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 : 2267-2269

Gyascutus (s. str.) planicosta cribriceps Casey , stat. & comb. nov.

(®gures 3, 47)

Gyascutus obliteratus Horn, 1867: 290 ; 1868: 133; 1894: 327; Fall, 1901: 115.

Hippomelas obliterata Kerremans, 1903: 65 ; Linsley and Ross, 1977: 275.

Gyascutus cribriceps Casey, 1909: 62 ; Obenberger, 1926: 160.

Gyascutus acutangulus Casey, 1909: 63 ; Obenberger, 1926: 159, new synonymy.

Gyascutus amplus Casey, 1909: 64 ; Obenberger, 1926: 159, new synonymy.

Gyascutus amplus aerata Casey, 1909: 64 ; Obenberger, 1926: 159, new synonymy.

Gyascutus egregius Casey, 1909: 64 ; Obenberger, 1926: 160 new synonymy.

Hippomelas (Gyascutus) lariversi Barr, 1969: 324 , new synonymy.

Gyascutus planicosta cribriceps Casey typically diOEers from the nominate subspecies in being brassy-green in colour; the raised areas of the pronotum being more broken up and less evident; antennae typically slightly shorter than in the nominate subspecies; and elytra without costae (occasionally faint).

Type locality: Arizona .

Type material. The holotype lof Gyascutus cribriceps Casey (USNM) is labelled as follows: Ari. (p)/ l(h)/Casey bequest 1925 (p)/(red label) TYPE USNM (p) 35709 (h)/ cribriceps Csy. (h). The holotype lof Gyascutus acutangulus Casey (USNM) is labelled as follows: Winslow Arizona Wickham (p)/Casey bequest 1925 (p)/(red label) TYPE USNM (p) 35711 (h)/ acutangulus Csy. (h). The lectotype m of Gyascutus amplus Casey (USNM) (designated in Bellamy and Nelson, 1990 (1989): 294) is labelled as follows: St. George Utah July Wickham (p)/Casey bequest 1925 (p)/(red label) TYPE USNM (p) 35713 (h)/ amplus Csy. (h)/ LECTOTYPE (p) Gyascutus amplus Csy. m (h) by (p) G. H. Nelson ’87 (h). Among the rest is one male and one female labelled as paralectotypes. The holotype m of Gyascutus amplus ssp. aerata Casey (USNM) is labelled as follows: St. George Utah July Wickham (p)/Casey bequest 1925 (p)/(red label) TYPE USNM (p) 35714 (h)/ aerata Csy. (h). The holotype m of Gyascutus egregius Casey (USNM) is labelled as follows: St. George Utah July Wickham (p)/ m (h)/Casey bequest 1925 (p)/(red label) TYPE USNM (p) 35715 (h)/ egregius Csy. (h). The holotype lof Hippomelas lariversi Barr (CASC) is labelled as follows: West side Nightingale Mts. Pershing Co. Nev. VII-22-194 6 (h)/ T. W. Rivers Collector (h)/(red label) HOLOTYPE (p) Hippomelas lariversi (h) W. F. Barr (p)/ California Academy of Sciences Type No. (p) 10218 (h).

Variation. This subspecies (713 males and 585 females examined) is quite variable in colour, sculpture and size. In populations from Death Valley , California there is variation from the more typical bronzy-green to uncommonly blue. Also, some have weak elytral costae. The males vary from 14.0 to 26.0 mm long (mean5 20.6 mm, n 5 50) and 4.5±10.0 mm wide (mean 5 7.7 mm, n 5 50); females from 11.0 to 26.0 mm long (mean 5 21.4 mm, n 5 50) and 3.0±10.0 mm wide (mean5 8.1 mm, n 5 50).

Distribution. Figure 47 indicates the range of this subspecies as occupying the northern part of the species range, chie¯y high desert areas. It has been collected in the following states. Arizona ÐApache Co.: Fort De®ance; Coconino Co.: 5 km N Bitter Springs; Cameron; CliOE Dweller’s Lodge; Grand Canyon; 1.5 km W Marble Canyon; Moenkopi; Tuba City; Vermillion CliOEs; Wupatki National Monument. Mohave Co.: Junction of Diamond Creek and Colorado River. Navajo Co.: 27.5 km E Holbrook, Big Carrizo River; 24 km NW Kayenta. California ÐInyo Co.: Antelope Springs; China Lake; Death Valley National Park; Deep Springs Valley; N end Eureka Valley; Independence; Indian Ranch; Kearsarge Station; 16.5 km S Keeler; Lone Pine; Oasis; Saline Valley Sand Dunes; Saratoga Springs; Warm Sulphur Springs. Kern Co.: 9.5 km W Garlock; Inyokern; Koehn Dry Lake; Saltdale. Colorado ÐBent Co.: Las Animas. Delta Co.: Delta. Pueblo Co.: Pueblo. Nevada Ð Churchill Co.: 48.5 km N Fallon; Hazen. Clark Co.: Jean; Kyle Canyon; Logandale; Virgin River. Esmeralda Co.: Coaldale. Humboldt Co.: Soldier Meadows. Lincoln Co.: Alamo; 8 km SE Hiko. Mineral Co.: Teel’s Marsh. Pershing Co.: Lovelock; W side Nightingale Mts., Washoe Co.: Pyramid Lake. New Mexico ÐMcKinley Co.: Gallup. San Juan Co.: 1.5 km E 4-corners; Newcomb; 16 km S Shiprock. Utah Ð Emery Co.: 14.5 km E Castle Dale; 6.5 km N Gilson Butte; Green River; Wild Horse Creek. Gar®eld Co.: 6.5 km NNW Bullfrog; Calf Creek, 5400±5500 ft; Lake Powell. Grand Co.: Moab. San Juan Co.: 42 km S Hanksville dune area; Uintah Co.: 32.3 km W Vernal; Medicine Hat. Washington Co.: St. George; Zion National Park.

Biology. It has been cut from the root crown of Atriplex hymenelytra (Torr.) Wats. Adults also on: Artemesia tridentata Nutt. , Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. , A. confertifolia (Torr. & Frem.) Wats. , Ephedra sp. , Prosopis pubescens Benth. , Salix exigua Nutt. , Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr. , Tamarix gallica L., T. pentandra Pall. Adults have been collected from the middle of May to late 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).