Gyascutus (s. str.) planicosta, LeConte, 1860

Nelson, G. H., 2000, A revision of the subtribe Hippomelanina, part II: Gyascutus (Gyascutus) LeConte (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Journal of Natural History 34 (12), pp. 2251-2292 : 2266-2267

Gyascutus (s. str.) planicosta obliteratus (LeConte) , stat. & comb. nov.

(®gures 2, 47)

Chalcophora obliterata LeConte, 1858a: 66 .

Gyascutus obliteratus LeConte, 1860: 189 ; Horn, 1883: 287; Wickham, 1896: 162; 1902: 267; 1905: 168; Casey, 1909: 65; Obenberger, 1926: 160; Chamberlin, 1926: 204; Blackwelder, 1944: 310.

Hippomelas obliterata Kerremans, 1908: 316 ; Van Dyke, 1942: 109; Linsley & Ross, 1977: 275.

Hippomelas planicosta Cazier, 1951: 55 (part); Linsley and Ross, 1977: 276 (part). Gyascutus pistorius Casey, 1909: 63 ; Obenberger, 1926: 160, new synonymy.

Hippomelas W delis Leng, 1920: 179.

Gyascutus W delis Chamberlin, 1926: 204.

This subspecies is similar to the nominate subspecies in having the elytra moderately costate, however, typically not as distinctly so. It is usually more convex dorsally, is most commonly greenish bronze, and the smooth raised areas of the pronotum tend to be more ®nely broken. The antennae of the male are typically slightly shorter than in the nominate subspecies. In the original description, it is stated that this form was taken with the nominate subspecies, but the typical forms exempli®ed by the lectotypes probably were not taken in the same area.

Type locality:`San Diego trip’

Type material. The lectotype m of Chalcophora obliterata LeConte (MCZC) is labelled as follows: Grey disc/(red label) Type (p) 2643 (h)/ G. obliteratus LeC. (h)/(red label) LECTOTYPE Chalcophora obliterata det. G. H. Nelson ’95 (h). The lectotype lof Gyascutus pistorius Casey (USNM) (designated in Bellamy and Nelson, 1990: 294) is labelled as follows: Demming NM Aug (h)/Casey bequest 1925 (p)/(red label) TYPE USNM (p) 35710 (h)/ pistorius Csy. (h)/ LECTOTYPE (p) Gyascutus pistorius Csy. l(h) by (p) G. H. Nelson ’87 (h). One female is labelled as paralectotype.

Variation. This subspecies (180 males and 126 females examined) shows less variation than either G. p. planicosta (LeC.) or G. p. cribriceps Csy. in size, colour and structure. The colour is fairly uniform greenish bronze with variation toward either tint. The sculpture is relatively constant with elytral costae usually moderately evident. The males vary from 16.5 to 28.0 mm long (mean 5 22.2 mm, n 5 50) and 5.5±10.5 mm wide (mean5 8.2 mm, n 5 50); females from 16.5 to 27.0 mm long (mean 5 23.1 mm, n 5 50) and 6.5±10.5 mm wide (mean5 8.7 mm, n 5 50).

Distribution. Figure 47 shows this subspecies occupying the south-eastern portion of the species range. It is known in the USA from the following states: Arizona Ð Cochise Co.: Portal; San Simon. Graham Co.: Geronimo; SaOEord. New Mexico Ð Chavez Co.: Bottomless Lakes State Park. Dona Ana Co.: Las Cruces. Eddy Co.: Lakewood; 8 km E Loving. Lea Co.: 32 ss 24.8 ¾ N, 103 ss 41.5 ¾ W. Lincoln Co.: Bonita Lake. Luna Co.: Deming. Otero Co.: 16 km SW Alamogordo; White Sands National Monument. Roosevelt Co.: Arch. Valencia Co.: 26±34 km WNW Los Lunas. Texas ÐBrewster Co.: Alpine; Big Bend National Park, Boquillas Canyon, Castalon, Rio Grande Village; Terlingua. Culberson Co.: Van Horn. El Paso Co.: El Paso. Hudspeth Co.: Bonita; Bosque; Finlay; McNary; 11.5 km E Salt Flat Sand Dunes. Presidio Co.: Presidio. Reeves Co.: Pecos; Toyah Lake. Ward Co.: 1.5 km E Barstow. Mexico, Chihuahua ÐCiudad Juarez. Coahuila Ð 10 km E Matamoros. Durango Ð Villa Lerdo ( Waterhouse, 1889, as planicosta ); Tlahualillo.

Biology. There are no records of the larval habits of this subspecies. Adults have been collected on the following plants: Acacia greggii Gray , Atriplex sp. , Larrea tridentata (Sesse and Moc. ex DC.) Cov., Mimosa sp. , Tamarix sp. It has been recovered from the gizzard of a roadrunner ( Geococcyx californianus ) ( EMEC). Adults have been collected from late May to early September.

Figures

FIG. 47. Known geographic distribution of Gyascutus (s. str.) planicosta planicosta (black circles); G. (s. str.) p. obliteratus (black triangles); G. (s. str.) p. cribriceps (black squares).