Information: Mallodon downesii, is probably the most common Prionian on the African continent, with a very wide geographical distribution linked to the great diversity of its host plants. It can be captured in the open savannah as well as in the primary forest of the Congo Basin. Few are the genera distributed across both the African and American continents. It is also remarkable to note that only one species has colonized all of Africa compared to about twenty for America.
Body length: 29 - 70 mm
Peak activity: January - December (according to the rainy season in the region)
East Africa: November - June
West Africa: May - October
South Africa: October - March
Remarks: The species occurs during the main rainy season, occasionally in the off-season. During the day, it hides under the bark, in various crevices. They are active at night when they come out of hiding. They are often attracted to light sources.
Distribution: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic Central African, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, São Tomé, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zoogeographic region: Afrotropical
Taxonomic classification:
Katalog und Fotoatlas der Bockkäfer Äthiopiens | Adlbauer 2015 Katalog und Fotoatlas der Bockkäfer Namibias | Adlbauer 2001
Material examined (& observation):
Ethiopia 
Oromia State | Bale prov.
Bale Mountains NP | Harenna Forest
23km NW Mena
(GPS) 
Altitude 1750 m a.s.l. | 28.5.2015
Our observation period: March ~ June
Sampling Methods: Attracted to light trap 
EthiopiaPrioninae of the world (Jiří Pirk) - photos of the type material
Prioninae of the world
The World of Prioninae (Norbert Delahaye)
Coleoptera Cerambycidae Prioninae
