Pachydissus sp., mangrove

July 2004. A beetle, probably a cerambycid, found associated with mangroves with damaged bark in Yap State, Fderated States of Micronesia, was thought to 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 from this part of the world.