J o u r. T r o p. C o l e o p. 2 ( 1 ), 21 - 25 J O U R N A L O F T R O P I C A L C O L E O P T E R O L O G Y ISSN online 2718-9740 ; print 2719-1486 New distribution record of Scapexocentrus philipinus (Vives, 2020) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Acanthocinini) in Mindanao Island, Philippines 1Leslae Kay Cataytay Mantilla, 2Milton Norman Medina, 3Analyn Cabras, 4Eduard Vives 1,2,3 Coleoptera Research Center, Institute of Biodiversity and Technology, Research and Publication Center, Davao City, 8000, Philippines. 4 Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona (Entomology), Passeig Picasso s/ n. 08003 Barcelona, Spain. Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract New distribution record of Scapexocentrus philipinus (Vives, 2020) with remarks of the female specimen previously not recorded in the original description is presented. Keywords: Beetle, biodiversity, distribution, longhorn, woodborer. Introduction The genus Scapexocentrus, Breuning, 1965 was established by Breuning in 1965 under subfamily Lamiinae, tribe Acanthocinini Blanchard, 1845 with the type species Scapexocentrus spiniscapus Breuning, 1965. This genus is distinct with the following characters, antennal tubercles far from each other and barely protruding, scapus presenting a spine in the apical part, pronotum presenting stronger curvature on each side, a posteriorly oriented, lateral spine, eyes coarsely faceted and slightly protruding, elytron rounded at the apex, femora strongly dilated at the middle, and divaricate claws (Breuning, 1965; Vives, 2020). Currently, this oriental genus includes two species Scapexocentrus spiniscapus Breuning, 1965, and Scapexocentrus philipinus Vives, 2020. Recent scientific expeditions led by the University of Mindanao Coleoptera Research Center (UMCRC) allowed the collection of three specimens of S. philipinus. These specimens are of primary importance being the first records of the taxon on the island. Materials and methods A field survey was conducted in Mt. Talomo [7° 02' 06.6"N, 125° 19' 43.7"E] and Catigan, Toril [7° 00' 17.1"N, 125° 24' 41.4"E] in April 2019. Opportunistic sampling was performed in all possible Cerambycidae habitats using insect nets, and handpicking, during the daytime, and light trapping during nighttime. The collected specimens were killed using ethyl acetate and stored temporarily in 75% alcohol. Materials were dried, mounted, and are now at the UMCRC. Species identification was verified and confirmed by Eduard Vives. The specimens were photographed using Canon EOS 6D camera, stacked, and later edited through licensed Adobe Photoshop 2021 v.22.0.1.73. Additional image included in this paper was obtained from Old World Cerambycidae Catalog website (http://bezbycids.com), managed by Larry G. Bezark. 21 Received : 16 Apr. 2021 ; Accepted : 15 May, 2021 ; Published : 28 June 2021 J o u r. T r o p. C o l e o p. 2 ( 1 ), 21 - 25 J O U R N A L O F T R O P I C A L C O L E O P T E R O L O G Y ISSN online 2718-9740 ; print 2719-1486 Acronyms used: UMCRC - University of Mindanao Coleoptera Research Center, Davao City, Philippines BPBM - Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Results and discussion Scapexocentrus philipinus Vives, 2020 (Fig. 1B-C) Materials examined: (1♂, 1♀,) Philippines, Mindanao Island, Mt. Talomo, 01-05.iv.2019; (1♂) Philippines, Mindanao Island, Catigan, Toril, 08-12.iv.2019. CRC team leg., UMCRC. Distribution: Philippines (Panay, Mindoro, Ilocos, Mt. Talomo, Catigan, Toril) Remarks: Vives (2020) described S. philipinus based on three male specimens. The female species, however, looks very similar to the male except on the absence of the spine at the apex of its scapus, shorter but wider spine on the lateral side of the pronotum, longer body (9.0 mm) and shorter width between the humeri (4.0 mm), and elytral coloration and markings appear to be lighter than that of the males. Scapexocentrus spiniscapus Breuning, 1965 (Fig. 1A) Additional type image included: Holotype. Laos, Thakhek Region, Phontiou, vii.1963. BPBM. Distribution: Laos (Phontiu) Characters S. spiniscapus S. philipinus 3rd article of antennae Longer than scapus, as long as the 4th Distinctly longer than scapus and the article 4th article Body length / width 6.0 mm / 2.0 mm 8.2 mm / 4.3 mm between the humeri Colour of elytra Dark red with dark reddish-brown Reddish-brown covered with pubescence. intermixed short gray and brown tomentum; this tomentum creates a V- shaped band extending on both sides of elytra. Legs Glabrous Hairy Table 1. Differences of Scapexocentrus spiniscapus and Scapexocentrus philipinus. Discussion This record demonstrates how poorly we know the biodiversity of the