Neefia gracilis, Bellamy, C. L., 2003

Bellamy, C. L., 2003, The Madagascan Coraebini (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae): Part 4, New genera and species, Zootaxa 174, pp. 1-19 : 11-13

Neefia gracilis , sp. nov.

(Figs. 5, 21)

Description of Holotype. Small, 4.7 x 2.7 mm; body blue­green above on frontovertex and projecting genal angle of head, pronotum and elytra, on perimeter of abdominal ventrites and a single small spot near the distal end of the femora, thoracic ventrites, disc of abdominal ventrites and legs black; narrow elongate area on explanate lateral pronotal area with short recurved white setae and some white pulverulence; one elytral fascia extends from posterior to humeri to about anterior third, densely covered with orange setae; metacoxal plate with dense short recumbent off­white squamae on widened lateral third; surface imbrications elevated most strongly on pronotum; large, round deep punctures on head and pronotum, following imbrications; punctures on elytral more shallow, more elongate; punctures on underside small, shallow. Pronotum 1.45 times wider than long, widest just anteriad to obtuse lateroposterior angles then extending straight, parallel to before arcuate anterior angles; anterior margin biarcuate on either side of angulate median lobe; posterior margin bisinuate, median lobe truncate, rounded laterally; lateral margin slightly diverging from posterior margin to feebly rounded median arcuation before narrowing to anterior angles. Genitalia as in Fig. 21.

Variation. 7, 4.8­ 5.2 x 1.7 ­2.1 mm; the two largest males have the disc of the pronotum and elytra with a purple reflection but otherwise this small series of specimens is remarkably uniform in color and the extent of the elytral setose fascia.

Specimens examined. Holotype (MNHN): Madagascar­Est, Mt. Antampona, xii.[19]63, Vadon & Peyrieras; 7 paratypes: 4, same data as holotype; 2, Dist. Mananara­N, Mont[agne]. Antampona, xi.[19]66, Vadon ­ Peyrieras; 1, Fahitrosy, xi.[19]62/Distr. Mananara N., Vadon ­ Peyrieras. Paratypes deposited in TNSC and CLBC. Etymology. This species is named for the narrow, slender form from the Latin gracil for slender.

Remarks. The more slender form, the male genitalia and differences indicated in the key will serve to distinguish this species from its congeners.