Chrysobothris ichthyomorpha Thomson.

Westcott, Richard L., 2008, A new species of Xenorhipis LeConte and of Mastogenius Solier from Mexico, with a discussion of Chrysobothris ichthyomorpha Thomson and its allies and notes on other Mexican and Central American Buprestidae (Coleoptera), Zootaxa 1929, pp. 47-68 : 51-54

Chrysobothris ichthyomorpha Thomson.

( Figs. 4, 5, 7 , 12 )

Chrysobothris ichthyomorpha Thomson, 1879: 42 .

Of its group, this species is by far the most well known and represented in collections. The holotype (BMNH), a female measuring 14.8 mm long, is labeled “Ichthioformis Deyr. (yellow paper)/Th. TYPE / Ichthyomorpha (H. Deyr. Mss.) Th., Type Ap 1, 42, Mex /Ex Musaeo JAMES THOMSON.” Thomson gave the type locality as “ Mexicum.” This species ( Figs. 4, 5 ) belongs to a complex group of medium-large and colorful buprestids, as mentioned above under C. chiriquita . It has been recorded from Mexico to Panama ( Waterhouse, 1887; Blackwelder, 1944), but apparently has not often been collected in series. I was unable to locate and borrow sufficient material of this and, especially, related species to undertake the type of detailed study that is needed for this group, which must include South America. However, I was able to study enough material, including holotypes, to ascertain most of the current confusion surrounding C. ichthyomorpha , C. chiriquita , and C. thomsoni Waterhouse , at least for those populations occurring in Mexico and Central America. Records for C. ichthyomorpha provided by Waterhouse (1887) include some specimens of C. chiriquita , and some of his records for C. thomsoni instead represent C. ichthyomorpha . For the latter he illustrated two forms of the female last ventrite, stating that “both forms are found in the same locality, and the difference cannot be specific.” On his Tab. III, Fig. 3 a is C. ichthyomorpha (cf. Fig. 7 ), but Fig. 3 b actually represents C. chiriquita . Furthermore, he considered C. thomsoni distinguishable from C. ichthyomorpha only by the “coppery-red posterior angles of the thorax”, which is not a useful character, even when the two occur together.

The variability of this character in the latter species is exhibited by Figs. 4 & 5 . Unfortunately, he did not study the male aedeagus. The reader is encouraged to use the figures I have provided to distinguish these three species. Considering the confused nature of this group and as a possible further aid in identification, I am providing detailed label information as follows, based on specimens I have examined: MEXICO, Chiapas: San Geronimo Tacana, 12-X-70, FSCA; Ocozocoautla, El Aguacero, 8-VII-95, ACLC; Oaxaca, Juquila [no date]; Veracruz: Orizaba [no date], BMNH; vic. La Perla de San Martín, 3400’, 1-13-IV-93, EMEC; El Palmar, 30-III-54, FSCA; Playa Vicente, III-1910, UNAM; Est. Biol. Los Tuxtlas, 16-IX-89; San Andres Tuxtla, 20-XII-84; 14-16 km W Sontecomapan, 1-13-IV-93, RLWE. BELIZE, Stann Creek Valley, Melinda, 1- 20-X-75, UAIC; Bel. Mile 28, Northern Road, 11-VIII-77, RLWE. GUATEMALA, Zacapa, 3 km N La Unión, 3500’, 14-20-IV-90; Izabal, 25 km SE Morales, 2800’, 21-24-V-96, EMEC; Morales, Sierra de Caral, 450 m, 16-18-VII-93, UVGC. HONDURAS, La Ceiba, 30-XII-78, CLBC; Río Cangrejal, South, 21-IV-79, FSCA. NICARAGUA, Chontales, BMNH; Managua, MNMS [no dates]; Granada, Mombacho, 1100 m, 21- 24-V-2004, MNAC. COSTA RICA, Prov. Alajuela: Zapote Upala, NR. Bijaqua, 20-X-73, EMEC; San Carlos, Res. Ftal. Arenal, Sendero Pilón, 600 m, 29-IX to 4-X-99; San Carlos, P.N. Arenal, La Fortuna, Sector Catarata, 500 m, 20-V-2001; Guatuso, P.N. Volcán Tenorio, Est. El Pilón, 700 m, 15-V to 16-VI-2002; Playuelas, R.N.V.S. Caño Negro, 20 m, 6-26-III-94; Prov. Guanacaste: Est. Maritza, Iado Vol. Orosi, 600 m, 28-II to 10-III-92, all INBC; Tierras Morenas, 700 m, VII-93; 3 km NO Nacaome, P.N. Barra Honda, 100 m, XII-92, RLWE; 3 km SE R. Naranjo, 11-20-XI-92, EMUS; Prov. Heredia: Est. El Ceibo Braulio Carrillo, 400- 600 m, X-89; 11 km SE La Virgen, 550 m, 10°20’N, 84°04’W, 11-III-2003, INBio-OET-ALAS transect; Prov. Limón: Amistad, Est. Miramar, R.B. Hitoy Cerere, A. C., 500 m, VII-93, INBC. PANAMA, Canal Zone: Madden Forest, 1-VIII-71, RLWE; “Plantation Road”, C29, 6.5 km ENE Gamboa, 9°08’N, 79°39’W, 28-VII- 78, Terminalia ; Coco Solo Hospital, 18-III-75; Barro Colorado Is., 9°10’N, 79°50’W, 16-VIII-74 & 18-VII- 77; Prov. Arriajan, 29-VIII & 4-IX-71, all CHAH; Prov. Colón, Colón, 22-V-90; Prov. Panamá, Camino de Oleoducto, 28-VI-97, FSCA; 15 km N El Llano, 18-V-85, CLBC. VENEZUELA, Táchira, Sn. Félix, Río Uracá, 350 m, 19-25-I-96, MIZA, which represents the south easternmost locality I have seen for this species. A specimen from “Colomb”, with no other data, could be from Colombia, but I did not see another specimen from that country. It must represent the same specimen that Waterhouse (1887) listed under C. thomsoni . According to Henry Hespenheide (in litt.), the specimen could have been from Panama, as that country was not “carved out of Colombia until early in the 20th century.” The specimens examined ranged in length from 11.2 mm to 16.8 mm. In Mexico specimens tend to have the dorsal ground color with distinctly coppery or bronzy reflection, as opposed to plain black in Central and South America. Additionally, in Mexican specimens the elytral foveae are commonly coppery, but I have seen this character also on Guatemalan specimens and one from Nicaragua. From Honduras northward specimens tend to lose the distinct, bright red color on the posterior angles of the pronotum. I have not seen Mexican specimens with this character—the color is much subdued—yet the coloration may be greatly reduced or dulled on some specimens even at the southern end of this species’ distribution.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 10. 3 – 5, Chrysobothris Adult dorsal habitus: 3, C. chiriquita, Costa Rica; 4, C. ichthyomorpha, Mexico; 5, same, Panama. 6 – 8, female last abdominal ventrite: 6, C. chiriquita; 7, C. ichthyomorpha; 8, C. thomsoni. 9, C. lucifera, holotype. 10, C. collaris (= C. thomsoni), holotype.

FIGURES 11 – 16, Aedeagus of Chrysobothris and Xenorhipis. 11, Chrysobothris chiriquita; 12, C. ichthyomorpha; 13, C. thomsoni, Colombia; 14, same, Trinidad; 15, Xenorhipis bajacalifornica, dorsal; 16, same, ventral.