Patterns of tree species usage by long-horned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Fiji

Abstract

This study investigated cerambycid long-horned beetles in a lowland tropical forest in Fiji and produced 18 new records of beetle-tree associations along with data on beetle phenology and development times. Beetles were reared from timber baits exposed for 1 month to ovipositing females in the Savura Forest Park, Viti Levu. Twelve native, locally common tree species representing 10 families were examined. For each tree, two baits consisting of 16 kg of freshly cut branches were exposed in each of four time periods between June 2008 and May 2009. Eighteen cerambycid species and 557 individual beetles were reared from the 96 baits, with three of the beetle species probably being undescribed. Ceresium was the most abundant genus, representing almost 90% of all individuals reared, with most adults emerging between 4 and 6 months after the timber baits were exposed. Seventeen of the 18 beetle species each emerged from timber belonging to a single tree species, although more rearing records are required to support the high level of host-plant specificity reported here.