Canadian Forest Service Publications
Casey’s conundrum, a review of the genus Semanotus Mulsant Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Callidiini) in North America. 2013. Hammond, H.E.J.; Williams, D.J. Zootaxa 3670 (2): 101-136.
Year: 2013
Issued by: Northern Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 34814
Language: English
Availability: Order paper copy (free), PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3670.2.1
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Abstract
The North American species of Semanotus Mulsant, 1839 are reviewed. Semanotus ligneus (Fabricius, 1787), Semanotus amplus amplus (Casey, 1912) new status, S. amplus basalis (Casey, 1924) new status, Semanotus amplus sequoiae Van Dyke, 1923 new status, Semanotus conformis Casey, 1924 new status, Semanotus terminatus Casey, 1912 new status, Semanotus amethystinus (LeConte, 1853), Semanotus juniperi (Fisher, 1915), and Semanotus litigiosus (Casey, 1891) are recognized as valid. A key to the North American fauna, as well as to Semanotus japonicus Lacordaire, 1869 and Semanotus australis Giesbert, 1993 is included. A morphometric study was conducted using 37 measured characters from adults of S. litigiosus. Data were examined using stepwise discriminant analysis to determine which characters aid in the diagnosis of taxa, and their amounts of resolving power using canonical variates analysis. Morphometrics revealed significant sexual dimorphism among taxa and suggested that three taxa were present, however, only two taxa could be reasonably separated using observable characters. Phylogenetic analysis using a hypothetical ancestor as out-group returned a single most parsimonious tree for North American Semanotus.
Plain Language Summary
There are many groups of beetles (Coleoptera) that use trees and shrubs as their host plants. Many of these beetle groups are poorly known and are undescribed. Scientists want to better understand these species, to document their existence, and to provide tools for their identification.
We studied one group of beetles (Semanotus) known from Canada and the USA that are very difficult to identify and examined them to find characteristics that can be used to identify separate species. We determined that there are nine species in North America, one of which was previously not recognized. We provided an updated identification key and diagnosis for each species.