Agrilus bellamyi Hespenheide, 2010

Hespenheide, Henry A., 2010, New Agrilus Curtis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from México and Costa Rica mimicking parasitic wasps, Zootaxa 2545, pp. 39-46 : 41

Agrilus bellamyi Hespenheide , New Species

( Figs. 4, 5 , 10 )

Description. Holotype female: Rather robust, in cross-section flattened above, convex below, 7.30 mm long, 2.20 mm wide; head, pronotum and anterior1/2 of elytra dark metallic red, antennae, tibiae, large oval spot beyond middle of elytra and for 1/4 length, and beneath black; complex pattern of setae: pale, recumbent, and relatively inconspicuous on front, basal 1/10 and apical 1/5 of elytra, and beneath, denser along lateral margins of pronotum, on pronotal hypomeron, lateral portions of metasternum, posterior coxae, dorsal portion of abdominal ventrites, and antero-lateral portions of abdominal ventrites 2 and 3; setae denser and golden on elytra in basal depressions, in narrow line along basal 1/2 of suture, in broad, oblique band before middle from suture to lateral margins and in broad oblique band at apical 1/4 of elytra; disc of pronotum, large oval spot and area between base and middle of elytra glabrous.

Head with front only slightly convex, with weak depression along midline, surface weakly rugose; epistoma with transverse ridge between antennal insertions, width 1/3 of distance between inner margins of eyes, ventral margin very shallowly emarginate, eyes oval; antennae compact, serrate from antennomere 5, antennomere 5 triangular, as wide as long, segments 6–11 broadly rounded-triangular.

Pronotum slightly narrower than elytra at posterior margin, with sides slightly emarginate at base then nearly parallel, but narrowing slightly at apex; when viewed from side marginal and submarginal carinae slightly undulate, narrowly separated for anterior 3/4; from above anterior margin weakly produced as broadly rounded lobe; basal margin shallowly angulately emarginate at middle of each elytron, shallowly emarginate before scutellum; disk convex in cross section, with broad weak transverse depression before base, weak depression along midline on anterior 1/2 and distinct narrow depressions along lateral margins and interior to prehumeral carinae; prehumeral carinae strong, slightly curved inward from posterior angles, 1/3 length of pronotum; disc distinctly, finely rugose. Scutellum pentagonal, anterior 1/2 shagreened, posterior 1/2 rugose, acute behind.

Elytra nearly parallel for basal 3/5, slightly emarginate behind humeri, lateral margins then narrowing to narrowly, separately rounded apices; disk not costate, each elytron with shallow oval depression at base; surface finely imbricate; dorsal portions of ventrites 1–3 visible from above.

Prosternum with sides of prosternal process broadening slightly between coxae to rounded-truncate apex; prosternal lobe nearly transverse. Posterior coxae with posterior margins nearly straight, upper exterior angles nearly quadrate. Abdomen with suture between ventrites 1 and 2 weakly indicated at sides, dorsal portions of ventrites 1–5 narrow, slightly broader at posterior portion of ventrite 1. Hind legs with first metatarsal segment equal in length to next three combined, tarsal claws cleft with inner portion shorter and blunter on all tarsi.

Type material. Holotype: Mexico: Michoacan, Sierra del Espinazo del Diablo, 35 km NE Arteaga, Hwy 37, 820 m, N 18o25.852’W 102 o06.268’ W, 1.viii.2005, C.L. Bellamy CLB930 ( CNIN).

Etymology. This species is named for its collector C.L. Bellamy, author of the recent world catalogue of the Buprestidae , and host of the family’s website (http://www.fond4beetles.com/ Buprestidae /index.html).

Discussion. This species is very similar to Agrilus braconicoloratus . Agrilus braconicoloratus is reddish coppery throughout, including the antennae and legs, except for the elytral spot on the posterior half of the elytral, whereas A. bellamyi has black antennae and legs and is black beneath. A. braconicoloratus is setose throughout, including the elytral spot, whereas A. bellamyi has a glabrous pronotal disc and elytral spot. There are a number of additional smaller differences, including elytral sculpture, epistomal structure, posterior coxae, setal pattern on elytra and abdominal ventrites, etc. Both Mexican species can easily be distinguished from the two Costa Rican species that follow. The Mexican species have convex fronts, coppery red pronota with prehumeral carinae, and abdominal ventrites that are extensively setose without clearly distinct patches; the Costa Rican species have fronts with strong medial depressions between somewhat bulbous/gibbous dorsal ridges, nearly black pronota that lack prehumeral carinae, and abdominal ventrites that are largely nearly glabrous except for a large, well-defined spot on the lateral portions of ventrite 3 and the dorsal portion of ventrite 1.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Adult Agrilus bellamyi on leaf, type specimen, Michoacan, México; photograph by C. L. Bellamy.

FIGURES 1 – 9. Wasp-mimicking Agrilus: A. braconicoloratus Hespenheide, figures 1 – 2, dorsal and lateral views, figure 3, male genitalia; A. bellamyi New Species, figures 4 – 5, dorsal and lateral views; A. braconoides New Species, figures 6 – 7, dorsal and lateral views; and A. lucindae New Species, figures 8 – 9, dorsal and lateral views. Scale bars = 1 mm.