Opisognathus forficatus, an impressive Moroccan endemic representative of Prionini tribe, was described as Prionus forficatus from Tangier environs by Johann Christian Fabricius in 1798 [❖]. Larvae of this rare species develop in roots and basal parts of European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis). Adults, active from late May to August, are crepuscular and nocturnal [✳][✧].

Body length:	35 - 60 mm
Life cycle:	3 - 4 years
Adults in:	May - August
Host plant:	European fan palm Chamaerops humilis
Distribution:	species endemic to Morocco

The depicted male beetle was collected in El Hammam (الحمام) village environs (N33°09′04″ W05°28′46″; 1360 m a.s.l., Moyen Atlas, Khénifra province, Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, Morocco) on July 1-3 2008.

Collected by Petr Kabátek

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[❖]
Fabricius J.Ch.:
Supplementum entomologiae systematicae
Proft & Storch, Hafniae 572 pp, 1798. [download ]

[✧]
Villiers A.:
Coléoptères Cérambycides de l'Afrique du Nord.
Faune de l'Empire Français, ORSC Paris, 5: 1-152 [pages 30-31], 1946. [download ]

[✳]
Trócoli S.:
Actualización del catálogo de Longicornios de Marruecos Actualisation du catalogue des Longicornes du Maroc (Parte I / Partie I : Prioninae, Aseminae, Saphaninae)
Revue de l'Association Roussillonnaise d'Entomologie (R.A.R.E.) 27 (3): 130-140, 2018 [download ]