Phymatodes nigrescens Hardy and Preece

Swift, Ian P. & Ray, Ann M., 2010, Nomenclatural changes in North American Phymatodes Mulsant (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Zootaxa 2448, pp. 35-52 : 45-46

Phymatodes nigrescens Hardy and Preece , NEW STATUS

(Figs 23, 24)

Phymatodes vulneratus var. nigrescens Hardy and Preece, 1927:190 . Type locality: Sydney, British Columbia, Canada. CNC

Phymatodes oregonensis Chemsak, 1963:39 . Type locality: Grave Creek, Josephine County, Oregon, USA. CASC NEW SYNONYMY

Chemsak (1963) diagnosed his P. oregonensis from the Pacific Northwest with P. a t e r from eastern North America , noting that the two species were most similar. However, among North American Phymatodes , P. oregonensis appears most similar to P. vulneratus . In fact, the name P. vulneratus var. nigrescens Hardy and Preece was already available for populations in the Pacific Northwest and has priority over Chemsak’s P. oregonensis . The type of P. v. var. nigrescens matches P. oregonensis , and the type series of this taxon extends the range of this species into Washington and British Columbia.

Linsley (1964) noted that P. oregonensis “resembles the dark forms of P. vulneratus LeConte , but the elytral punctation differs greatly in the two species”, without further elaboration. Phymatodes nigrescens is in fact distinct from these dark forms of P. vulneratus as well. It can be separated from both bicolored and unicolored forms of P. vulneratus by the coarsely punctate apical one-half of the elytra; the overall more coarsely, sparsely punctate elytra; and the narrower, sinuate antemedian fasciae. Phymatodes vulneratus has impunctate, rugose elytral apices; more finely and densely punctate elytra at the basal one-half; and thinner, more linear, parallel-sided antemedial fasciae.

Under ICZN (1999) article 45.6.4, the infrasubspecific variety named by Hardy and Preece is considered subspecific, and therefore an available name.

Specimens examined: 123, including the type of P. v. var. nigrescens , P. oregonensis , and P. vulneratus