Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

Abstract

The longhorn beetles of the Maltese Islands are reviewed based on literature records and collected material. A total of 29 species are included of which three, Arhopalus ferus (Mulsant, 1839), Hesperophanes sericeus (Fabricius, 1787) and Phoracantha recurva Newman, 1840 are recorded for the ftrst time. Five species, Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius, 1775), Phoracantha recurva Newman, 1840, Cerambyx nodulosus Germar, 1817, Cerambyx carinatus KUster, 1846 and Phryneta leprosa (Fabricius, 1775) are considered as introductions and locally established. The records of Cerambyx miles Bonelli, 1823, Cerambyx scopolii FUsslins, 1775, Ropalopus clavi pes (Fabricius, 1775), Oberea (Amaurostoma) erythrocephala (Schrank, 1776) and Agapanthia cynarae cynarae (Germar, 1817) are considered doubtful or in need of conftrmation and until then, these species are excluded from the cerambycid fauna of the Maltese Islands. For each species all known Maltese localities, larval host plant development, global distribution and any other notes where relevant are provided.