Coptomma variegatum
| Coptomma variegatum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Cerambycidae |
| Genus: | Coptomma |
| Species: | C. variegatum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Coptomma variegatum (Fabricius, 1775)
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| Synonyms | |
| |
Coptomma variegatum, also known by the names variegated longhorn and tawa longhorn,[1] is a species of longhorn beetle that is endemic to New Zealand.
Taxonomy
[edit]The species was one of the first 40 New Zealand insect species to be described, and was collected by naturalists as a part of the Second voyage of James Cook.[2] Upon return to the United Kingdom, the species was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1755, who used the name Callidium variegatum.[3] In 1840, British entomologist Edward Newman created the genus Coptomma, describing Coptomma virgatum as the type species for the genus.[4] In 1843, German entomologist Ernst Dieffenbach synonymised Callidium variegatum and Coptomma virgatum, leading to the modern scientific name Coptomma variegatum.[5]
The holotype of the species was deposited in John George Children's collection of beetles in London, but has since been lost.[5] The two original descriptions by Fabricius and Newman identified the species as being a native of Australia, which was incorrect.[5]
Description
[edit]The species can grow up to 22 mm (0.87 in) in length.[1] Coptomma variegatum is visually similar to the genus Navomorpha, but can be identified by the pronotum of Coptomma variegatum being wider than it is long, the angle of the head between the frons and vertex being greater than 100°, and the absence of an overhanging mesosternal process in Coptomma variegatum.[6]
Habitat and distribution
[edit]This species is primarily found in forested areas of New Zealand in both the North Island and South Island.[5] The larvae are typically found in dead trees.[1] Known host species of the beetle include Beilschmiedia tawa, Sophora microphylla and Sophora tetraptera, as well as introduced species, including Acacia dealbata, Acacia decurrens, Acacia mearnsii, Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut) and Paraserianthes lophantha.[6][7]
Adults of the species are typically found flying between November and April in New Zealand.[5]
Gallery
[edit]-
Specimen image of Coptomma variegatum -
Illustration of Coptomma variegatum from the Iconographia Zoologica -
Coptomma variegatum seen in the Far North District -
Side view of Coptomma variegatum -
Coptomma variegatum perched on a hand -
Two Coptomma variegatum on a tree trunk on Waiheke Island
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c "Variegated Longhorn Coptomma variegatum (Fabricius)". Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ Andrews, J. R. H.; Gibbs, G. W. (1989). "The First New Zealand Insects Collected on Cook's Endeavour Voyage" (PDF). Pacific Science. 43 (1): 102–114. hdl:10125/1205. ISSN 0030-8870. Wikidata Q100380271.
- ^ Fabricius, J. C. (1775), Systema Entomologiae, sistens Insectorum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adiectis Synonymis, Locis, Descriptionibus, Observationibus (in Latin), Flensburg, Leipzig, p. 832, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.36510, Wikidata Q112292180
- ^ Newman, Edward (1 March 1840). "IV.—Nonnullorum Cerambycitum novorum, Novam Hollandiam et Insulam Van Diemen habitantium characteres". Annals and Magazine of Natural History (in English and Latin). 5 (28): 14–21. doi:10.1080/00222934009496747. ISSN 0374-5481. Wikidata Q99848956.
- ^ a b c d e Song, Deping; Wang, Qiao (2003). "Systematics of the longicorn beetle genus Coptomma Newman (Coleoptera : Cerambycidae : Cerambycinae)". Invertebrate Systematics. 17 (3): 429. doi:10.1071/IT01023. ISSN 1445-5226. Wikidata Q54576160.
- ^ a b Sopow, Stephanie L.; Bain, John (14 September 2017). "A checklist of New Zealand Cerambycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), excluding Lamiinae" (PDF). New Zealand Entomologist. 40 (2): 55–71. doi:10.1080/00779962.2017.1357423. ISSN 0077-9962. Wikidata Q56166058.
- ^ Knowles, Barbara; Beveridge, A. E. (January 1982). "Biological flora of New Zealand 9.Beilschmiedia tawa(A. Cunn.) Benth. et Hook. F. ex Kirk (Lauraceae) Tawa". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 20 (1): 37–54. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1982.10426403. ISSN 0028-825X. Wikidata Q56484448.