Agapanthia (Stichodera) soror Kraatz, 1882

Kadyrov, Abdysalom Kh., Karpinski, Lech, Szczepanski, Wojciech T., Taszakowski, Artur & Walczak, Marcin, 2016, New data on distribution, biology, and ecology of longhorn beetles from the area of west Tajikistan (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), ZooKeys 606, pp. 41-64 : 49-50

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Cerambycidae

Agapanthia (Stichodera) soror Kraatz, 1882 Figs 2A, B, 4H

Material examined.

Region of Republican Subordination, Karatag [ Каратаг] (38°43'N, 68°22'E), 1108 m, 30 VI 2014, 1♀, leg. MW.

Region of Republican Subordination, Takob [ Taкoб], alpine meadow, on Ferula sp., (38°49'N, 68°56'E), 1850-1900 m, 8 VII 2014 - 9 VII 2014, 10♂♂, 2♀♀, leg. AT; 22♂♂, 16♀♀, leg. WTS; 16♂♂, 8♀♀, leg. LK; 20♂♂, 17♀♀ leg. MW.

Region of Republican Subordination, Tojikobod ( Точикобод), alpine meadow (39°05'N, 70°51'E), 2223 m, 13 VII 2014, 2♂♂, leg. AT.

This species occurs in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan ( Danilevsky 2016). It is common in alpine meadow at altitudes of between 1000 and 3000 m (Fig. 3G). The larvae feed on the stems and rhizomes of Prangos spp. The adults feed on host plants from May until the end of July, although they were also observed on mallows Malva spp. The imagines usually stay on the stems of host plants, where they copulate and supplementary feed during summer. After that, the females lay eggs in the incisions in the stems. A female usually lays only one egg on each stem. In 8 to 12 days, the larva hatches and bites into the core of the stem where it moves towards the root. The larva forms a pupal cell and overwinters in the lower part of stem or the upper part of root. Pupation occurs in the spring ( Kadyrov 2007).

A massive mating of this species was observed in the Takob environs between 8 and 10 July. The beetles performed characteristic slow flights during the day. It is noteworthy that no more species of the genera Agapanthia or Phytoecia were caught during the entire expedition, despite the very frequent use of the sweep-netting method in appropriate habitats (e.g. alpine meadows) in various parts of the country. This species seems to occur much later or longer than the other related species.