Hexatricha

Hexatricha pulverulenta, commonly known as the squeaking longhorn, is a beetle in the family Cerambycidae, the only species in the monotypic genus Hexatricha. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by John O. Westwood in 1843 as Lamia pulverulenta,[1] and later moved into the genus Hexatricha (sometimes incorrectly spelled Hexathrica).[2][3]

Pair of Hexatricha pulverulenta on a karaka tree

Hexatricha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Cerambycidae
Genus:
Hexatricha
Species:
H. pulverulenta
Binomial name
Hexatricha pulverulenta
(Westwood, 1843)
Synonyms
  • Lamia pulverulenta Westwood, 1843

The squeaking longhorn is so called for the noise it makes, by stridulation, when handled. Female beetles lay an egg under the bark of dead or dying trees, especially Pinus radiata or New Zealand beech (Nothofagus).[4] These hatch in 10–19 days, and larvae live under, and feed off, wood for perhaps two or three years.[4] They pupate for 30 days, hatching from spring to autumn (August to April) into adult beetles which live for up to three months.[5] Adults are reluctant fliers.[4]

References
  1. Westwood, J.O. 1843: On the longicorn Coleoptera of New Zealand. Arcana entomologica, 2(14): 25–28, plate LVI. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.11771 [Date of publication: 'NO. XIV.-1st JULY, 1843']
  2. Bouchard, Patrice; Bousquet, Yves; Davies, Anthony; Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel; Lawrence, John; Lyal, Christopher; Newton, Alfred; Reid, Chris; Schmitt, Michael (2011). "Family-Group Names In Coleoptera (Insecta)". ZooKeys. 88: 1–972. doi:10.3897/zookeys.88.807. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3088472. PMID 21594053.
  3. Biolib.cz - Hexathrica pulverulenta. Retrieved on 8 September 2014.
  4. Jeffreys, F.J. (1939). "Hexatricha pulverulenta Westwood" (PDF). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 69: 347–360.
  5. Crowe, Andrew (2014). Which New Zealand Insect?. Auckland: Penguin. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9.


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