Phymatodes nigerrimus Van Dyke

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

Phymatodes nigerrimus Van Dyke

(Fig. 22)

Phymatodes nigerrimus Van Dyke, 1920:35 . Type locality: Carrville, Trinity County, California, USA. CASC

Phymatodes nigerrimus superficially resembles P. grandis . Linsley (1964) noted that “this species is distinct by reason of the very slender antennae with the second segment about one-third as long as the third; the small head, which is commonly retracted within the prothorax and the shape and sculpturing of the pronotum.” He did not say, however, what other species was used in this comparison. Most likely, he was referring to P. grandis (his P. lecontei ), which differs by all these characters. The retracted head, however, is a condition sporadically present in specimens of several Phymatodes species, and appears to be an artifact of curation. In addition to the characters used by Linsley, P. nigerrimus may further be separated from P. grandis by the coarsely punctate pronotum; antennomere II about one-half the length of III; the coarsely, densely, rugosely punctate elytra with uniformly short, subappressed setae; and the lack of long, erect setae on the head, antennae, and legs.

Two distinct populations of P. nigerrimus appear to be present in California; one found in the central and northern coast ranges, the other in the Sierra Nevada. While only three Sierra Nevadan specimens have been examined, they all have distinctly more rounded, elongate pronota, which lack areas of micropunctation in the center of the disk; and longer maxillary palpi, in which the apical palpomere is strongly, obliquely dilated. Without additional specimens, especially from more widely separated localities, further taxonomic action seems premature. However, with more specimens, this population may prove distinct.

Specimens examined: 39, including the type of P. nigerrimus