Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) nanula Casey, 1884

Bílý, Svatopluk & Kubáň, Vítězslav, 2010, A study on the Nearctic species of the genus Anthaxia (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae: Anthaxiini). Subgenus Melanthaxia. Part I, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 50 (2), pp. 535-546 : 539

Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) nanula Casey, 1884 species-group

( Figs. 2 , 16, 24 )

Diagnosis. Small to medium-sized (2.8–4.2 mm), rather flat, usually lustrous, dark bronze species; frons concave, flat or flat with median depression, always with distinct erect or semierect black or brown pubescence; vertex 2.0–2.8 times as wide as width of eye; elytra 1.8–2.0 times as long as wide with distinct recumbent or semi-recumbent dark pubescence; elytral sculpture consisting of fine, more or less regular granulation; pronotal sculpture nearly homogenous, consisting of polygonal cells which are exceptionally more elongate at lateral sides of pronotum forming short, nearly longitudinal rugae (A. (M.) exasperans ); pronotal reticulation with small, sharp or wide, flat central grains; posterior third of lateral elytral margins and lateral margins of anal ventrite only very finely serrate; male meso- and metatrochanters with small, short spine on posterior margin or unarmed; male meso- and metatibiae simple or with very fine, indistinct, inner preapical serration; aedeagus more elongate, usually nearly parallel-sided, sometimes parameres slightly widened at basal half ( Fig. 2 ).

Species included. Anthaxia (M.) cupriola Barr, 1971 , A. (M.) embrikstrandella Obenberger, 1936 , A. (M.) exasperans Cobos, 1958 , A. (M.) helferiana Bílý, 1995 , A. (M.) nanula Casey, 1884 , A. (M.) porella Barr, 1974 , A. (M.) simiola Casey, 1884 , A. (M.) tarsalis Barr, 1971 , A. (M.) wallowae Obenberger, 1942 .

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Male genitalia. 1 – Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) neofunerula Obenberger, 1942, holotype, New Hampshire, Charlestown (NMPC); 2 – A. (M.) nanula Casey, 1884, California, Palomar Mts (NMPC).; 3 – A. (M.) prasina Horn, 1882, California, Shingletown (); 4 – A. (M.) leechi Cobos, 1958, holotype, Califormia, Riverside (California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco); 5 – A. (M.) oregonensis Obenberger, 1942, syntype, Oregon, Aspen Lake (NMPC).

Figs. 23–30. Pronotal sculpture. 23 – Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) neofunerula Obenberger, 1942, holotype, New Hamp-shire, Charlestown; 24 – A. (M.) nanula Casey, 1884, California, Palomar Mts.; 25 – A. (M.) prasina Horn, 1882, California, Shingletown; 26 – A. (M.) leechi Cobos, 1958, California, near Hemet; 27 – A. (M.) oregonensis Obenberger, 1942, California, Riverside; 28 – A. (M.) strigata LeConte, 1859, California, E of Stockton; 29 – A. (M.) californica Obenberger, 1914, California, Palomar Mts.; 30 – A. (M.) aeneogaster Gory & Laporte, 1839, California, Mukelumne River.