Nascioides subcostatus, Williams, Geoff & Bellamy, Charles L., 2002

Williams, Geoff & Bellamy, Charles L., 2002, New species and new records for the genus Nascioides Kerremans, 1903 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Zootaxa 58, pp. 1-9 : 4-5

Nascioides subcostatus sp. nov.

Figure 4

Description of holotype. Size: 11. 4 x 3.6 mm. Colour: dorsal and

ventral surface black, lustrous; head, antennae, anterior margin of

pronotum and forelegs with metallic, coppery reflections. Each

elytron with a single large yellow spot or subfascia located approxi-

mately 2/3 distad from base, each subfascia extending from lateral

margins to approximately interval 3. Shape and sculpture: head

slightly impressed between eyes and antennal insertions; with

slightly impunctate area between eyes; anterior clypeal margin con- FIGURE 4. cave medially; strongly and coarsely punctate; width of punctures Nascioides sub-

costatus , sp. usually greater than width of intervening spaces; individual punctures nov. (female often coalescent; setose, setae obvious, silver, curved. Antennae set- paratype) dorose; serrate from antennomere 4; 1 elongate, slightly curved, longer sal habitus, than 2 + 3, 2 about as long as 3, 4 slightly longer than following. Pro- length 11 mm.

notum widest at posterior angles, posterior angles acute; with broad medial depression extending from proximity of scutellum nearly to anterior margin; with 4 large shallow lateral impressions, 2 either side of disc; lateral margins setose, setae silver, adpressed; deeply and coarsely punctate; width of punctures greater than that of intervening spaces; intervening spaces slightly granulose - lustrous. Scutellum deeply impressed, granulose. Scutellum deeply impressed, granulose. Elytra coarsely and deeply punctate-rugose; intervening spaces granulose; basal margin rugulose; interval 3 subcostate to approximately 2/ 3 distad, remainder carinate to apex; smooth, slightly punctate in basal 1/2; interval 5 slightly raised – subcostate in basal 1/3; often coarsely punctate­rugose; lateral margins serrate in apical 1/2; apices with a small but distinct lateral spine. Ventral surface, including legs, densely setose, prosternum, mesosternum, metasternum, and pronotal hypomeron more so; last abdominal segment rounded apically.

Var ia t io n. Size: 9.5 – 13.2 x 3 – 4.1 mm. Large females generally lack metallic reflections, and possess a small, impunctate, area or keel situated between the eyes. A single small female in the paratype series possesses metallic coloration similar to the holotype and lacks the frontal keel or impunctate area. Last abdominal segment in females as in holotype male.

Specimens examined. Holotype, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Windsor Tablelands, 5 January 1991, G. Wood and J. Hasenpusch (QM). Paratypes 4, Queensland, same data as holotype; 1, same locality, 9 February 1991, on tree trunk; 1, same locality, 12 February 1991 (DPIC, GWC).

Etymology. The specific epithet is chosen to reflect the perceived ‘nearness’ to N. costatus (Carter, 1912) .

Remarks. Nascioides subcostatus differs from all other known Australian species by its distinct black body coloration and single yellow subfascia on each elytron.