Pachydissus sp., mangrove

July 2004. A beetle, probably a cerambycid, was found assolciated with mangroves with damaged bark in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia. It was thought that it might be Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius).

It is not Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius), which is a severe and spreading pest of Eucalyptus. Whereas the latter species belongs to the tribe Phoracanthini; the picture displays a Cerambycini. Probably, it belongs to the genus Pachydissus, which is also well represented in the Western Hemisphere. The species may certainly be identified by G. Tavakilian ([email protected]), who is a specialist for this family for this part of the world.