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Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Callipogonius
Callipogonius (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-​Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)

-Longhorn Beetles (Family Cerambycidae)​

-​Flat-faced Longhorn Beetles (Subfamily Lamiinae)

-Tribe Pogonocherini

-Genus Callipogonius


Callipogonius is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as longhorn beetles. Longhorn beetles are characterized by their long antennae, which can be significantly longer than their bodies. The larvae of Callipogonius beetles are wood borers, feeding on the inner tissues of trees and shrubs. Adult beetles may feed on leaves, flowers, or bark, depending on the species.

Diet

  • Larvae: Wood-boring, developing within dead, dying, or weakened branches, stems, and trunks of woody plants. They feed on wood and inner tissues as they construct galleries.

  • Adults: Typically feed on pollen, nectar, flowers, foliage, or tree sap, although adult feeding varies among species and may be limited.

Range

  • The genus Callipogonius is distributed primarily in the Neotropics, from Mexico and Central America through northern and tropical South America.

  • Several species occur in Mexico, including the Pacific coastal region and Guerrero.

  • Greatest diversity occurs in tropical forests.

Habitat

  • Found primarily in tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, secondary forests, woodland edges, and forest clearings.

  • Larvae develop inside dead branches, fallen logs, and weakened woody stems.

  • Adults are often encountered on tree trunks, branches, foliage, and flowers, particularly during warm weather.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 10–25 mm (0.4–1.0 in), depending on species.

  • Body elongate and cylindrical, with the long antennae characteristic of Cerambycidae.

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