Petrognatha gigas (Fabricius, 1793)

  Information: Petrognatha gigas is a fascinating species of longhorn beetle, first described by Fabricius in 1793 as Lamia gigas, originating from the tropical forests of Guinea. It is one of the largest members of the Lamiini tribe and the largest species for Africa.
The distinctly wrinkled elytra and black-brown pattern provide this beetle with excellent camouflage, despite its considerable size. It primarily inhabits tropical rainforests, the species is more commonly collected in West Africa. Due to its striking appearance, Petrognatha gigas is often sought after by local commercial collectors, despite its secretive lifestyle. Often the species is attracted to light at night.

Body length: 40 - 75 mm
Peak activity:  January - December (depends on region)

  Remarks: In 2016, a female Petrognatha gigas was attracted to a light trap on the edge of a little-known reserve in Ethiopia. The presence of large trees with numerous exit holes suggests that a stable population exists in the area. This discovery marks the first recorded occurrence of the species in Ethiopia. As the region has not yet been electrified, the absence of artificial lighting likely allowed this large species to escape notice, even by the local inhabitants.

  Distribution: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda
Zoogeographic region: Afrotropical

  Taxonomic classification:

  Katalog und Fotoatlas der Bockkäfer Äthiopiens | Adlbauer 2015

  Material examined (& observation):

Ethiopia  
Oromia State | Kefa prov.
50 km S Jimma
Chebera Churchura NP
(GPS)  
Altitude 1230 m a.s.l. | 31.3.2016
1x ♀ ~ first record for Ethiopia [Adlbauer & Beck, 2017]  

  Our observation period: March ~ April
  Sampling Methods: Attracted to light trap