A study on the Nearctic species of the genus Anthaxia (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae: Anthaxiini). Subgenus Melanthaxia. Part I Author Bílý, Svatopluk Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Forest Protection and Game Management, Kamýcká 1176, CZ- 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic; e-mail: svatopluk _ bily @ nm. cz Author Kubáň, Vítězslav Department of Entomology, National Museum, Kunratice 1, CZ- 148 00 Praha 4, Czech Republic; e-mail: vkuban @ volny. cz text Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 2010 2010-12-15 50 2 535 546 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.5326225 0374-1036 5326225 Anthaxia ( Melanthaxia ) californica Obenberger, 1914 species-group ( Figs. 7 , 21 , 29 ) Diagnosis. Medium-sized ( 4.1–5.9 mm ), convex, rather roughly sculptured, subparallel, black species; frons convex; vertex 1.5–1.6 times as wide as width of eye; frontal pubescence semi-erect, rather long, white, distinctly obliquely directed toward respective side from longitudinal median line, that of vertex short, brown; pronotum nearly regularly convex, 1.8–1.9 times as wide as long with very poorly developed laterobasal depressions; pronotal sculpture consisting of small, dense, sharply limited cells with well-developed central grains which are poorly distinct on prescutellar portion of pronotum ( Fig. 29 ); cells on lateral sides of pronotum exceptionally somewhat more elongate but not forming longitudinal lines or keels; elytra subparallel, 1.8–2.1 times as long as wide, regularly granulate with short, rather dense, semi-erect brown pubescence; apical third of elytral margins with fine or rather sharp serration; ventral surface lustrous, bronze with brass tinge with rather long, white pubescence; anal ventrite with fine or rather rough lateral serration; male meso- and metatrochanters with small but sharp spine on posterior margin; male meso- and metatibiae with very fine, inner preapical serration; aedeagus subparallel, rather long or very long and slender, median lobe pointed apically ( Fig. 7 ). Figs. 15–22. Habitus of males. 15 – Anthaxia ( Melanthaxia ) neofunerula Obenberger, 1942 , 4.0 mm, holotype, New Hampshire, Charlestown; 16 – A . ( M .) nanula Casey, 1884 , 3.8 mm, California, Palomar Mts.; 17 – A . ( M .) prasina Horn, 1882 , 4.0 mm, California, Shingletown; 18 – A . ( M .) leechi Cobos, 1958 , 4.1 mm, California, nr. Hemet; 19 – A . ( M .) oregonensis Obenberger , 4.0 mm, California, Riverside; 20 – A . ( M .) strigata LeConte, 1859 , 5.0 mm, California, E of Stockton; 21 – A . ( M .) californica Obenberger, 1914 , 4.4 mm, California, Palomar Mts.; 22 – A . ( M .) aeneogaster Gory & Laporte, 1839 , 5.5 mm, California, Mukelumne River. 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. This species-group is well-defined by the convex frons, not very long but rather dense, rigid dorsal pubescence, rough pronotal and elytral sculpture, short, sharp spine on male trochanters, distinctly serrate apex of elytral margins and by the long, slender male genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Species included. Anthaxia ( M .) californica Obenberger, 1914 , A. ( M .) serripennis Obenberger, 1936 .