Semanotus amethystinus ( LeConte, 1853 )

James Hammond, H. E. & Williams, Daryl J., 2013, Casey’s conundrum, a review of the genus Semanotus Mulsant (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Callidiini) in North America, Zootaxa 3670 (2), pp. 101-136 : 116-118

Semanotus amethystinus ( LeConte, 1853)

( Figs 4A , 7 A, 8, 16A; Map 1)

Physocnemum amethystimum LeConte, 1853: 234

Material examined. 131 males, 159 females.

Holotype. Female ( MCZ), examined; labelled “ S. amethystinus /(Lec.)// Type /3829 [Red label]”.

Diagnosis. This species can be separated from other species of Semanotus by the following combination of characters: head, thorax and abdomen black, elytra metallic dark blue to purple; pronotum goblet shaped, broadly round laterally, with basal stalk forming a short pedicel between pronotum and elytra; antennae short, usually ≤1/2 elytra length in both sexes; antennomeres 1, 3–5 long and narrow,> 2X as long as wide, especially in male; elytra minutely punctate, slightly rugulose near base; wing vein r3 very short; wing vein RP very short or obsolete; tibia with long, erect setae (“flying hairs”) greatly reduced in males, absent in females; basal apophysis of abdominal sternum VIII long, longer than the length of one lateral sclerite; basal apophysis of spiculum ventrale short, ~ 2X length of lateral apophysis; ventral lobe of aedeagus apically sinuate and pointed, dorsal lobe of aedeagus narrowly rounded.

Hosts. Libocedrus decurrens Torr. (incense-cedar), Thuja plicata Donn (western redcedar).

Flower and Associated Vegetation Records. Chaemaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. (Port Orford cedar), Pinus sp. (pine), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Douglas-fir).

Distribution. Primarily a west coast species, from Washington to southern California, with a few records from high elevation localities in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.

Remarks. This species seems to get transported around in lumber, as there is a record from Alaska emerging from pine 2 x2 ’s, and a record from New York emerging from cedar wood, however, there is no evidence that suggests that this species is established in these areas.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Dorsal habitus: A. S. amethystinus: California, Northfork 3; Oregon, Oakridge Ƥ; B. S. juniperi: California, Inyo Co., Westgard Pass 3; Arizona, Santa Catalina Mountains Ƥ.

FIGURE 4. A. Pronotum of female S. amethystinus, B. Pronotum of female S. ligneus, C. Mandibles and labrum of female S. litigiosus, D. Mandibles and labrum of female S. ligneus, E. Elytral pubescence of female S. litigiosus, F. Elytral pubescence of female S. a. amplus, G. Pro- and mesotibia of female S. litigiosus, H. Pro- and mesotibia of female S. terminatus.