Bull


 

 

1 

George Simon 
 

Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. 

(2014) 13 (1): 1-3 

 

FIRST RECORD OF BOSTRICHUS CAPUCINUS ( L.) ( COLEOPTERA: 

BOSTRICHIDAE ) IN IRAQ 

 

George Simon 

Department of Biology, College of Science,  Diyala University, Diyala, Iraq 

 

ABSTRACT 
   The species Bostrichus capucinus  (L.) (Coleoptera:Bostrichidae) was reported as a new 

record for Iraq. Diagnostic characters and some information are given . 

  

Key word: Bostrichidae, Bostrichus, capucinus, first record, Iraq. 

 

INTRODUCTION 
    Bostrichidae is a medium  sized (~ 500 species) family of beetles, often referred to as 

powder-post beetles because of their ability to reduce wood or bamboo to thin external shell 

covering the frass produced by the boring activities of the adult and larvae (Roger et al 2011). 

The borers (Bostrichidae, Curculionidae, Platyponidae, and Scolytinae) attack the wood at all 

stages from log to seasoned wood and furnished products (Findlay, 1985 ). 

  

    The species Bostrichus capucinus (L.) is found in all Europe (except in Norway, Sweden, 

Scotland, Ireland  and Northern Russia), Mediteranian Islands, Morocco, Algeria and Northern 

Tunis, Asia Minor,  Syria and Caucasus (Fisher, 1950). 

 

    In 1843, Du Boys presented to A Coleopterous insects, also the Soclete d Agriculture of 

Limoges some stereo typed plates composed as is known, of very hard alloy formed of 

antimony and lead which had been pierced and riddled with holes by 2 specimens of 

Bostrichus. 

 

    The holes were seventh of an inch in diameter, by 2 inches in depth. Before this, parts of 

leaden roofs at La Rochelle had been noticed not only gnawed but pierced from one side to the 

other by the larvae of Bostrichus capucinus (Figuier, 1968). Experiments indicating that larvae 

of  B. capucinus developed faster in roots than in branched (Pranter , 1960). 

 

    During field study carried out in Diyala Governorate, middle of Iraq in 2011, we collected 

unknown insects from branches of pomegranate trees from Gesub Village in Khalis directorate 

(about 15 km north of Baquba city). 

 

    The insect has been identified by Dr. M. S. Abdul-Rassoul and Dr. R. S. Augul at Iraq 

National History Research Center and Museum, according to the letter No. 488 on 7
th

 April 

2013  as Bostrichus capucinus (L.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). It is important to mention that 

this is the first record to this species in Iraq. 

                                                                                           

DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS 
    The descriptions given below are based on those of Fisher, 1950: Male: Elongate, slightly 

depressed, black,except elytron and four posterior abdominal sternites, which are red, antenna 

palpi, labrum and tarsi reddish brown.  

 



 

 

2 

First Record of Bostrichus capucinus 
 

    Head much narrower than pronotum, uneven, sometimes with more or less distinct 

longitudinal groove on vertex, coarsely confluently, rugosely punctate, sparsely clothed with 

long, erectate and inconspicuous hairs. 

 

    Pronotum slightly wider than long. Widest near middle, strongly deflexed on apical half. 

Surface uneven, densely, irregularly punctate, coarsely confluently, granulose between 

punctures with numerous, irregularly placed, broad, rasplike teeth at sides on anterior half, and 

a transversely arcuate ridge. Which is interrupted at middle, near anterior margin, rather 

densely clothed with long, erect, brownish hairs, at sides and long anterior margins. 

 

    Elytron at base subequal in width, to pronotum at middle with narrow, smooth, costa, 

extending along lateral margins, surface glabrous shining, denes, deeply coarsely punctate. 

Body beneath densely , finely punctate, sparsely clothed with long, semierect hairs on sternum 

and apex of last abdominal sternite, with very short and recumbent inconspicuous hairs on 

abdomen, posterior  tarsi armed on under side with long silky, brown hairs.  

 

Female: different from the male in not having the long, silky, brown hairs on the underside of 

the posterior tarsi. Length : 7.5 -16  mm, width  2.5 – 5.5 mm. 

 

LITERATURE CITED 
Figuier, L.  1968. Full text of “The insect world : being popular account of the orders insects, 

together with a description of the habits and economy of the some of the most 

interesting   species “ Chapman and Hall .193 Picadilly , London  538 pp. 

 

Findlay, W.P.K.  1985. Presentation of the timber in the tropics, Martinus Nijhoff/W. J. unk 

publishers, Dordecht, the Netherland. 237 pp. 

 

Fisher, W.S.  1950. A revision of the north American species of beetles belonging to the 

family Bostrichidae. United States department of Agriculture, Miscellaneous 

publication No. 698. Washington D.C.  53-57. 

 

Pranter, W. 1960. The natural physiology of Bostrichus Capucinus-. Zeitschrift fur 

Angewandte Zoologia .  47 ( 4 ):  385 – 430 . 

 

Roger, A. Beaver, Wisut, S. and Lan-Yu  Liu,  2011. A review of the powder –post beetles of 

Thailand.( Coleoptera : Bostrichidae ) . Tropical Natural History  11(2) : 135-158 .  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

3 

George Simon 
 

Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. 

(2014) 13 (1): 1-3 

 

ألول مرة في ( Bostrichus capucinus  (L.) (Coleoptera:Bostrichidae))لـ تسجيل جديد 

 العراق

 

 جورج سيمون

 قسم علوم الحياة/ كلية العلوم/ جامعة ديالى

 ديالى -العراق 

 

 الخالصة

ألول مرة في     Bostrichus  capucinus  ( L. )تضمنت الدراسة الحالية تسجيل الحشرة      

 .العراق مع ذكر الصفات التشخيصية للنوع ومعلومات اخرى عنه