by Kojiro Shiraiwa & Matt Paulsen
In this website, we would like to introduce you to a small Lucanid
group found in the Andes Mountains of Chile and Argentina.
Stag beetles in the genus Pycnosiphorus are found in the Nothofagus forests of Patagonia. There are
approximately 20 species. Although relationships among the Lucanids
are unclear, their closest relatives may be beetles from the Australian
region (genus Lissotes). Several insect groups are similarly restricted to Patagonia and Australia. Along with Pycnosiphorus, these groups provide evidence of a biogeographical connection between these two areas in the past (i.e., Gondwana).
These beetles are known in Japan as "samehada kuwagata", or shark-skin stag beetles. This common name is derived from species like P. caelatus and P. mandibularis which have a rough texture to the elytra. Samehadas are sometimes sold as pets in Japanese insects shops.
Characteristics:
Two types of mandibles in genus Pycnosiphorus.
Orange stripes on elytra (P. magnificus).
As you can see above, lines are actualy, small scales.
Unless noted, male specimen is on left and female on right.
| Pycnosiphorus mandibularis (Solier, 1851) |
Body length: 15mm / 13mm
Type species of Pycnosiphorus.
| Pycnosiphorus varasi (Nagel, 1932) |
Canete, Arauco, CHILE
Body length: 14mm / 13mm
| Pycnosiphorus germaini Numhauser, 1985 |
Araucania, CHILE
Body length: 14mm / 13mm
| Pycnosiphorus philippi (Westwood, 1864) |
Nuble, Recinto, CHILE
December 1998
Body length: 14.5mm
This specimen is rather worn out one.
Fresh caught specimen has whitish yellow stripes along edges of
the thorax and on the elytra wings.
| Pycnosiphorus magnificus Benesh, 1956 |
Tregualemu, Canquenes, CHILE
Dec-Jan, 1998
Body length: 17mm / 14mm
| Synonym |
| P. magnificus Weinreich, 1958 |
| Pycnosiphorus vittatus (Eschscholtz, 1822) |
Lebu, Arauco, CHILE
January 1998
Body length: 15mm / 15mm
| Synonym |
P. rouleti (Solier, 1851)
P. rubrovittatus (Blanchard, 1842) |
| Pycnosiphorus caelatus (Blanchard, 1842) |
Canete, Arauco, CHILE
December 15-30, 1998
Body length: 20mm / 16mm
| Synonym |
P. variolosus (Hope et Westwood, 1845)
P. vittatus (Burmeister, 1845) |
| Pycnosiphorus virgatus (Nagel, 1928) |
Tolgueca, Malleco, CHILE
December 3-9, 1998
Body length: 19mm / 15mm
| Nomen nudum |
| P. striatus Philippi et Germain, 1911 |
| Pycnosiphorus franzae Weinreich, 1958 |
Canete, Arauco, CHILE
April 1998
Body length: 22mm / 18mm
| Pycnosiphorus arriguttii Weinreich, 1958 |
Body length: 18mm / 14mm
| Pycnosiphorus femoralis (Guérin-Meneville, 1839) |
Body length: 19mm / 18mm
| Synonym |
P. darwinii (Hope, 1841)
P. rufifemoralis (Curtis, 1844)
P. rubripes (Hope et Westwood, 1845)
P. modestus (Philippi, 1859)
P. leiocephalus (Solier, 1851)
P. rufipes (Solier, 1851)
P. spinolae (Solier, 1851) |
| Pycnosiphorus fasciatus (Germain, 1855) |
Body length: 15mm / 15mm
| Pycnosiphorus costatus Benesh, 1951 |
Female
Body length: 14.5mm
| Nomen nudum |
| P. costatus (Germain, 1911) |
| Pycnosiphorus calverti (Nagel, 1932) |
Lonquimay, Malleco, CHILE
December 2-9, 1998
Body length: 14mm / 12mm
| Synonym |
| P. ariasi (Weinreich, 1958) |
| Nomen nudum |
| P. calverti (Germain, 1911) |
| Pycnosiphorus brevicollis Benesh, 1956 |
Maule, CHILE
December 1994
Body length: 13mm
| Nomen nudum |
| P. brevicollis (Germain, 1911) |
| Pycnosiphorus fairmairii (Parry, 1864) |
Cunco, Valdivia, CHILE
February 3-9, 1998
Body length: 12mm
| Pycnosiphorus lessonii (Buquet, 1842) |
Valdivia, CHILE
December 1997
Body length: 13mm / 11mm
Two males of different size, sold as a "pair"
| Pycnosiphorus marginipennis (Deyrolle, 1870) |
Callihue, CHILE
December 15, 1995
Body length: 12.5mm / 13.5mm
Has red legs.
| Synonym |
| P. pulcher Landin, 1956 |
| Other species not illustrated here: |
P. pallidocinctus (Fairmaire et Germain, 1861)
P. elongatus (Deyrolle, 1870) possibly synonym of P. lessonii.
P. westwoodi Numhauser, 1985
(c) Kojiro Shiraiwa 2003-2004. All rights reserved.
Last updated: July 15, 2004