Cerambycidae fauna in plantation and fruit crop ecosystems of Western Ghats in Karnataka

The Prioninae are a subfamily of Cerambycidae, they are large, obscurely colored nocturnal beetles, exhibiting sexual dimorphism. They are economically and ecologically important as the larvae are either heartwood borers or decomposers of rotting wood and roots. Studies on Prioninae associated with plantation and fruit crop ecosystems of Western Ghats in Karnataka (southern India) revealed a total of 10 species in 8 genera. Acanthophorus serraticornis (Olivier), Priotyrannus (Priotyrannus) mordax (White) and Dorysthenes (Dorysthenes) rostratus (Fabricius) were the most common and widely distributed. Nepiodes terminalis (Gahan) which was earlier known only from Sri Lanka is a new record for India. The Indo-Malayan Dorysthenes (Paraphrus) granulosus (Thomson) has been reported for the first time from southern India. Prionomma (Prionomma) atratum (Gmelin), Rhaphipodus subopacus Gahan and Spinimegopis mediocostata (Gressitt), are new records for Karnataka. Prionomma atratum is associated with cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) and D. rostratus is associated with cashew and mango (Mangifera indica L.) ecosystems. Among the 10 species documented, A. serraticornis severely affects mango in southern India. A species checklist and illustrated key to genera are provided.