Philippines, especially for majority of the beetle fauna in Mindanao Island. Despite the new records, almost nothing is known about S. philipinus and information regarding its feeding, host plant, and ecological importance is yet to be understood. Fulfilling this initiative will eventually make its ecological and economic importance clearer to science by providing a substantial data to support species conservation (Kariyanna et al., 2017). It is of utmost importance to expand scientific expeditions specifically in unexplored areas to have a better view on the extent of distribution of this genus in the Philippines. Moreover, due to a huge 22 Received : 16 Apr. 2021 ; Accepted : 15 May, 2021 ; Published : 28 June 2021 J o u r. T r o p. C o l e o p. 2 ( 1 ), 21 - 25 J O U R N A L O F T R O P I C A L C O L E O P T E R O L O G Y ISSN online 2718-9740 ; print 2719-1486 number of undiscovered and unknown species particularly in the forest reserves of the Philippines, the fight for strict conservation and preservation of local biodiversity must be strengthened not only in creating policies but also providing education to the local community. Figure 1. Species of Genus Scapexocentrus Breuning, 1965: A. S. spiniscapus (holotype) ©Larry Bezark, B. S. philipinus (♂), C. S. philipinus (♀). Funding University of Mindanao Research and Publication Center, Erasmus+ Mobility Programme. Competing interest No competing interests existed among the authors in the preparation of the paper. Acknowledgment We would like to express sincere gratitude to Mark John Pepito and Xavier Gouverneur for extending help in the completion of the paper. To Dr. Arvids Barsevskis and his coleopterology team in DU for the support and fruitful collaborations. 23 Received : 16 Apr. 2021 ; Accepted : 15 May, 2021 ; Published : 28 June 2021 J o u r. T r o p. C o l e o p. 2 ( 1 ), 21 - 25 J O U R N A L O F T R O P I C A L C O L E O P T E R O L O G Y ISSN online 2718-9740 ; print 2719-1486 Figure 2. Distribution map of Genus Scapexocentrus Breuning, 1965: A. Distribution of S. philipinus in the Philippines, B. Distribution of S. spiniscapus in Laos. REFERENCES Barsevskis A. 2019. A New Species of the Genus Procleomenes Gressitt & Rondon, 1970 (Coeloptera: Cerambycidae) from Samar Island, Philippines. Baltic Journal of Coleopterology 19: 233-236. Barsevskis A., Cabras AA., & Medina MN. 2020. Falseunidia albosignata Breuning, 1943 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)- A New Species for the Fauna of the Philippines. Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis 20: 61-64. Bezark LG. 2016. Old World Cerambycidae Catalog. http://bezbycids.com Breuning S. 1965. Contribution to the knowledge of the Lamiens of Laos (Coll. Céramb.) (Eleventh part). Bulletin of the Royal Society of Natural Sciences of Laos 12: 43-62. Breuning S. 1978. Revision of the Acanthocinini tribe of the Asian-Australian region (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Part Three. Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 5:3-78. Hudepohl KE. 1990. The Longhorn Beetles of the Philippines Part II. Entomofauna 11: 45-102. Hudepohl KE. 1992. The Longhorn Beetles of the Philippines Part III (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae: Callichromatini, Clytini, Glaucytini). Entomofauna 13: 297-340. Kariyanna B, Mohan M, Rajeev G. 2017. Biology, Ecology, and Significance of Longhorn Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 54: 1207-1212. Rondon JA, Breuning S. 1970. Lamiines du Laos, Pacific. Insects Monograph, 24:315-571. 24 Received : 16 Apr. 2021 ; Accepted : 15 May, 2021 ; Published : 28 June 2021 J o u r. T r o p. C o l e o p. 2 ( 1 ), 21 - 25 J O U R N A L O F T R O P I C A L C O L E O P T E R O L O G Y ISSN online 2718-9740 ; print 2719-1486 Vitali F. 1999. Eine neue Trirachys-Art von den Philippinen (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae). Mitteilungen der Münchner entomologischen Gesellschaft 89: 71-73. Vitali F, Nagirnyi V. 2009. Nemophas ramosi Schultze, 1920a Forgotten Philippine Species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Lambillionea 109: 470-475. Vives E. 2015. New or interesting Cerambycidae from the Philippines (Part X) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae). Les Cahiers Magellanes 18: 1-18. Vives E. 2017. New or interesting Cerambycidae from the Philippines (Part XV)(Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae). Les Cahiers Magellanes 25: 47-65. Vives E. 2020. Cerambícidos nuevos o interesantes de Filipinas (Pars 18) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Les Cahiers Magellanes 37: 61-71. 25 Received : 16 Apr. 2021 ; Accepted : 15 May, 2021 ; Published : 28 June 2021 .