Chrysobothris mali Horn, 1886

Westcott, Richard L., 2023, New host and distribution records plus additional notes for North American species of Chrysobothris Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), with designation of a lectotype for Chrysobothris vulcanica LeConte, 1861, Insecta Mundi 2023 (967), pp. 1-10 : 5

Chrysobothris mali Horn, 1886

The common name Pacific flatheaded borer for this often-destructive species is a misnomer, as it is common and widely distributed west of the Rocky Mountains, with isolated records to the east. Burke and Boving (1929) listed 70 host plants belonging to 40 genera and 21 families. They did not clearly distinguish larval hosts from adult hosts, though in my opinion most are the former. All hosts listed by Nelson et al. (2008) are listed as larval hosts. Here are two more: Reared from Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. (Rosaceae) , Idaho, Idaho Co., John Day Cr., Salmon Riv. Cyn., June 1962 and Owyhee Co., Juniper Mt., 17-V-1965, W. F. Barr, WFBM; Ribes erythrocarpum Coville (Grossulariaceae) , Oregon, Klamath Co., Crater Lake Nat. Park, 27-VII-68, F. M. & V. S. Beer, OSAC, WFBM (new larval hosts). This species is highly variable, exhibiting a variety of phenotypes and sizes (“ 6.5 to 11 mm,” [ Fisher, 1942]). Some might be considered as separate species were it not for the consistent form of the male genitalia. The variability should not come as a surprise considering the tremendous variety of hosts for this species