A recent record of Astathes bimaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) from Kerala

Abstract

© Zoo Outreach Organisation; www.zoosprint.org Manuscript 1189; Received 24 April 2004; Revised received 01 December 2004; Finally accepted 04 March 2005; Date of publication 21 July 2005 August 2005 | ISBN 0971-6378 While looking at a recent collection of Cerambycidae beetles from Kerala, we came across Astathes bimaculata (F.). It was identified using keys given by Rondon and Breuning (1970) and the species was confirmed using Gahan (1901). This species was originally described from southern India from parts of Tranquebar, Madras, Trivandrum and Bangalore. Fabricius, in 1792, had described this beetle as Cerambyx bimaculatus. This beetle was subsequently placed in the genus Astathes Newman. Genus Astathes was revised by Gahan in 1901. Since the original description was done in 1792 and subsequent reports made in 1901, we feel that its presence in southern India, even in 2003, after a period of over 200 years, merits attention. We are giving below a brief description as well as a colour photograph (Image 1w) of the species.