Recent Swedish records of varius (Muller, 1766), with notes on the bionomy and distribution (Coleoptera,. Cerambycidae)

Ole Mehl & Henning Pedersen

Mehl, 0. & H. Pedersen: Recent Swedish records of Chlorophorus varius, -with notes on the bionomy and distribution (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Ent. Meddr 63: 93-96. Copenhagen, Denmark, 1995. ISSN 0013-8851.

Two new records of the longhorn Chlorophorus varius (Miiller) are presented from Narke, Central . The species was regarded as extinct.in Sweden, the most recent record being more than 125 years old. One female was observed on a flower in June 1985. Two adults emerged in August 1993 from a dry branch of Tilia cordata collected in the vicinity of Skagarhultsmossen. A map of distribution is presented together with remarks on bionomy.

Ole Mehl, Birkildvej 18, Asp, DK-7600 Struer. Henning Pedersen, Mellemvej 15, DK-8800 Viborg.

In June 1985 one of us (H. P.) visited Status in Sweden Skagarhultsmossen in Narke and took a pic­ Palm (1959) mentions that Thomson (1866) ture of a C. varius resting on a flower (Fig 1). reported C. varius from Vastergotland (Kin­ The beetle was collected together with some nekulle) but no specimens from that locality other . This single specimen was the are preserved in any collection. In addition only one seen on that occasion. Later on, the to this information three specimens are in picture was shown to O.M. who confirmed the collection of Dr. E. Wiren; all are from the beetle to be C. varius. At present it is in Vastergotland. Palm (1959) mentions that H.P.s collection. In July 1992 O.M. visited the same area for a confirmation of the find. Despite perfect weather and plenty of flow­ ers the species was not observed. That year, the early summer period was unusually hot, and the flight period had probably been ad­ vanced, perhaps so much that the imagines had already ended their flight period. On my way back from the moor a broken Tilia cordata branch, still hanging from the tree, attracted my attention. An investigation revealed narrow larval galleries just under the bark. A piece of the branch with galleries was cut off for rearing at home. In August the following year two C. varius emerged. Both specimens are in O.M.s collection. An Fig. 1. Chlorophorus varius (Muller, 1766), Sweden, investigation of the branch showed no addi­ Niirke, Skagarhultsmossen, 23.vi.l985 (Henning tionallarvae. Pedersen phot. ).

Ent. Meddr 63, 4 1995 93 those specimens originate from a collection of Prof. J uel in U ppsala and were donated to Dr. E. Wiren. Lundberg (1978) repeats this information and reports a fourth specimen collected indoors in Simrishamn, Sk"me, but questions the origin and suggests it to be in­ troduced. Ehnstrom & Walden (1986) report the above given information and add a doubtful record from Sodermanland, with­ out giving any precise locality or date for the record. Palm (1959) as well as Ehnstrom & Walden (1986) suppose that C. varius has dis­ appeared from the Swedish fauna, but do not doubt its existence in the last century. The here presented finds prove that C. varius has survived in a xerothermic habitat in Niirke, probably in climatic conditions also present in Viistergotland and Soderman­ Fig. 1. The distribution of Chlorophorus varius (Muller, land. A thorough investigation of suitable 1766), in based on information from: Allen­ habitats is desirable to get a better picture of spach, 1973; Burakowski et al., 1990; Demelt, 1963, 1967; Heyrovsky, 1955; Horion, 1974; Kaszab, 1971; its distribution. Its vulnerability is beyond Klausnitzer, 1981; Muylaert, 1984; Sama, 1988; Villi­ any doubt, and measures should be taken to ers, 1978; Vives, 1984; Danilevsky and Nierhuis, in let­ preserve it by protecting its habitat; prob­ ters. 0 rep1;esents the old finds from Viistergotland, ably also collecting should be_prohibited. Kinnekulle. e represents the recent finds from Niirke, Skagarhultsmossen.

Bionomy some 8,000-5,000 years ago, C. varius prob­ C. varius is a very polyphagous species. It oc­ ably had a greater distribution area in curs on deciduous trees but records also ex­ Sweden than today. Its ability to survive the ist from herbaceous plants. In C. and S. Eu­ conditions under less favourable climatic rope the larvae feed in dry dead wood ofAcer, periods is probably due to its polyphagous­ Alnus, Quercus, , , Ulmus, Tilia, ness and is of course also favoured by the Castanea, Ficus, Elaeagnus and Genista among presence oflimited and scattered areas with others. Svacha & Danilevsky (1988) report favourable climatic conditions. infestation in stems and roots of Salicornia, Living at its uttermost forepost, the spe­ Achillea and Spartium. Mainly two to five cm cies is in danger of extinct.ion due to the thick sun-exposed branches are attacked. A above mentioned factors, perhaps also be­ successful larval development is dependant cause of limited genetic variation in the on a high average summer temperature population. together with limited moisture in the at­ The life-cycle lasts two to three years in C. tacked wood. These conditions seemingly Europe, which is probably also the case in do not exist in NW Europe. The relict status Sweden, despite the lower average summer in Sweden of C. varius together with other temperature. The pupal cell is excavated at Cerambycidae, e. g. Phymatodellus pusillus, the end of the larval gallery as a simple Exocentrus adspersus, and Anastetis testaceae curved chamber. The circular exit hole is must be based on the rather high average prepared so that just a thin layer of wood has summer temperature in C. Smaland and to be removed. Sometimes the exit hole is Niirke. fully made but then it is tightly filled with During the warm postglacial Tilia-period rather coarse wooden fibres.

