 14 - 35 mm Life cycle: unknown Adults in: June and July Host plant: unknown Distribution: an endemic taxon to Kyrgyzstan
The depicted mounted beetles were collected in Ozgur (Өзгүр) environs (Kara-Suu district, Osh region, Kyrgyzstan) on June 26, 2024.Collected by Petr Papoušek
[▽]
Semenov Tian-Shanskij A.P.:
Diagnoses Coleopterorum novorum ex Asia Centrali et Orientali. II.
Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae, St. Petersbourg 24 (1-2): 193-226, 1889. [download]
[❖]
Danilevsky M.L. and Shapovalov A.M.:
Pogonarthron (s. str.) tschitscherini (Semenov, 1889) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae): descriptions of females and two new subspecies.
Humanity space International Almanac 6 (5): 849-861, 2017. [download
Male genitalia of Pogonarthron tschitscherini tschitscherini (Semenov, 1889) B. lateral lobes, C. subgenital plate.
[Photo © David Navrátil]
| Subfamilia | Prioninae Latreille, 1802 |
| Tribus | Prionini Latreille, 1802 |
| Genus | Pogonarthron Semenov, 1900 |
| Subgenus | Pogonarthron Semenov, 1900 |
| Species | Pogonarthron (Pogonarthron) tschitscherini (Semenov, 1889) |
| Subspecies | Pogonarthron (Pogonarthron) tschitscherini tschitscherini (Semenov, 1889) |