Xixuthrus terribilis Thomson 1877

Xixuthrus terribilis Thomson, 1877 Figs. 5­6 Xixuthrus heyrovskyi Tippman, 1945 NEW SYNONYMY Specimens examined: Holotype male X. terribilis, "Ins. Fidgi" (MNHN; labeled " TYPE ") [Fig. 5]; holotype male X. heyrovskyi, " Insel Viti Levu Fidschi," coll. Dr. Knoth (USNM; labeled " TYPE ") [Fig. 6]; 2 males, Fiji, Taveuni, Silvester Evans (BMNH); 1 male, same data but 1.1925 (BMNH); 1 female, Taveuni, 14.vi.1925, Dr. H.S.Evans (BMNH); 1 female, Taveuni, "Qacovilo" (? spelling obscured by pin hole), 26.v.1925, Dr. H.S. Evans (BMNH); 1 male, 2 females, no data (BMNH); 1 male, Vanua Levu, Caukadrove Province, Natewa Peninsula, Buca, Buca Bay, 24.vii.2003, 179°32' S, 16°39' E, 50m, collector Tomasi Mateavula (MAFF); 1 male, 1 female, Somo Somo, Taveuni, 6.ii.1990, George Bennett Coll. (Z. Komiya) Diagnosis: For diagnostic features, see entry above under heros. Remarks: The holotypes of both X. terribilis and X. heyrovskyi were examined, and are unquestionably conspecific. The holotype of terribilis is a relatively small specimen, measuring 99 mm, and differs from typical male specimens (including the holotype of heyrovskyi) only in those features which show distinct allometry. Several specimens from Taveuni (in George Bennett's private collection in Suva, Fiji) were also briefly examined (by D.Y.) in addition to those listed above. Note that the pubescence along the elytral costae may occasionally show some wear, creating very narrow, obscurely glabrous stripes. Aside from the holotype of X. heyrovskyi, there are no confirmed records of this species from any islands other than Taveuni and Vanua Levu, despite anecdotal claims of its presence on Viti Levu, and unless new specimens are found there, we consider it most likely that the heyrovskyi type is mislabeled. It is probable that Lameere did not have a specimen of genuine heros when he placed terribilis into synonymy with it; especially suspicious is that he placed considerable emphasis on the broad elytral stripes of ganglbaueri and helleri when discussing their resemblance, when heros shares these stripes, implying that perhaps his putative heros specimen did not have stripes (i.e., that it was actually a specimen of terribilis). Nonetheless, we are not aware of any specimens of terribilis (other than the holotype itself) old enough to have been examined by Lameere. Komiya (2000) has an excellent habitus photo of a male terribilis (figured as heyrovskyi).
Published as part of Yanega, Douglas, Olson, David, Shute, Sharon & Komiya, Ziro, 2004, The Xixuthrus species of Fiji (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), pp. 1-10 in Zootaxa 777 (1) on page 7, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.777.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5030418
{"references":["Thomson, J. (1877) Typi Cerambycidarum, Musei Thomsoniani. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie (3 rd Series), 5, 249 - 279.","Komiya, Z. (2000) Notes on Xixuthrus heros and its allied species with description of a new species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae). Gekkan-Mushi, 354, 2 - 7."]}