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Paromoeocerus barbicornis

Paromoeocerus barbicornis

Fabricius, 1792
Guitarrero

Family: Cerambycidae
Order: Coleoptera
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Records from Puerto Iguazú


Description


Characterized by an exceptionally striking and singular morphology within the family Cerambycidae. This beetle stands out due to its elongated, cylindrical body, with an average length ranging from 15 to 22 millimeters. Its base coloration varies between metallic greenish, bluish, or bronzy hues with a brilliant sheen on the elytra, while the pronotum typically exhibits an intense orange-red tone with variable dark markings, providing a notable chromatic contrast that functions as a visual warning. However, the most outstanding diagnostic feature of this taxon is the presence of compact, dense black setal tufts located on the intermediate antennal segments, specifically around the fifth to seventh antennomeres, giving it the appearance of "bearded antennae." Its legs are slender and long, adapted for agile movement over plant bark, with femora frequently tinged with reddish tones at their base and dark tibiae.

Geographical distribution: Found natively distributed throughout the subtropical and temperate regions of South America. Its presence is widely documented in southern and southeastern Brazil, spanning states such as São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. Likewise, its dispersal limits extend into eastern Paraguay, northern Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, with consolidated biological records in the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, and Entre Ríos, following the riverine and forested corridors of the Río de la Plata basin.

Habitat: Primarily inhabits the Atlantic Forest biome and associated secondary forest formations. It prefers humid gallery forests, forest transition zones, marginal jungles, and sectors with abundant dense shrubby vegetation. It is frequently associated with forest areas that maintain high relative humidity and a constant presence of decaying organic matter, as well as fruit orchards and forestry plantations where its native and introduced host plants grow.

Feeding: Exhibits a marked trophic specialization depending on its ontogenetic developmental stage. During the larval phase, the organism is strictly xylophagous, feeding on the internal wood of various plant species, with a special preference for the families Myrtaceae (such as guavas and eucalyptus), Rosaceae, and Salicaceae. The larvae dig deep galleries consuming the cellulose and lignin of weakened or recently dead branches. In contrast, adults present anthophilous and nectarivorous habits; they actively feed on pollen, floral nectar, sap exuded from tree wounds, and juices from ripe or fermenting fruits.

Behavior: This is a predominantly diurnal species, showing its highest peak of activity during the warmest and sunniest days of spring and summer. Adults are commonly observed flying actively in the understory or perched on the flowers and trunks of their host plants. They use their striking antennae not only as sensory organs to detect volatile compounds and pheromones but also in visual displays of territoriality and courtship. When faced with a physical threat, they can perform rapid escape movements or deliberately drop to the forest floor to blend in with the leaf litter.

Reproduction: The reproductive process is concentrated during the summer season, the period in which adults emerge in search of mates. Initial communication is achieved through the release of aggregation pheromones and visual signals. After copulation, the fertilized female meticulously searches for medium-diameter branches or weakened trunks of appropriate host plants. Using her ovipositor, she deposits eggs individually or in small clusters inside bark crevices. Upon hatching, the neonate larvae immediately bore into the subcortical tissue and begin feeding on the soft wood, passing through several larval instars before constructing an internal pupal chamber where they will undergo metamorphosis to finally emerge as adults the following year.

Conservation status: Currently, this species is not evaluated under any global threat category on the IUCN Red List. Nevertheless, local populations suffer indirectly due to the degradation of the Atlantic Forest and the continuous loss of native woodlands driven by agricultural and urban expansion. The conservation of this insect is intrinsically linked to the preservation of riparian forest corridors and the presence of native tree communities that support its reproductive and feeding cycles.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 12/09/2026




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Foto
Photography ID: 366336
  Adult

Puerto Iguazú
Misiones
Argentina
10/19/2019
Gustavo Fernando Durán



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Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
114278919/10/2019ArgentinaMisionesSelva Iryapú (600 hectáreas), Puerto IguazúGustavo Fernando Durán
Page 1

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Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Paromoeocerus barbicornis – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 21/09/2026.