Ropalopus (Ropalopus) clavipes (Fabricius, 1775)
[= Rhopalopus clavipes (Fabricius, 1775)]

Subfamilia: CERAMBYCINAE  /  Tribus: CALLIDIINI
Ropalopus clavipes
[Photo © Daniel Rydzi]

Ropalopus clavipes, an Euro-Anatolian thermophile faunistic element widespread from the Iberian Peninsula to Northern Iran, inhabits forest-steppes, deciduous forests margins, old orchards and abandoned gardens. Broadly polyphagous species in deciduous trees, but in cultural landscape prefers fruit trees (Malus, Prunus, Persica, Armeniaca, Juglans), but also develops in Quercus, Ulmus, Salix, Fagus, Acer, Alnus, Castanea, Corylus, Rhamnus, Paliurus, Pistacia, Populus, Crataegus, Carpinus, Vitis. Larval development in branches and thinner trunks (diameter 2-14 cm) of strongly weakened, dying or freshly dead trees or dying parts of living trees. The larvae feed subcortically and create wide flat in sapwood imprinted galleries, intersecting each other in case of stronger host tree infestation. Before entering the wood, the galleries expand into areas up to 4 × 9 cm in size. After creating a slightly sloping wide enter hole, the larvae continue in feeding in the sapwood/heartwood and create the hook-shaped pupal cells. Life cycle 1 or 2 years (depends on climatic and feeding conditions). Adults, active from May to July, can be found on the host trees and also visit flowers and blossoming shrubs. R. clavipes is one of the endangered and extinct species of longhorn beetles in Central Europe, in contrast to Southern Europe, where it belongs to the common species.

Body length:9 - 25 mm
Life cycle:1 - 2 years
Adults in:May - August
Host plant:broadly polyphagous in deciduous trees
Distribution:Europe except North, Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Near East, Iran

[❖]
Sláma M.E.F.:
Tesaříkovití – Cerambycidae České republiky a Slovenské republiky / Cerambycidae of the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.
Milan Sláma private printing, Krhanice, 383pp [pages 127-128], 1998 [ISBN: 80-238-2627-1]. [download pdf icon]


Ropalopus clavipes
[Photo © Daniel Rydzi]


 
SubfamiliaCerambycinae Latreille, 1802
TribusCallidiini Mulsant, 1839
GenusRopalopus Mulsant, 1839
SubgenusRopalopus Mulsant, 1839
SpeciesRopalopus (Ropalopus) clavipes (Fabricius, 1775)