Phymatodes hirtellus (LeConte)

Swift, Ian P. & Ray, Ann M., 2010, Nomenclatural changes in North American Phymatodes Mulsant (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Zootaxa 2448, pp. 35-52 : 43-44

Phymatodes hirtellus (LeConte)

(Figs 14, 15, 16)

Callidium hirtellum LeConte, 1873:172 . Type locality: Nevada, USA. MCZC

Phymatodes hirtellus densipennis Casey, 1912:284 . Type locality: New Mexico, USA. USNM NEW SYNONYMY Phymatodes ursae Knull, 1940:556 . Type locality: Yellowstone National Park, USA. FMNH NEW SYNONYMY

This species is wide-ranging throughout western North America on Pinus spp. ( Pinaceae ). There appears to be no pattern of distribution to the color forms, which have been collected throughout the entire range of the species, and reared from the same branches (pers. obs.). Separation of any color form is not possible.

Phymatodes ursae Knull was described from one specimen collected at Yellowstone National Park. Since its original description, no additional information on this species has been published. A series of 28 specimens from Midday Valley, British Columbia, Canada reared from Pinus ponderosa by C. Lawson (CASC, EMEC) match the type of this species as well as display a gradient of color forms encompassing those exhibited by specimens assigned to the nominotypical P. h i r t e l l u s and P. h. densipennis . This suggests that the entirely dark phenotype of P. u r s a e is merely a color variety of P. h i r t e l l u s and not of specific significance. Phymatodes ursae also shares many characters with P. hirtellus , including the large, rounded pronotum, often with callosities on the disk in females; short, somewhat bicolored antennae, with antennomere II one-half the length of III; and the even, coarse punctation and setation of the elytra. See the discussion of P. a t e r as well.

Specimens examined: 122, including the types of P. hirtellus , P. u r s a e, and P. densipennis