Agrilus avifaecus Hespenheide and Westcott, 2018

Hespenheide, Henry A. & Westcott, Richard L., 2018, Two New Species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Mexico, Putatively Camouflaged as Bird Droppings, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (3), pp. 417-420 : 419-420

Agrilus avifaecus Hespenheide and Westcott , new species

( Figs. 3–5 ) zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EA61D644-3E06-411F-8E42-24F4E9B8ABE9

Description. Holotype male ( Fig. 3 ): Moderately robust, virtually flat above in lateral view ( Fig. 4 ), in cross-section at elytra transverse and weakly undulate, strongly convex ventrally, 11.10 mm long, 2.70 mm wide at elytral humeri, 2.85 mm wide at abdominal segment 2; black with coppery red reflections on front, scutellum, metasternum, abdominal ventrites 1–2, legs, and sutural and lateral margins of elytra, weak bluish and violet-blue reflections on elytra and visible portions of pronotum; pattern of setae complex - dense, white, and augmented by white efflorescence in narrow transverse band between eyes at middle of frons and in the lower ½ of medial depression, on pronotal epipleurae and much of pronotum except irregular glabrous areas at middle ½ of anterior margin extending to middle of midline, on prehumeral protuberances, and small areas anterior to corners of scutellum; dense, white, and augmented by white efflorescence in anterior ½ of basal depressions of elytra, and on lateral and dorsal portions of abdominal ventrites 2–3 and posterior dorsal portion of ventrite 1; setae white and less dense in small irregular patches on apical 3/5 of elytra and in irregular transverse fascia at apical 2/3; setae golden at lower margins of basal depressions of elytra, along suture for basal 1/4, and encircling spots of dark brown setae in elytral sulci at 1/3 and 2/3 length of elytra; setae golden, recumbent, and inconspicuous on pro- and metasterna ( Figs. 3, 4 ). Head: Frons deeply depressed along midline, more broadly so above middle, surface punctate and weakly rugose above eyes; epistoma between antennal insertions narrow, less than 1/4 width of distance between inner margins of eyes, shallowly emarginate below, eyes oval, with moderately deep groove on inner margin at dorsal 1/2; antenna short, compact, distinctly serrate from antennomere 4, antennomeres 4–7 rounded-triangular, 8–11 triangularovate. Pronotum: Subequal in width to elytra at posterior margin, sides somewhat expanded to basal 1/3 and weakly rounded to apex, margin distinctly finely carinate; marginal and submarginal carinae slightly undulate, joined for basal 1/5; in dorsal view, anterior margin nearly transverse, only slightly rounded; basal margin weakly emarginate at middle of each elytron, transverse before scutellum; disk depressed along midline on basal 1/3 and in narrow spot on anterior 1/2, weakly transversely depressed at basal 1/3, expanding and deepening to lateral margins from basal to anterior angles; prehumeral carinae lacking, only small weak bumps at posterior angles; exposed surface weakly, irregularly rugose. Scutellum: Pentagonal with strong transverse carina, acuminate posteriorly. Elytra: Widest across humeri, lateral margins narrowing slightly and shallowly emarginate to middle, apices expanding at apical 1/8, then broadly, separately rounded, minutely toothed; humeri narrow, disk of each elytron with small but strong angulately oval depression at base and distinct costa at middle and with shallow sulcus interior to suture, deeper in setal spots; surface weakly imbricate-punctate. Venter: Prosternal process slightly constricted between coxae, rounded at apex, prosternal lobe nearly transverse, very weakly rounded. Metacoxal plate with posterior margin nearly straight, upper angle broadly acutely rounded. Abdomen with indistinct depression between ventrites 1 and 2, ventrite 5 broadly roundedtruncate at apex; posterior dorsal portion of ventrite 1 2X as wide as ventrite 2. Legs: Hind legs with 1 st metatarsal segment slightly longer in length than next 2 tarsomeres combined, tarsal claws similar on all tarsi, cleft with slightly shorter, slender inner tooth. Genitalia: Aedeagus 3.25 mm long ( Fig. 5 ).

Holotype. “ Mexico: Puebla, 4.8 km NW Petlalcingo , 1400m, 18.1079°, -97.9586°, 2-XI- 1990, R. L. Westcott ”. Deposited in CSCA.

Etymology. The species is named for its putative resemblance to bird (avis) feces (faecus), using Latin terms.

Discussion. The flared elytral apices suggest a relationship with Agrilus squamulatus Waterhouse, 1889 and similar species, but the eye-like spots on the elytra are unusual and distinctive. See also the discussion for A. ornithocoprus . Regrettably, the genitalia were destroyed by a dermestid subsequent to its imaging.

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Agrilus species. A. ornithocoprus: 1) Dorsal habitus; 2) Lateral habitus. A. avifaecus: 3) Dorsal habitus; 4) Lateral habitus; 5) Aedeagus, dorsal view.