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Surprising Callichromatini find

21 July 2008

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What a very pleasant surprise when I just discovered that I seem to have three different Callichromatini species that I haven’t noticed before. All were collected in the same locality in Bukidnon, Mindanao. I was going over my collection when I became suspicious of three specimens that I have known to be a Polyzonus. I set up my camera, took photos and upon close inspection of the images, voila! my hunch proved correct.

The first one is what Joan Bentanachs and Eduard Vives identified as a new Polyzonus sp. Like the pronotum of Polyzonus schmidti, the overal shape is quadrate, right. You can click on the images for a more detailed look. Compared with the other two, the elytra is greener and the sutural sheen yellow green. A thin green line runs parallel to the edges.

In the second specimen, corresponding to the middle photo above, the structure of the pronotum is different and gives the impression that it is shorter and rounder than the first. The elytra is more subdued, a darker green, and the sutural color is golden yellow. Really, if the two are compared based on the characteristics mentioned, I would think that these are two different species. However, there is also the possibility that these are of the same species if we take into account the possibility of sexual dimorphism.

The last specimen is a bit different from the other two. First, the form of the pronotum is more rounded. Its surface has a metallic blue green sheen. The scutellum is not as acute.The sutural stripe is not as consistent from base to apex. The elytra is shorter and more rounded while  the colors of the first segment of the fore and middle legs is metallic bluish green. I’m not sure if this can be another species of Chelidonium but definitely, it is not C. monticola based on the pronotum and which can be found in the higher altitudes of Luzon.

I have already referred this to the two entomologists mentioned above. Both are working on the tribe Callichromatini and have been publishing their studies for a time now. I just hope that these are all new species.

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  • nancy chong

    Dear Sir/Madam:
    interesado pa ako sa mga colection nga mga salabang sa ating bansa at gusto ko pang mag collect ng mga iba’t ibang uri ng mga ito. saan po ba ako pwedeng lumapit at makabili ng mga iba’t ibang uri na magagandang kulang at mga pambihira na uri nati na nakikita lang sa ating bansa. dahil gusto ko pong matutuong mag breeding nito as a robbie po. ako po ay lubos na naliligayahan kapag nakikita kong sila ay nanganganak at lumalaki at inaalagaan ko. sana ko ay matulungan yo po ako sa problema kong iton sapagka’t lubos po akong interesado sa mga insectong ito.
    sa ngayon po ay nasa taiwan po ako at ako po ay nalilibang sa pag aalaga nito. dito po ay usong uso ang pag aalga ang iba’t ibang klase ng mga salabubnag nugnit di ko po kayang makipag sabayan sa mga kaibigan ko na nakakabili ng mga mamahalin na salagubang mau mga pagkain naman pong nabibili rito para sa mga salabubang tulad ng gelatin sa ginawa para sa kanila lamang. yun po ay kaya kong bilhin pero ang halaba ng mga salabubang ay sobrang mahal. gusto ko pang makabili dyan pero di ko po alam kung saan. sana mo ay matulungan nyo po ako kung saan ako dapat magpunta upang makabili ng sari sari ng salagubang at maidala rito. aalagaan ko po sila ng maigi wag po kayo mag alala at mamahalin ko sila na parang mga anak ko.
    pasihin yo lang sa akin kung saan akong pwedeng website magpunta para makabili at guto ko pong mag breeding nito.

    marami pong salamat,

    nancy chong

  • http://salagubang.net estan

    nancy, unfortunately, i don’t know of any livestock dealer.