Defensive Adaptations of Some Neotropical Long‐Horned Beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae): Antennal Spines, Tergiversation, and Double Mimicry

Abstract

Three cerambycid species from Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone exhibited different forms of defensive adaptations. Elongate recurved antennal spines occurred on both sexes of Hammaticherus batus (Linnaeus). Upon being transversely grasped with the fingers, specimens would flail the antennae backwards and downwards which caused the pointed processes to penetrate the skin. Oreodera glauca (Linnaeus) demonstrated reversed orientation. Dark lateral markings and a transverse dark line on the apices of the elytra gave this area the appearance of a head. The antennal bases covered the compound eyes and the antennae were held close along the sides of the body, emerging from beneath the elytral apices, appearing to arise from the false head. Acyphoderes sexualis, when walking about, bore a striking resemblance to a large ponerine ant. Upon taking flight, the appearance became that of a wasp.