First record of Chlorophorus jucundus (Perroud, 1855) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) from Maharashtra, India

The beetle Chlorophorus jucundus (Perroud, 1855) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is being reported for the first time from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, which is part of the northern Western Ghats. This communication briefly describes the species with colour photographs showing important diagnostic characters.

In the checklist prepared by Kariyanna et al. (2017), there are 1,536 species of Cerambycidae, enumerated under 440 genera, 72 tribes, and seven subfamilies from India.The genus Chlorophorus is distributed in Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Sunda Islands, Philippines, China, Hainan Island, Taiwan, Korea Japan, New Guinea, United States, and Brazil (Kariyanna et al. 2017).In India, Chlorophorus is represented by 28 species.Ghate (2012) enlisted 59 species of cerambycid beetles including two species of the genus Chlorophorus.The members of Chlorophorus were described first by Cheverolat in 1863 are roundnecked longhorn beetles.The other genera of tribe Clytini taxonomically differ from the genus Chlorophorus due to the following characteristics-the antennae widely separate at the base (Xylotrechus), the first joint of hind tarsi is very little or no longer than second and third united (Oligoenoplus), antennae spined at apex of one or more of the joints from third to six (Demonax), and antennal third joint distinctly longer than first (Rhaphuma) (Gahan 1906).This species was described earlier as Caloclytus jucundus (see Gahan 1906).
While studying the cerambycid beetles of Kolhapur District, the authors came across a distinctly coloured beetle identified as Chlorophorus jucundus (Perroud, 1855) using the description given by Gahan (1906).This species was first described as Clytus jucundus by Perroud in 1855 and then redescribed as Caloclytus jucundus by Gahan in 1906.In India, Caloclytus jucundus is reported from Tamil Nadu: Chennai; Karnataka: Shimoga, Mysore; and Pondicherry (Kariyanna et al. 2017).Except for a few colour photographs of the habitus of the present species, there are no photographs detailing its various characters nor a re-description.(Figure 1).
The collected specimen was studied under a Nikon stereo zoom (SMZ 800) microscope and identified as C. jucundus by using diagnostic characters and illustration given by Gahan (1906) and by comparing colour photographs available on the internet (https://www.cerambycoidea.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18791 accessed on 20 April 2022).
Diagnostic characters: Body: The overall colouration was mentioned as 'yellow with black patterns' here: the body measured 12 mm in length (head to tip of elytra) and 3 mm in breadth (between humeral angles of elytra); the dorsum was densely covered with yellow pubescence with black markings (Image 1A).Ventrally, a broad longitudinal somewhat triangular black band was noted on the 1 st to 4 th ventrites, along with a large band on 5 th ventrite with mixed pubescence of yellowishgrey colour (Image 1B).Head: small, sub-vertical with fine yellow pubescence; mandibles black and sharp at apex; eyes finely faceted with a large lower lobe, upper portion of lobe narrowed and curved towards the centre of the vertex; antennae (length 7.6 mm) eleven segmented, blackish with faint grey pubescence, antenniferous tubercles smooth, not widely separated at the base (Image 1D).Pronotum with three black spots, two near the dorsolateral and one at the middle forming two lobes posteriorly (Image 1A).Each elytron with a bare elytral margin without pubescence (and hence it looks brown) to which a black transverse median band joins laterally (Image 1C); median transverse band (black colour) curved and broadened posteriorly and narrowed anteriorly near suture to form a triangular shape; three angulated spots present near the base and one prominent black subapical spot; of these three angulated spots, one is on humerus and remaining two spots join each other with narrow connection near suture (Image 1A).Legs with pale greyish pubescence, femora strong and swollen, mid femora finely carinate on each side, the hind femora feebly carinate distally.Hind tibia provided with two ventral spines at apex.First joint of hind tarsi little longer than remaining two joints united, claws, brown curved and sharp (Image 1A,B,C).Beeson (1941) stated that Chlorophorus jucundus was found on Acacia spp., Scutia indica and another unidentified climber.The present study area, Shivaji University Kolhapur has an area of 832 acres and has a lot of different Acacia trees-A.catechu, A. mangium, A. nilotica, and A. auriculiformis.Therefore, the occurrence of C. jucundus on the campus of Shivaji University was always likely.
While examining the characters of the specimen, it was observed that our specimen bears a resemblance to the species Caloclytus jucundus described by Gahan (1906) a synonym of Chlorophorus jucundus (Perroud, 1855).The closest relative of C. jucundus is Chlorophorus agnathus (Cheverolat, 1863) which differs from each other due to spots on the body.C. agnathus has a cordate spot on the prothorax and two short vittae at base on each elytron, a transverse band in the middle and a spot on the apex.However, the spots on the thorax and elytra of C. jucundus are completely different.Gahan (1906) mentioned that this species is found in Chennai, Shimoga and Mysore in southern India.Chevrolat (1863) described C. cognatus, a synonym of C. jucundus and mentioned its distribution from Sylhet (now in Bangladesh).Aurivillius (1912) listed this species as Chlorophorus jucundus and mentioned its distribution as southeastern India.According to Kariyanna et al. (2017), the distribution of this species is in India (Tamil Nadu: Madras; Karnataka: Shimoga, Mysore) and Bangladesh.Ghate (2012) recorded only two species, Chlorophorus annularis (Fabricius 1787) and Chlorophorus quatuordecimmaculatus (Chevrolat, 1863) in Maharashtra.None of the above studies and the localities for C. jucundus include Maharashtra.Hence, Kolhapur is a new locality for C. jucundus and