taxonID	type	description	language	source
03BBFD6E7958FFE0FF04FA4B373A79B3.taxon	description	The dorsal markings of A. opacula can also be highly variable and it is instructive to consider common patterns here in regard to their taxonomic value. For instance, the lateral elytral stripe of A. opacula is almost always broken or nearly so at some point along the basal third of the elytra (Fig. 1 b, d; Horn 1878, fig. 2). In addition, the two apical bands are always marked with red, though sometimes only laterally. The lateral yellow stripe of the pronotum is broad and reaches four-fifths of the pronotal length. It is not uncommon for some specimens of A. opacula to exhibit a lighter shade of red on the apical elytral bands. Such is the case with the holotype, on which red is very faintly marked. It is possible the color was faint to begin with; however, more likely it faded with the passage of time or was muted by prolonged storage in fluid, presumably alcohol, before being pinned (Fall 1899). This may have caused the specimen to become distorted, especially if it was teneral when collected, such that the elytra are not fused apically (Fig. 1 a). Regardless, the characters of the holotype are within the range of phenotypic variation seen among specimens that were placed under A. disjuncta; i. e., lateral elytral stripe broken, both apical bands marked with red (albeit faintly), and broad pronotal stripe on each side. This further supports synonymy of the two species. Another important factor to consider is habitat. Acmaeodera opacula was described from “ El Paso ” (Texas), which is in the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion. Acmaeodera opacula was not listed from Texas under its synonym in the world catalog or the most current North American catalog (Bellamy 2008; Nelson et al. 2008) but has been commonly collected as far east as the Pecos River Bridge in Val Verde Co., Texas by the first author and was recorded from the Chisos Mountains by Chamberlain (Chamberlin 1926). The distribution of A. opacula mirrors that of its only known larval host, Fouquieria splendens Engelm. (Fouquieriaceae) in Texas (Westcott 1991, as A. fisheri Cazier). This plant host has historically been widespread in El Paso, but its occurrence has undoubtedly diminished due to development over the past century and a half.	en	Hansen, Jason A., Westcott, Richard L. (2023): A new synonym of Acmaeodera opacula LeConte, 1858 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and lectotype designations for Acmaeodera amabilis Horn, 1878 and Acmaeodera disjuncta Fall, 1899. Insecta Mundi 2023 (984): 1-4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8006006
