Definition and Revision of theOthonusSpecies-Group of North AmericanPachybrachisChevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae)
Author
Barney, Robert J.
text
The Coleopterists Bulletin
2016
2016-09-30
70
3
569
605
http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065x-70.3.569
journal article
10.1649/0010-065X-70.3.569
5339378
Pachybrachis othonus
Species-Group
Group Diagnosis.
Moderate to large species, length
2.09–3.57 mm
; dorsum glabrous with coloration ranging from yellow to black; color patterns unstable as vittae; eyes of both male and female widely separated (
0.32–0.68 mm
); front without ocular lines; antennae moderately long and slender, not attaining declivity in males; protarsal claws of male not enlarged. Median lobe of male genitalia with median basal plate simple, some lateral plates adjacent to paired, sclerotized, club-like, lamellae; en-face outline with apicolateral margin broadly and evenly rounded; nodule absent to moderately distinct; ventral surface of shaft inflated without distinct keel; beard setae short in patch or in wisp; pencilli absent.
Remarks.
I propose the
Pachybrachis othonus
species-group
to include five Nearctic species:
P. armbrusti
Barney
,
P. nigricornis
(Say)
,
P. othonus
(Say)
,
P. pallidipennis
Suffrian
, and
P. praeclarus
Weise.
Pachybrachis othonus
was selected for the species-group name due to its priority and relative familiarity within the genus. External variability within and between the
P
.
nigricornis
complex and
P
.
othonus
complex often leads to confusion between complexes and with the principally black
P
.
praeclarus
and vittate
P. armbrusti
, respectively.
Biology.
Almost nothing is known of the biology of the members of the
Pachybrachis othonus
species-group
. Clark
et al
. (2004) and Barney and Hall (2009, 2011) have summarized various plant associations with adults of this species-group, and more are reported here. Larvae and larval habitats are unknown.