Brachytemnus porcatus (Germar, 1823)

Friedman, Ariel-Leib-Leonid, 2023, A review of the saproxylic weevil subfamily Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Israel, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 52 (6), pp. 75-96 : 88-89

Brachytemnus porcatus (Germar, 1823)

( Figs 8, 9, 18, 37)

Material examined: Israel: Golan Heights : ‘En Ziwan, 3.iv.2022, Shahar Mizrahi (photographs); Hula Valley: Ne’ot Mordekhay, 25.iv.2004, L. Zarabi, V. Chikatunov, pheromone trap (1 ex.); ibidem, 14.vi.2004 (3 exx.); ibidem, 30.v.2005 (2 exx.); Upper Galilee: Shelomi, 30.v.2023, Ran Levi (photographs); Nahal Keziv, 20.v.1999, M. Finkel (1 ex.); Carmel Ridge : Haifa, Mt. Carmel , 22.ii.1946, H. Bytinski-Salz, ex Pinus halepensis (10 exx.); ibidem, 19.iv.1964, J. Halperin, ex Pinus halepensis (5 exx.); ibidem, 22.iv.1964, J. Halperin, ex Pinus halepensis (1 ex.); ibidem, 30.iv.1964, J. Halperin, ex Pinus halepensis (8 exx.); ibidem, 11.v.1964, J. Halperin, ex Pinus halepensis (4 exx.); ibidem, 12.vii.2003, V. Kravchenko, V. Chikatunov (4 exx.); Horeshat ha’Arba’im, 4 – 25.vi.2007, J. Buse (3 exx.); ibidem, 8 – 29.vi.2007, J. Buse, window trap on Quercus calliprinos (1 ex.); ibidem, 12 – 26.vi.2009, J Buse, T. Pavliček, window trap on Quercus calliprinos (1 ex.); ‘En haShofet, Irish Bridge, 19.v.2004, A. Gasith (1 ex.); Samaria : Horvat [H.] Dardar, 26.viii.1981, Q. Argaman (2 exx.); Kokhav Ya’ir, 27.xii.2001, A. Freidberg, Y. Zvik, L. Friedman, under bark of pine (3 exx.); Qedumim, 24.vi.2007, L. Friedman (7 exx.); ibidem, 16.v.2009, emerging from beam (70 mounted exx. + numerous unmounted exx.); ibidem, 23.iii.2018 (1 ex.); Central Coastal Plain: Tel Mond, 8.vi.2016, E. Gefen (4 exx.); Qiryat Ono, 27.vi.2002, I. Kedar, L. Friedman (21 mounted + numerous unmounted exx.); Tel Aviv, 13.vi.2007, W. Kuslitzky, light trap (1 ex.); Southern Coastal Plain: Segula, near Qiryat Gat, 5.v.1996, V. Chikatunov (9 exx.); Foothills of Judea: Ben Shemen Forest, Horvat Birit, 13.xii.2020, L. Friedman, under bark of Pinus (50 mounted exx. + numerous unmounted exx.); Judean Hills: Kesalon, 17.ix.1980, J. Halperin, ex Pinus halepensis (1 ex.); Judean Desert: Ma’on, 25.xii.2018, Yehuda Keller (photographs).

Distribution: West Palaearctic. Europe: Azores, Spain, France, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Rep., Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Ukraine, Russia; North Africa: Morocco, Algeria; Asia: Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon ( Hlaváč & Maughan 2013; Alonso-Zarazaga et al. 2023). Recorded from Israel by Halperin and Fremuth (2003). One of the most widely distributed west Palaearctic cossonines, and the most common cossonine species in Israel, distributed throughout the Mediterranean part of the country, and penetrating into the desert areas following human activities.

Biology: This species lives and develops in decaying wood of various conifers ( Abies , Cedrus , Picea , Pinus ), and rarely also in deciduous trees; in living trees at various stages of deterioration, tree stumps and dead wood ( Folwaczny 1973; Yunakov et al. 2018; Legalov et al. 2021). In Israel, the weevils were found under bark of pines ( Pinus ) ( Pinaceae ), mainly Pinus halepensis Mill. ( Halperin & Fremuth 2003; personal observations). Single individuals or small groups of individuals are found under bark of living pines, while aggregations can be found associated with dead or decaying wood. The author found an incalculable number of weevils under the bark of a relatively fresh pine stump in Ben Shemen Forest ( Fig. 37); the weevils were preyed-upon by clown-beetles ( Histeridae ) of at least two species. Often clouds of swarming beetles emerge from the processed wood, sometimes years after its processing, scaring the owner of the property. The author personally observed such a swarm in May 2009 in his house in Qedumim, Israel. Beetles were emerging from the particular beam that was used for repair of the veranda windowsill, approximately two years earlier (summer 2007). The swarming masses of beetles resembled wisps of smoke as much as that at the first site the author was genuinely convinced that the beam was smoldering. From time to time the author received complaints from households, offices, sawmills, warehouses etc., while usually the source of the weevils was a single board. However, no significant damage was ever reported, even after the greatest appearance of the weevils.