Forbes' Kauaʻi Long-horned Beetle

Natural history and identification

Plagithmysus forbesianus is the replacement name for the Kauaʻi beetle originally called P. forbesii by Perkins. The change was necessary because that name conflicted with a different Maui species when their genera were combined. This distinction prevents Maui observations from being assigned to the Kauaʻi insect. A later evolutionary diagram proposed Elaeocarpus as a possible host, explicitly marking the association as uncertain. It should therefore remain a host hypothesis rather than a confirmed larval rearing record.

Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence

Atlas occurrence category: Present. The Kauaʻi record is classified as “Present”. Its cited evidence source is U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Hawaiʻi DLNR. Kauaʻi-specific conservation taxon retained even if absent from the surfaced modern observation tranche.

Evidence limits

The cited observations describe the evidence currently available for this account. They do not establish a complete life history or a measured current Kauaʻi population trend.

Names and classification

Scientific name

Plagithmysus forbesianus

Common names

Forbes' Kauaʻi Long-horned Beetle

Other names

Plagithmysus forbesii (preoccupied)

Family

Cerambycidae

Order

Coleoptera

Record type

species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Endemic

Conservation status

Species of Concern

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal description

Plagithmysus forbesianus is the replacement name for the Kauaʻi beetle originally called P. forbesii by Perkins.

Sources and further reading

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Hawaiʻi DLNR
• Natural history and identification — species source
• Natural history and identification — species source