Salagubang

The Tribe Pachyrrhynchini is one of the spectacular curculionid beetles found in the Philippines where almost all known species are known to occur. With several genera under it, the flightless species members have very hard, solid bodies and probably a deterrent for predators. It might be this characteristic that some species from other families mimic the species of this group for protection.

The genus Pachyrrhynchus GERMAR is the most beautiful of the group with its bright colors and amazing patterns and inhabit the mountainous portions of the different island of the country. It is also the model for a group of very rare lamiine longhorn beetles from a whole lot different family, Cerambycidae, under the genus Doliops. Soft bodied and nonpoisonous, it choses to live close to its model as well as evolved to have elytral markings, size and form almost similar to its model species.

The first time I caught one, I was fooled! I never thought that it was not a Pachyrrhynchus beetle. It was only after a few months that upon close inspection, I realized that it was a Doliops speces. Over time, I learned to discern the differences:

• unfused elytra
• longer antenna
• a more quadrate elytra, and
• form of the head

In this post, I’m showing the model Pachyrrhynchus speciosus WATERHOUSE 1841 and its mimic, Doliops multifasciata SCHULTZE 1922. These two inhabits the higher elevations of Bukidnon in Mindanao island.

More species to be featured in upcoming posts.