Macrotoma palmata Fabricius, 1793

family CERAMBYCIDAE Latreille, 1802
subfamily Prioninae Latreille, 1802
tribe Macrotomini J. Thomson, 1861
genus Macrotoma Audinet-Serville, 1832
palmata Fabricius, 1793

Macrotoma palmata Fabricius, 1793

Distribution:
NORTH AFRICA - AG EG LB MO ASIA - SA YE AFR

Adults of Macrotoma palmata were collected on their host Acacia tortilis near Germa, Fezzan, in Libya by our friend Jean-Claude Ringenbach. As for the species' distribution in North Africa it has previously only been known from Algeria and Egypt. Therefore this record represents a new species for Libya. According to Jean-Claude the species seems to be quite common in convenient habitats in the Messak Plateau. Attacked host trees have also been observed in Wadi Iyadar in the Akakus range.

Body length: 25 - 60 mm
Life cycle: several years
Adults in: May - October
Host plant: Acacia tortilis, Acacia nilotica
Distribution: Algeria, Egypt, Libya