Phytoecia tenuilinea, a not common Magrebian species occuring in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, has been described from Aïn Zimara environs (Algeria) by Léon Marc Herminie Fairmaire in 1877 [▽].
According to Sergi Trocoli [✮], the larval development of the species in Morocco takes place exclusively in Echium pycnanthum (Boraginaceae). The females lay eggs at the base of the stems
of the living host plant. In early May, young larvae can be found developing in the still living host. The larva first forms a circular downward gallery in the basal part of the stem, which accelerates
the natural drying and death of the host plant. In June, the larva penetrates the main root where it completes its development. The length of the larval gallery varies according to the size of the root,
but never exceeds 10 cm. As it grows, the larva gradually increases the diameter of the gallery by moving up and down, and by the end of its development the whole inside of the root is hollow. The upper
and often the lower end of the gallery is closed by a sawdust plug. Life cycle 1 year. Adults, active in April and May, can be found on the host plant [✮].
Species was included into a newly estabilihed subgenus Danilevskia by Maxim A. Lazarev in 2024 [✳].
| Body length: | 6 - 8 mm |
| Life cycle: | 1 year |
| Adults in: | April - May |
| Host plant: | Echium pycnanthum (Boraginaceae) |
| Distribution: | Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia |
The depicted mounted female beetle was collected in Guenfouda (كنفوذة) village environs (Jerada province, Oriental region, Morocco) on April 27, 1991.
Collected by G. Chavagnon
[▽]
Fairmaire L.M.H.:
Description de Coléoptères nouveaux du nord de l'Afrique.
Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques 9 (2) 163, 1877.
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[✮]
Trócoli S.:
Actualización del catálogo de Longicornios de Marruecos Actualisation du catalogue des Longicornes du Maroc (Parte IV / Partie IV : Cerambycidae : Lamiinae).
Revue de l'Association Roussillonnaise d'Entomologie (R.A.R.E.) 29 (1): 26-65, 2020.
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[✳]
Lazarev M.:
Taxonomic notes on longhorned beetles with the descriptions of several new taxa (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).
Humanity space International almanac 13 (1): 21-38, 2024.
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Villiers A.:
Coléoptères Cérambycides de l'Afrique du Nord.
Faune de l'Empire Français, ORSC Paris, 5: 152pp [page 139], 1946.
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