Phylogeographic Investigation of an Endangered Longhorn Beetle, Callipogon relictus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), in Northeast Asia: Implications for Future Restoration in Korea.

The longhorn beetle, Callipogon (Eoxenus) relictus Semenov, is the only remnant species found in the Palearctic region, while all other Callipogon species are distributed mainly in Central America and partly in South America. This species has been placed in the first category (as 'critically endangered') of the Red Data Book in Russia and designated as one of the top-priority target species among all endangered invertebrate species for restoration in South Korea since 2006. Although its restricted distribution in Northeast Asia with a high conservational value has been highlighted, genetic features of C. relictus from different geographic regions remain unexplored. We first investigated the level of genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of C. relictus to evaluate the current conservational status and the feasibility of the implementation of a restoration program. The average genetic divergence of mitochondrial gene COI based on Kimura-2-parameter distance among the four regions in Russia, China, North Korea, and South Korea was 2.2%, which lies within the range of intraspecific levels. However, two separate clades with 3.8% divergence were identified, despite no geographical clustering of haplotypes. The linear pattern of the haplotype network with a high level of haplotype and nucleotide diversities suggests that the wide range of currently fragmented populations might be the remnant of genetically diverse populations in the past. This study will provide crucial information on the genetic characteristics and phylogeographic history of C. relictus, which will help to establish conservation strategies for this cherished insect species in Northeast Asia.

Survey research on the habitation and biological information of Callipogonrelictus Semenov in Gwangneung forest, Korea and Ussurisky nature reserve, Russia (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae).

An investigation on the habitation of Callipogonrelictus Semenov, 1899 in Gwangneung forest was carried out, where the Korea National Arboretum is located. In an investigation spanning the last eleven years (2007-2017), 22 emergence holes, nine pupal chambers, six adults, and two larvae of C.relictus were identified. In this study, biological information about habitation of C.relictus is provided by comparing and combining the results of this investigation with a survey conducted in Ussurisky Nature Reserve, Russia, in 2015. The distribution is also reviewed to include the Korean Peninsula and a new location of South Korea is added to the distribution for C.relictus.

Distribution of the longhorned beetle Callipogon relictus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Northeast Asia.

The distribution of the longhorned beetle Callipogon (Eoxenus) relictus Semenov, 1899 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Northeast Asia was summarized for the first time, based on the examination of comprehensive material. Callipogon relictus is the only representative of the genus Callipogon in the Palearctic region. Its distribution ranges from Shanxi province (China) in the south, northward through the Korean Peninsula to Amur Oblast (Russia), and from Inner Mongolia (China) in the west to the coastal area of the Russian Far East.

Morphological anomalies of endangered Korean relict long-horned beetle Callipogon relictus (Cerambycidae, Coleoptera) during ontogenesis and possible causes of their occurrence.

This paper describes for the first time cases of exogenous morphological anomalies that occur during rearing of Callipogon relictus Semenov, 1899 in a laboratory setting. The highest frequency of the anomalies has been observed during pupation. It can be assumed that in beetles of this group, at final stages of ontogenesis, some abiotic factors such as humidity and temperature play an important role.