Paragrilus transitorius Waterhouse

Hespenheide, Henry A., 2002, A review of North and Central American Paragrilus Saunders, 1871 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), Zootaxa 43, pp. 1-28 : 9

Paragrilus transitorius Waterhouse

( Figs. 3 , 21 )

Paragrilus transitorius Waterhouse, 1889: 126 .

Paragrilus cordai Obenberger, 1924: 150 (synonymy: Hespenheide1979: 118). Paragrilus modicus ssp. hansi Obenberger, 1924: 151 (synonymy: Hespenheide1979: 118). Paragrilus modicus ssp. vimmeri Obenberger, 1924: 152 (synonymy: Hespenheide1979: 118).

Diagnosis: Agriliform, head black with aeneous reflections, pronotum reddish purple, elytra with dark blue reflections, 3.35­4.9 mm long. Head with front convex, broadly, deeply impressed along midline above middle; epistoma depressed and medially carinate between antennal insertions, ventral margin not produced, broadly, weakly rounded; surface finely punctate, shagreened. Pronotum convex, prehumeral callosity moderately well indicated by shallow lateral depressions; disc narrowly raised before scutellum, with small oval depressions on either side along basal margin, surface obsoletely rugose, nearly smooth, shagreened. Elytra with posthumeral carina extending to just beyond posterior coxae, surface weakly rugose, shagreened, with first three intervals weakly raised at base; apices broadly rounded­subquadrate. Posterior angles of hind coxae broadly acute, flared. Male genitalia black with transparent tips to lateral lobes ( Fig. 21 ).

Type: México: “Teapa, Tabasco, March H.H.S.” (Lectotype, BMNH; Hespenheide 1979); of P. cordai , Guatemala (NMPC); of P. modicus s. hansi, Costa­Rica, Surrubres, 300’, A. Heyne (NMPC); of P. modicus s. vimmeri, Costa­Rica, Higuito (NMPC).

Distribution: Common ­ 168 specimens examined, México to South America. Specimens examined: Costa Rica: Heredia Pr., La Selva Biol. Sta., 3 km S Pto. Viejo, 10° 26’ N 84° 01’ W, 0 5.04.1980, 16.07.1992, 18.07.1994, 24, 26.07.1996, H.A. Hespenheide, at Sida (CHAH); M/01/016, 0 2.03.1993 (INBC). Colombia, Valle, Rio Jamundi, 10 mi S Cali, 3000’ 25.II.1970, H.F. Howden (CMNC).

Host: Adults collected on Sida spp.

Discussion: This species is not very variable. The acuminate male genitalia ( Figure 21 ) are very distinctive. See also discussion under P. vicinus .

Figures

FIGURES 1 ­ 6. North and Central American Paragrilus, dorsal view ­ P. rugatulus group ­ 1. P. lesueuri Waterhouse; 2. P. vicinus Waterhouse; 3. P. transitorius Waterhouse; 4. P. exiguus (Chevrolat); 5. P. modicus (Solier); 6. P. rugatulus Thomson.

FIGURES 19 ­ 34. North and Central American Paragrilus, dorsal and lateral views of aedeagi ­ P. rugatulus group ­ 19. P. lesueuri Waterhouse; 20. P. vicinus Waterhouse; 21. P. transitorius Waterhouse; 22. P. exiguus (Chevrolat); 23. P. modicus (Solier); 24. P. rugatulus Thomson; P. trifoveolatus group ­ 25. P. tenuis (LeConte); 26. P. impressus (Chevrolat); 27. P. azureus n. sp.; 28. P. trifoveolatus Waterhouse; 29. P. fallorum n. sp.; P. aeraticollis group ­ 30. P. aeraticollis Waterhouse; 31. P. akersorum n. sp.; 32. P. burkei n. sp.; 33. P. heliocarpi n. sp.; 34. P. moldenkei n. sp.