Resurrection and review of the genus Knowltonia Fisher, with description of a new subspecies of Chrysobothris Eschscholtz and new species of Acmaeodera Eschscholtz from North America (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)
Author
Westcott, Richard L.
Author
Barr, William F.
text
Zootaxa
2007
1481
49
58
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.273778
ad3548bb-3021-483f-a52b-ebb48d4b99fb
1175-5326
273778
Knowltonia calida
(Knull)
,
new combination
and status
(
Figs. 1
,
7
)
Chrysobothris biramosa calida
Knull, 1958
:96
;
Nelson, 1960
:73
(
callida
, sic); 1962:59 (
callida
, sic).
Chrysobothris atrifasciata
:
Nelson, 1959
:24
(misidentification); 1966:39 (part; misidentification).
Considering that the distinctive general structure of the male antennae is diagnostic for the genus, we feel that the highly asymmetrical rami of the male antennomeres
4-11 in
this taxon warrant species, rather than subspecies, distinction. This species appears to be restricted to the Colorado Desert of SW Arizona, SE California, extending into Baja California (Norte) and, possibly, Baja California Sur,
Mexico
. Although the few specimens we have seen from the latter state come closest to
K. calida
based on the male antennae, nevertheless there are differences, and much more material for study is needed from the peninsula.
Knull (1958)
distinguished this taxon from “typical
C. biramosa
” only by its dorsal green color. He made no mention of any other difference, and it is strange he overlooked the antennal character. The color no longer works well as a diagnostic character, though
K. calida
is uniformly deep green, sometimes with a bluish cast, while green forms of
K. biramosa
are lighter green, often with coppery reflections that are more notable at the base of the elytra.
This species has been collected on
Atriplex lentiformis
(
Nelson, 1959
;
1962
;
1966
) and
A. canescens
(
Nelson, 1960
)
. Barr and Westcott’s (1976) treatment for this species should instead refer to
K. biramosa
.