Chrysobothris purpureovittata purpureovittata Horn

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 : 309-310

Chrysobothris purpureovittata purpureovittata Horn , new status

This subspecies has been recorded from Indiana to Mississippi, west through

Texas. Records from Arizona and Lower California listed in Chamberlin (1926) were referred to C. purpureoplagiata Schaeffer by Fisher (1942). The following specimens represent a new state record from New Mexico: Lincoln Co., Valley of Fires, 1585 m, 11­VII­84, on Celtis sp. ; Otero Co., 2 mi NE Mayhill, 12­VII­84, on Cercocarpus montanus Raf. , both RLWE. It has been reared from several hosts, and the adults are collected on many other plants.

Cazier (1951) recorded C. purpureoplagiata from Chihuahua, Mexico. His description of the two specimens available for study leaves no doubt that instead it should be C. p. purpureovittata . This and a specimen of C. p. purpureovittata from Nuevo Leon, 3 mi S Montemorelos, 23­VI­71, RLWE, represent a new record for Mexico. This is consistent with our knowledge of the distribution of these species and the occurrence of like forms of the latter in Big Bend National Park, Texas, which borders Chihuahua. Given the wide distribution of C. purpureovittata , it is not surprising that it exhibits a great deal of variation. In fact, the limits between this species and C. purpureoplagiata are not well defined, with populations going under that name being highly variable too. This area is fertile ground for further study.