Anoplistes gobiensis (Namkhaidorzh, 1973)

Karpiński, Lech, Enkhnasan, Davaadorj, Boldgiv, Bazartseren, Kruszelnicki, Lech, Iderzorig, Badamnyambuu, Gantulga, Temerlen, Dorjsuren, Altanchimeg & Szczepański, Wojciech T., 2021, Longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of southeastern Mongolia with particular emphasis on the genus Anoplistes Audinet-Serville, 1833 (Cerambycinae: Trachyderini), Zootaxa 5081 (4), pp. 451-482 : 460-461

* Anoplistes gobiensis (Namkhaidorzh, 1973)

Fig. 6L

Literature data. Ömnögovi: Valley of Uzuur Zag [ур. УдЗур-ДЗак], 40 km ESE mt. Khanbogd [г. Хан-Богдо] [ca. 43.089, 107.693], on Efedra , 24.06.1971, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( Namhaidorzh 1974) .

Remarks. Anoplistes gobiensis is probably one of the most enigmatic Palaearctic species of longhorned beetles and one of the six species of the genus Anoplistes Audinet-Serville, 1833 that are known to occur in Mongolia. This endemic species was described from Mongolia based on three specimens: a pair (holotype and paratype) from Ömnögovi aimag and a single male paratype from Khovd aimag, and after 50 years from its description no further specimens are known, besides a single mention from the territory of China in a short faunistic paper ( Yuan et al. 2010), without any photographic documentation. The taxonomic status of this species does not seem to raise any doubts; however, exact morphological characteristics will be presented in the revision of the genus (in prep.).

According to Namhaidorzh (1973), the adults emerge in June and disappear by August. Imagines were observed on blooming bushes of Ephedra L. ( Ephedraceae ), which is most likely the host plant for the larvae. The immature stages and biology are unknown.

Although we were able to reach the area of the type locality of this species ( Fig. 9D ), we could not find any individual of A. gobiensis or decent number of individuals of its host plant. Only a few Ephedra bushes were found, which were not infested by larvae. Unfortunately, near this site, there is a huge coal mine, the functioning of which—along with the fact that the nearby areas were heavily littered, most likely by its employees—could have contributed to the degradation of this site and disappearance of Ephedra bushes, which seems likely to be common in such a habitat ( Fig. 9E ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Habitus of longhorned beetle taxa distributed in the region of SE Mongolia (genus Anoplistes). A, Anoplistes halodendri minutus (male, sand ecotype, Dornogovi aimag—steppe region); B, A. halodendri minutus (female, sand ecotype, ibid); C, A. halodendri minutus (male, sand ecotype, Dornogovi aimag—desert region); D, A. halodendri minutus (female, sand ecotype, ibid); E, A. halodendri minutus (male, sand ecotype, Bulgan aimag—sand dunes); F, A. halodendri minutus (female, sand ecotype, ibid); G, Anoplistes kaszabi (male, paratype); H, A. kaszabi (female, holotype); I, A. kaszabi (male, paratype, melanistic form); J, Anoplistes mongolicus (male); K, A. mongolicus (female); L, Anoplistes gobiensis (female). Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIGURE 9. Photographs of adults in situ and habitats of typical SE Mongolian cerambycid species. A, semi-desert near Burdene Bulag, habitat of Chlorophorus caragana; B, shrubs of Haloxylon ammodendron in habitat of Ch. caragana; C, strongly desertified land with Caragana bushes in southernmost Mongolia, habitat of Ch. caragana; D, area of type locality of Anoplistes gobiensis in southernmost Mongolia; E, stony hills with diverse bush vegetation, most likely habitat of A. gobiensis; F, small canyon at the foot of rocky slopes overgrown with Caragana shrubs, habitat of Anoplistes halodendri minutus; G, copulating pair of A. halodendri minutus (rock ecotype); H, male of A. halodendri minutus (sand ecotype) on Caragana leucophloea steam.