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Title: Morphological analysis of Mecosarthron Buquet and Xixuthrus Thomson and reevaluation of generic assignment of Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae)

Author
item SANTOS-SILVA, A. - Universidad De Sao Paulo
item Lingafelter, Steven

Submitted to: Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2012
Publication Date: 9/27/2012
Citation: Santos-Silva, A., Lingafelter, S.W. 2012. Morphological analysis of Mecosarthron Buquet and Xixuthrus Thomson and reevaluation of generic assignment of Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae). Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia. 52(27):315-332.

Interpretive Summary: Longhorned beetles are very important to agriculture and forestry due to their destruction of wood during their development. The groups dealt with in this paper are poorly known, not often collected, and their classification has been in a state of confusion. In preparation of identification manuals of the longhorned beetles of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Bolivia, we help stabilize the names in this genus by recognizing that a species from the Dominican Republic actually belongs in a widespread Asian genus. This study, which also includes keys and illustrations of many of the related and similar species, will enable scientists, forestry workers, port identifiers, and laypersons to make accurate identifications and use the proper names.

Technical Abstract: The characters defining Mecosarthron Buquet 1840 and Xixuthrus Thomson 1864 are discussed, along with a historical review of the literature that described and classified these taxa. Through morphological examination of these genera and most of the included species, we addressed the systematic placement of Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher 1932 that was placed in Mecosarthron by Ivie (1985). We restore its original combination, Xixuthrus. The first description of females of X. domingoensis is provided, along with comparative redescriptions of Mecosarthron gounellei (Lameere, 1903)), and M. buphagus Buquet (1840). We include a key to the species currently in Mecosarthron.