Paragrilus modicus (Solier)

(Figs. 5, 23)

Agrilus modicus Solier, 1833: 304 .

Paragrilus modicus (Solier), Saunders, 1871: 127.

Paragrilus vavrai Obenberger, 1924: 150 (synonymy: Hespenheide1979: 117).

Diagnosis: Robust, head and pronotum black, elytra with dark purple reflections, [] mm long. Head with front convex, eyes prominent, rather broadly, moderately impressed along midline on upper 2/3; epistoma depressed and rather narrow between antennal insertions, ventral margin slightly produced, subtruncate or shallowly emarginate; surface obsoletely, finely punctate, shagreened. Pronotum broader than long, shallowly convex, almost flattened, prehumeral callosity strongly indicated by narrow, deep lateral depressions; disc rather strongly depressed along basal margin; surface rugose. Elytra with posthumeral carina extending to beyond hind coxae, surface weakly rugose, with third interval raised and weak raised callosities at apical 1/3; apices broadly rounded­subquadrate. Posterior angles of hind coxae subquadrate, slightly flared. Male genitalia dark brown, paler medially, with transparent tips to lateral lobes (Fig. 23).

Type: of Agrilus modicus, “ Columbia “ (MNHN; Hespenheide 1979); of P. vavrai, Costa­Rica (NMPC).

Distribution: Costa Rica to South America.

Specimens examined: Colombia: Valle, Rio Jamundi, 10 mi S Cali, 3000’ 25.II.1970, H.F. Howden (CMNC).

Host: Adults collected on Sida spp.

Discussion: This species is very similar to P. rugatulus and the two may well only be geographic variants of a single species. More extensive collections must be made between Costa Rica and Guatemala to determine the relationship of these two forms.