Paragrilus modicus (Solier)

Hespenheide, Henry A., 2002, A review of North and Central American Paragrilus Saunders, 1871 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), Zootaxa 43, pp. 1-28 : 10

Paragrilus modicus (Solier)

( Figs. 5 , 23 )

Agrilus modicus Solier, 1833: 304 .

Paragrilus modicus (Solier) , Saunders, 1871: 127.

Paragrilus vavrai Obenberger, 1924: 150 (synonymy: Hespenheide1979: 117).

Diagnosis: Robust, head and pronotum black, elytra with dark purple reflections, [] mm long. Head with front convex, eyes prominent, rather broadly, moderately impressed along midline on upper 2/3; epistoma depressed and rather narrow between antennal insertions, ventral margin slightly produced, subtruncate or shallowly emarginate; surface obsoletely, finely punctate, shagreened. Pronotum broader than long, shallowly convex, almost flattened, prehumeral callosity strongly indicated by narrow, deep lateral depressions; disc rather strongly depressed along basal margin; surface rugose. Elytra with posthumeral carina extending to beyond hind coxae, surface weakly rugose, with third interval raised and weak raised callosities at apical 1/3; apices broadly rounded­subquadrate. Posterior angles of hind coxae subquadrate, slightly flared. Male genitalia dark brown, paler medially, with transparent tips to lateral lobes ( Fig. 23 ).

Type: of Agrilus modicus , “ Columbia “ (MNHN; Hespenheide 1979); of P. vavrai, Costa­Rica (NMPC).

Distribution: Costa Rica to South America.

Specimens examined: Colombia: Valle, Rio Jamundi, 10 mi S Cali, 3000’ 25.II.1970, H.F. Howden (CMNC).

Host: Adults collected on Sida spp.

Discussion: This species is very similar to P. rugatulus and the two may well only be geographic variants of a single species. More extensive collections must be made between Costa Rica and Guatemala to determine the relationship of these two forms.

Figures

FIGURES 1 ­ 6. North and Central American Paragrilus, dorsal view ­ P. rugatulus group ­ 1. P. lesueuri Waterhouse; 2. P. vicinus Waterhouse; 3. P. transitorius Waterhouse; 4. P. exiguus (Chevrolat); 5. P. modicus (Solier); 6. P. rugatulus Thomson.

FIGURES 19 ­ 34. North and Central American Paragrilus, dorsal and lateral views of aedeagi ­ P. rugatulus group ­ 19. P. lesueuri Waterhouse; 20. P. vicinus Waterhouse; 21. P. transitorius Waterhouse; 22. P. exiguus (Chevrolat); 23. P. modicus (Solier); 24. P. rugatulus Thomson; P. trifoveolatus group ­ 25. P. tenuis (LeConte); 26. P. impressus (Chevrolat); 27. P. azureus n. sp.; 28. P. trifoveolatus Waterhouse; 29. P. fallorum n. sp.; P. aeraticollis group ­ 30. P. aeraticollis Waterhouse; 31. P. akersorum n. sp.; 32. P. burkei n. sp.; 33. P. heliocarpi n. sp.; 34. P. moldenkei n. sp.