The Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) of the Bahama Islands with an analysis of species-area relationships, distribution patterns, origin of the fauna and an annotated species list

Abstract

A summary is presented of the 63 species of Cerambycidae known from the Bahamas Islands, based mainly on a collection made in 1987 on Andros Island, supplemented by new literature records and material from other islands and collections. The Andros Island collection represented nearly 50% (31 spp.) of the species known from the Bahamas, and increased the number of species known from Andros by over 70% (16 spp.). New records are also given for Eleuthera Island, Great Exuma, Man-o-war Cay, Crooked Islands, New Providence, San Salvador, Abaco, Booby Cay, South Bimini, Long Islands, Grand Bahama, Mayaguana, Ragged Islands, Rum Cay and Nurse Cay. Six species are new to the Bahamas and one species is a new record for the Caribbean region. Sixteen endemic species are present. Log species-log area relationships for the islands form a significant regression line as predicted by the equilibrium theory of island biogeography. Comparison of the distributions of Bahamian tree species and cerambycids is significant. It is likely that these phytophagous beetles followed the same dispersal pattern as trees. Since the Bahamas were entirely submerged in the Pliocene, the Bahamian cerambycid fauna (and all other terrestrial biotas) is predominantly the result of late Pleistocene and Recent Overwater dispersal from Cuba and secondarily from Hispaniola, and Florida.

Key Words:

• Cerambycidae
• island biogeography
• origins
• distribution patterns
• trees
• fauna
• Bahamas