Acmaeodera solitaria Kerremans, 1897: 40

Acmaeodera thoracica Kerremans, 1910: 268 (new synonymy).

Some years ago I suggested to W. F. Barr that certain species described by Kerremans are conspecific with the SW U.S. species A. solitaria (known then as A. daggetti Fall). Later he (Barr 1992) published this, but left out A. thoracica. I have compared slides of all the types, plus seen specimens (mostly from Mexico) that match them well. Although there have been fewer Mexican specimens available for study, it appears that, like in the previous species, northern populations (the “ daggetti phenotype”) are more heavily marked.

Agrilus amelanchieri Knull, 1944. A reassessment of the known range of this species is in order based on further studies of it and A. crataegi Frost (see below). It should be listed from only Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Agrilus crataegi Frost, 1912. In the recent past, I (Westcott 1991) suggested that A. amelanchieri Knull may be conspecific with this species. Further study of material collected and/or reared from some of the recorded hosts for those species in the genera Amelanchier and Crataegus convinces me that the only potentially useful distinction is in color of the head and pronotum (cf. Knull 1944), particularly as the color of the latter contrasts with the elytra. Comparing the figures of the aedeagus for both species (Knull 1944, Fisher 1928) shows no significant difference. In fact, the apical portions of that structure in western populations that I have examined is less expanded than most of those I have examined for eastern specimens. I do not consider this significant. Nevertheless, I stop short of synonymizing the two species, as much further study is needed, particularly to obtain reared series from both host genera from throughout their recorded ranges. It is possible that subspecies will prove useful; however, for now, I suggest that A. amelanchieri be used for eastern populations with a coppery pronotum contrasting with the piceous or perhaps dark purplish elytra. Whether or not those phenotypes are restricted to Amelanchier spp. as hosts is unknown. In the West, material collected on or reared from those hosts does not differ from those utilizing Crataegus spp. The pronotum and elytra are unicolorous, usually coppery but sometimes with a purplish cast, more rarely brownish­copper. I have seen many fewer specimens from the Midwest and East, but they are generally more piceous in color.

Based on the foregoing, a reassessment of the ranges of the two species is necessary, i.e. most of the published records under A. amelanchieri (see above) should be considered under A. crataegi. Thusly, the recorded range for the latter in the U.S. becomes: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia; and in CANADA: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. Specimens representing new state records are at hand from IDAHO, Latah Co., milepost 3, Kendrick­Troy Hwy. (99), at Callison Rd., 710 m, 8­VII­2004, beating Crataegus douglasii, WFBM; Nez Perce Co., mile post 23, Hwy. 12 E of Cherry Lane Bridge, 870­950’, beating Crataegus spp., 8­VII­2004, RLWE, WFBM; and WASHINGTON, Kittitas Co., Yakima Canyon/Yakima River, Hwy. 821, mile posts 8–10 N of Selah, 14­VI­ 2003, on leaves Crataegus columbian a, RLWE. As far as I am aware, there are no published rearing records from the western part of this species’ range: ex Crataegus douglasii wood collected 30­V­80, California, Siskiyou Co., Shasta River, 2.5 mi N Weed, em. 3­17­ VI­80, RLWE; ex dead wood Amelanchier alnifolia (= A. florida) collected 10­V­91, Oregon, Wallowa Co., Hells Canyon, Tryon Creek, em. 21­29­V­91, RLWE, WFBM.

Brachys aerosus Melsheimer, 1846. According to Barr (1971), only two specimens of this species have been recorded from the Pacific Northwest, one from near Oliver, British Columbia, the other from Tieton, Washington. There is some doubt as to the identify of the former, which was reported as collected on black birch. The latter will certainly be found to match a series from the following nearby locality: Kittitas Co., Yakima Canyon/ Yakima River, hwy. 821, mileposts 8–10 N of Selah, 14­VI­2003, on leaves Crataegus columbiana, CHAH, RLWE, WFBM, WSUC. The habitat is riparian with a variety of vegetation, markedly distinguished from the dry countryside surrounding it. Dispersal of this buprestid, at least in and to this area, would have to be via a riparian corridor. This population is quite uniform in appearance, the elytra being black with a bluish or purplish reflection and sparse vestiture, except for the usual densely setose apical patches. Specimens I have examined from the eastern U.S. and Canada commonly show more vestiture and often exhibit coppery reflections. However, I have seen specimens from various eastern states and provinces, which match the phenotype, found in Washington. This is a highly variable beetle, and more than one species may be involved. Nevertheless, and also based on comparing male genitalia, I do not feel it wise to separate the disparate western population.

Paratyndaris barberi (Skinner, 1903). Knull (1937) recorded this species from Nevada based on specimens he collected at Las Vegas. Barr (1972) described the closely related species, P. k n u l l i, including the Knull specimens from Las Vegas. He did not include P. barberi from Nevada, thus I conclude that the specimens listed under that name by Knull (1937) refer instead to P. knulli. Nelson and Bellamy (2004) did not list Nevada in the distribution for either species, yet both are shown there, clearly based on the Las Vegas specimens, on their distribution map.