Salagubang

Chrysodema smaragdula OLIVIER 1790 is one of the oldest Chrysodema species that have been described. It is also one with many different descriptions by different authors with 16 synonyms. This is because in the areas this species can be found, there are many variations ranging from dark to bright green, coppery and even yellowish. It has a very wide distribution ranging from the Philippines, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and all the way to some islands of New Britain and Solomon Islands in the east. After C. radians GUIRIN 1831, this species has the 2nd largest distributional range.

In the country, it is found in Mindanao, Dinagat, Romblon, Mindoro, Samar, Panay, Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte.

Chrysodema eximia LAPORTE & GORY, 1835, is one of the beautiful Chrysodema species that can be found in the country. This species is distributed in the island of Luzon and reaches as far as Taiwan. The coloration is not always constant. Variations occur ranging from a dark green, to golden green with some specimens having reddish tinge.

Yoshihiko Kurosawa described a new subspecies in his 1989 paper and named it Chrysodema eximia kawamurai in honor of a collector, Shun-ichi Kawamura, who brought him specimens that were collected in Camiguin Is., Babuyan Group. His reason for the new description was that the specimens were entirely coppery to greenish coppery compared to the bright green to golden green of the nominotypical race known. However, Lander in his paper synonymized this as just a variation. Chrysodema intercostata SAUNDER 1874 is another synonym.

I have several specimens of Chrysodema but these have been collected only in three islands of the country: Mindanao, Bohol and Homonhon (off Samar) while a few were given to me and were collected in one of the Babuyan Islands.

From these, I have only identified four with the correct species name using Lander’s paper. The rest are really difficult considering that the paper is written in French and there are limits to what online translations can do especially that these has to be exact. Members of this genus is also characterized by lots of variations that make it all the more difficult to identify these.

The genus Chrysodema, even with a key is really a challenge to identify.

The genus Chrysodema is a widely distributed buprestid species that is present from Sri Lank in the west to the Solomon Islands in the east; Japan in the north up to Northern Australia in the south. In the Philippines, it is found all over the archipelago with thirteen (13) species out of the known forty-seven (47). Four (4) of these are endemic. Percentage wise: 28% for those found in the country and the endemic species represents 9% overall species.

Tieri Lander’s long awaited Revision du genre Chrysodema (Revision on the Genus Chrysodema) is a welcome work that gave order to this often confused genus. Written in French and published by Magellanes, each species is treated exhaustively by listing where the species was first described, type material, synonyms, subspecies, a description and remarks as well as a distribution map. Several color photo plates consisting of 163 Chrysodema specimens, both mounted and some live can be found at the later part of the paper. General characteristics of the genus is also listed and illustrated with black and white photos. An identification key per species can also be found. Lastly, there is also illustrations of 42 aedeagi.

Except for a new subspecies, Chrysodema eximia kawamurai KUROSAWA, 1989 (but eventually synonymized), there are no new Philippine species. The last species described was Chrysodema snelliusi THERY, 1935, but again, synonymized. Looking at the list, the author synonymized (meaning, a described species was later declared as previously described and thus, the first declaration takes precedence) 26 species.

If only I can fully understand French, my problems of identification would have been lessened.

Part of a paper that is being prepared by Eduard Vives on some Philippine Cerambycidae, with some new species, is what the author said is a new Psebena species. This paper is actually the second installment of his first work.

This cerambycid is rather unusual in that its elytra is abbreviated a third from the end of the abdomen. Found in high montane forests in Mindanao, This is the first time that this genus is recorded in the country. The specimen is not perfect as three legs are missing.

Update: Eduard Vives will be describing this new species under genus Elongatomerioneda (not Psebena), the first occurence in the Philippines.