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Limb amputation by male Neotropical longhorn beetles during competition for females

Amputación de extremidades por parte de los escarabajos longicornios Neotropicales machos durante la lucha por las hembras

The biology and mating behaviour of the spectacularly large and brightly coloured Neotropical longhorn beetle Schwarzerion holochlorum Bates 1872 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is largely unknown. For the first time I report and photographically document violent male-male competitions for females involving frequent amputations of competitors' legs and antennae.

amputations; male-male competition; Palo Verde National Reserve; Costa Rica; longhorn beetle; Cerambycidae; mating system


Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade | BIOTA - FAPESP Departamento de Biologia Vegetal - Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP CP 6109, 13083-970 - Campinas/SP, Tel.: (+55 19) 3521-6166, Fax: (+55 19) 3521-6168 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
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