Acmaeodera mariposa dohrni Horn, 1878

Westcott, R. L. & Nelson, G. H., 2000, Descriptions Of Two New Species Of Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, And Two New Subspecies Of Agrilus Curtis And Chrysobothris Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) In North America, With Detailed Notes On Others, The Coleopterists Bulletin 54 (3), pp. 300-312 : 301

Acmaeodera mariposa dohrni Horn , new status

Acmaeodera dohrni Horn 1878:15 ; Fall 1899:24; Barr 1975:412. Acmaeodera mariposa bernardino Van Dyke 1937:109 ; Barr 1975:412 (syn.

of dohrni ).

After studying about 500 specimens of these taxa from throughout their combined range, we conclude that only subspecific distinction is warranted. Under Article 24 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1985), acting as first revisers, we choose A. mariposa to take precedence. Based upon these specimens, the nominate subspecies ranges from southwestern Oregon southward in California through the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the transverse ranges at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, and through the coastal ranges to Santa Clara Co. In the latter region the subspecies appear to meet, although insufficient material was available to accurately assess limits of intergradation. The range of A. m. dohrni extends at least as far south as San Diego Co. Specimens from the outer Coast Range of Monterey Co. represent by far the northernmost occurrence known to us. Besides (usually) distribution, the only reliable means to separate these taxa is ground color, which is usually more or less distinctly blue in the nominate form, bronzy black in A. m. dohrni . However, specimens with bluish reflection were seen from well within the range of the latter subspecies. Collectively there is considerable variation in overall size and shape, and in configuration of the elytral markings. In A. m. mariposa the second elytral marking usually is larger than in A. m. dohrni and the apical one often is more reduced or even absent. The close association of both taxa with Cercocarpus betuloides Nutt. ex T.&G. provides further evidence of their relationship.