Agrilus erici, Curletti, Gianfranco, 2010

Curletti, Gianfranco, 2010, New species of the genus Agrilus Curtis, 1825, from Nicaragua and Panamá (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), Zootaxa 2333, pp. 59-68 : 59-60

Agrilus erici n. sp.

( Figure 1 )

Type specimens. Holotype 3: Nicaragua, Granada, Domitila, 07–09.VI.2004, leg. Eric van den Berghe und Heinz Dauber ( MCCI).

Description of holotype. Length 9.6 mm. Dorsal color black, not metallic, with exception of elytral apex that appears metallic red with strong reflections. Body elongate, with spots of yellow pubescence concentrated on pronotum and at base of elytra. Head flat, eyes large, vertex less than 1/3 of width of anterior margin of pronotum. Frons with yellow pubescence covering integument. Clypeus separated from frons by a transverse carina. Antennae long, serrate from antennomere 4. Pronotum wider at posterior 2/3, with lateral margins slightly arcuate and posterior angles obtuse. Disc irregular, with large median depression. Sculpture superficial, tending to disappear along central sulcus. Pubescence at sides and at base, like frons. Premarginal carinulae strong, straight, as long as half of pronotum. Lateral and sublateral carinae confluent at basal 1/3. Scutellum transverse, glabrous, carinate. Elytra elongate, sinuate before strongly denticulate apex, with larger tooth near middle. Disc with longitudinal carina at halfway point of width, limiting a depression along suture. Strong yellow pubescence at base, forming large spot with pubescence on basal portion of pronotum. Other small spots on remaining surface, irregularly arranged. Sterna and lateroterga black, covered with regular yellow pubescence. Legs with bronze reflection. Metatarsus very long, as long as metatibia, with first metatarsomere longer than following three (1>2+3+4). Anterior claws bifid, median and posterior mucronate. Aedeagus thin and elongate, black, sclerotized. Median lobe subacute (figure 11).

Etymology. This new species name honors of one of the collectors: Eric van den Berghe.

Comments. A. erici n. sp. belongs to a group of Neotropical species characterized by having the pronotum excavate in middle and elytra caudate. The pubescence, together with the form of the elytral apex, separates this species from all others.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. 1. Agrilus erici n. sp., holotype. 2. Agrilus dauberi n. sp., holotype. 3. Agrilus dauberi n. sp., paratype Ƥ, 8.8 mm. 4. Agrilus goldsteini n. sp., holotype. 5. Agrilus ivetteae n. sp., holotype. 6 Agrilus semicinctus n. sp.,