94 Ent. Meddr 63, 4- 1995 Distribution Der er nzeppe tvivl om, at de specielt gun­ stige klimatiske forhold i Vastergotland og A very widely distributed species in the Narke tilgodeser billens krav til gennemf0- Palaearctic region. Chlorophorus varius varius relse af en succesfuld livscyklus. Den tilba­ (Muller, 1766) is known from the Iberian gevzerende stamme ma derfor anses som en Peninsula and S. in the west through reliktforekomst, der har vzeret i stand til at S. and C. Europe, the Balkan Peninsula and overleve fra den varme Linde-tid for ea. W. Anatolia to N. and W. , Trans­ 8000-5000 ar siden. Pa grund afisolation sy­ caucasia and Southwest Siberia (southern nes truslen om udryddelse at vzere overhzen­ Ural) in the east. The subspecies Chloropho­ gende og foranstaltninger. til beskyttelse af rus varius damascensis Chevrolat, 1854 is dis­ egnede ynglebiotoper b0r indga i en beva­ tributed in E. Anatolia, , , relsesstrategi for arten. Chlorophorus varius , S. and C. and Iraq. In China (Muller) er vidt udbredt i Sy~- og Mellem­ the subspecies Chlorophorus varius pieli (Pie, europa, de nordligste nyere fund herfra er 1900) is widely distributed. dog beliggende mange hundrede km fra det No finds from border areas to Sweden aktuelle fundomriide i Midtsverige. Der kan have been reported for the last years. 75-100 derfor ikke vzere tale om spredning af arten Horion (197 4) lists some old finds from Ger­ fra Syd- eller Mellemeuropa til Sverige. De many, mainly from the central and southern nzervzerende fund dokumenterer, at arten parts of the country. In 1992 a record exists stadig tilh0rer den svenske fauna. as far north as Bonn (Nierhuis, in letter). Burakowski et al. (1990) report finds from the Gdansk area (1879) which is the closest record to the above mentioned from Sweden. Recent finds are known from SE. References , the Pieniny Mts. In the rare and only known from Allenspach, V., 1973. Coleoptera, Cerambyci­ xerothermic areas, more common and more dae. - Insecta Helvetica, Catalogus 3. 216 pp. Zurich. widely distributed in . Demelt, C. von, 1963. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cerambycidenfauna Kleinasiens und 13. Bei­ Acknowledgements trag zur Biologie palaearkt. Cerambyciden, sowie Beschreibung einer neuen Oberea-art. - We are greatly indebted to Dr. M. Nierhuis, (Im Entomologische Bliitter 3: 133-151. Vorderen Grossthal 5, Albersweiler, ) Demelt, C. von, 1967. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der and Dr. M. L. Danilevsky, (Russian Academy of Cerambyciden-fauna Grichenlan:ds (Col.). - Science, A. N. Severtzov Institute of Evolution­ Entomologis'Che Zeitschrijt 6: 57-66. ary Morphology and Ecology, Moscow, Ehnstrom, B. & H. W. Walden, 1986. P. 292. In, Russia) for information on distribution in Ger­ Faunavard i skogsbruget. Del 2- Den liigere fau­ many and Russia respectively. naen. - Skogsstyrelsen, Jonkoping. Heyrovsky, L., 1955. Cerambycidae. - Fauna CSSR 5: 346 pp. Praha. Dansk sammendrag Horion, A., 1974. Faunistik der mitteleuropiiischer Den i Skandinavien yderst sjzeldne trzebuk Kiijer. Cerambycidae - Bockkiifer. Band XII. Chlorophorus varius (Muller) har hidtil kun 228 pp. Uberlingen - Bodensee. Kaszab, Z., 1971. Cerambycidae. -Fauna Hunga­ vzeret kendt i ganske fa eksemplarer fra Va­ riae 9: 283 pp. Budapest. stergotland i Sverige; fundene er fra forri~ Klausnitzer, B. & F. Sander, 1981. Die Bockkiifer arhundrede. Et enkelt eksemplar blev i 19~5 Mitteleuropas. - Die Neue Brehm-Bucherei 449: fundet i Skagarhultsmossen i Narke. I 1992 224 pp. Wittenberg Lutherstadt. yderligere to eksemplarer, som begge klzek­ Muylae;rt, A., 1984. P. 77. In, Fauna van Belgiii. kedes af en nylig udgaet lindegren. Boktoren (Cerambycidae), 147 pp. Bruxelles.

Ent. Meddr 63, 4 · 1995 95 Lundberg, S., 1978. Skalbaggarter, som inte ater­ talogo topografico e sinonimico. -Fauna D'Ita­ funnits i Sverige pa lang tid- nagra tips (Cole­ lia. 216 pp. Bologna. optera). - Entomologisk Tidskrijt 99: 121-126. Villiers, A., 1978. Faune des Coleopteres de Palm, T., 1959. Die Holz-und Rinden-Kiifer der France, Cerambycidae. - Encyclopedie Entomo­ Siid- und Mittelschwedischen Laubbiiume. - logique- 42: 611 pp. Paris. Opuscula Entomologica Supplementum XVI: 374 Vives, E., 1984. Cerambfcidos (Coleoptera) de la pp. Lund. Peninsula Iberica y de !as Islas Baleares. 137 Sama, G., 1988. Coleoptera, Cerambycidae. Ca- pp. Barcelona.

96 Ent. Meddr 63, 4- 1995