Paragrilus exiguus (Chevrolat)

Hespenheide, Henry A., 2002, A review of North and Central American Paragrilus Saunders, 1871 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), Zootaxa 43, pp. 1-28 : 9-10

Paragrilus exiguus (Chevrolat)

( Figs. 4 , 22 )

Aphanisticus exiguus Chevrolat, 1835 : no. 146.

Paragrilus exiguus (Chevrolat) , Saunders, 1871: 127.

Diagnosis: Slender, black throughout, with faint golden reflections on elytra; 2.7­4.35 mm long. Head with front convex, narrowly, moderately impressed along midline on upper 2/ 3; epistoma depressed and rather narrow between antennal insertions, ventral margin slightly produced, shallowly emarginate with acute lateral angles; surface finely punctate, shagreened. Pronotum very convex, almost globose, prehumeral callosity weakly indicated by shallow lateral depressions; disc rather strongly depressed along basal margin, slightly interrupted by narrow raised area before scutellum; surface weakly, finely rugose. Elytra with posthumeral carina extending to beyond posterior coxae, surface rugose; apices broadly rounded­subquadrate. Posterior angles of hind coxae acutely rounded, slightly flared. Male genitalia black with transparent tips to lateral lobes ( Fig. 22 ).

Type: “ Type./exigua Chevr./Saunders., 74.18.” (BMNH).

Distribution: Southern México (Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Veracruz), Honduras.

Specimens examined: Honduras: Fco. Morazan, Esc. Agr. Panamericana Zamorano, 22.05.1988, R.D. Cave (EAPZ).

Host: Unknown, probably Sida spp.

Discussion: It is tempting to consider this species as a local, well­marked form of the widely distributed and variable rugatulus , but the very consistent body form and different male genitalia make exiguus distinct.

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.