Agrilus vachellia Woodley, 2024

Agrilus vachellia Woodley , new species

( Fig. 7–12 View Figures 7–12 , 15–16 View Figures 13–16 )

Type specimens. Holotype ♂: “ ARIZONA: Cochise Co., west / slope of Dragoon Mountains, / Middlemarch Road , 20.5 km NE / of Highway 80 1695m / 31°51.483ʹN, 109°57.750ʹW /, 10 June 2022 N.E. Woodley // on Vachellia constricta / (Benth.) Seigler & / Ebinger [ Fabaceae ] // HOLOTYPE ♂ / Agrilus / vachiella / Woodley 2024” ( USNM).

Paratypes: 3♂, 1♀, same data as holotype ; 16♂, 10♀, same data as holotype except 11 June 2022 (2♂, 2♀, USNM; 2♂, 2♀, FSCA; 1♂, 1♀, HAHC; 1♂, 1♀ UAIC; 1♂, ASUC) ; 1♀, same data as holotype except 16 June 2023 ; 11♂, 13♀, same data as holotype except 20 June 2023 (2♂, 1♀, USNM; 1♂, 1♀, UAIC; 1♂, 2♀, ASUC) ; 3♂, same data as holotype except 18 June 2024 ; 4♂, 2♀, Cochise Co., Geronimo Trail , 11.3 km E of Douglas, 31°21.042ʹN, 109°23.920ʹW, 1320 meters, 15 June 2022, N.E. Woodley, on V. constricta. All paratypes have the label PARATYPE ♂ [or ♀] / Agrilus / vachellia / Woodley 2024”.

Diagnosis. In Fisher’s (1928) key this species keys to couplet 108 and best fits A. prosopidis Fisher but differs from that species by having much denser setae on the male frons, lateral spots of setae on the posterior abdominal sternites, and very different male genitalia. Agrilus vachellia is actually more similar to A. barri Hespenheide & Westcott , especially males that lack the posterior setal spot on the elytra, but again differs by having much denser setae on the male frons, lateral spots of setae on the posterior abdominal sternites, and very different male genitalia.

Description. Male ( Fig. 7, 9, 11 View Figures 7–12 ). Overall color coppery-bronze, head, pronotum and legs with a greenish tint; pronotum, elytra and venter with distinct setal pattern of white to pale yellowish enhanced by bright white flocculence. Head with frons ( Fig. 11 View Figures 7–12 ) convex, bright yellowish-green, contrasting with bronze vertex; surface not shiny, minutely granulate and punctate, longitudinally rugose on occiput, and clothed with dense, slightly thickened, silvery-white setae that strongly obscure cuticular surface, vertex without setae; inner eye margins slightly sinuate; clypeus shallowly, arcuately emarginate, separated from frons by a weak transverse carina; antennae extending to about middle of pronotum when laid along-side, strongly serrate from antennomere 5. Pronotum with anterior margin slightly produced medially, widest anteriorly, margins subparallel then slightly tapering toward elytral bases; in lateral view marginal carina sinuate, submarginal carina nearly straight, the two widely separated anteriorly, converging posteriorly and very slightly separate at posterior pronotal angle; discal region with narrow, very shallow medial depression, with transverse rugae medially that are very narrowly broken by medial depression, these becoming subparallel to pronotal margin laterally; prehumeral carina sharply rounded, straight, extending from posterior angles about one-fourth to one-third distance to anterior margin; most of lateral margin of pronotum lateral to prehumeral carina with slightly thickened setae, the remainder of pronotum with very short, fine appressed setae uniformly distributed. Scutellum transversely carinate, with surface finely, transversely microrugose. Elytra ( Fig. 7 View Figures 7–12 ) slightly wider than posterior margin of pronotum; lateral margins nearly straight, slightly constricted at level of first abdominal sternite, exposing dense white setal patch on first laterotergite, those on second and third laterotergites narrowly visible; basal depression set with slightly elongate patch of thickened setae and white flocculence, similar setae forming narrow longitudinal vitta in line with but separated from basal depression, extending from about level of metacoxa to middle of elytron, and a similar small, rounded spot at about level of third ventrite (this can occasionally be poorly developed or absent); surface imbricately punctate, with short, fine, uniformly distributed setae. Venter with anterior margin of prosternum rounded-truncate medially, not emarginate; prosternal process broad, sides parallel, then slightly widened posterior to procoxal cavities, truncate at apex, clothed with semierect, dense, elongate setae that extend to posterior margin of first abdominal sternite; lateral portions of thorax, most of metacoxa and small lateral spots on abdominal sternites 3–5 (can be vague or absent on 5) densely setose and covered with dense white flocculence obscuring surface ( Fig. 9 View Figures 7–12 ); anterior margin of abdominal sternite 2 with medial spot of short, dense yellowish setae that is narrowly divided; laterotergites setose with white setae and flocculence; bare areas of abdominal sternites finely punctate and microrugose, uniformly set with short, inconspicuous setae, some longer setae at apex of sternite 5; marginal groove present on abdominal 5, submarginal apex of sternite 5 medially truncate; pygidium with medial carina not projecting. Legs with metacoxal plate with posterior margin shallowly emarginate with weakly developed medial lobe; femora without ventral denticles; tibiae slender, straight, pro- and mesotibiae with apical mucro-like spine on inner margin; posterior tarsi slightly shorter than tibiae, tarsomere 1 as long as 2–4 united; tarsal claws on front legs with inner tooth narrow, nearly as long as claw, middle and hind tarsi with short basal tooth not turned inward. Male genitalia ( Fig. 15, 16 View Figures 13–16 ) strongly arcuate in lateral view, gradually widened posteriorly, then slightly narrowed for short distance; parameres narrowly rounded at apices; aedeagus about twice width of one paramere, margins subparallel, apically triangularly rounded with blunt apex. Length 3.88–4.36 mm; width at humeri 0.99–1.13 mm.

Female ( Fig. 8, 10, 12 View Figures 7–12 ). Differs from male as follows: head with frons golden-bronze, becoming more coppery dorsally, less densely setose than in male; elytra with markings more boldly developed, posterior setose spot always present; prosternum and ventral medial area of thorax without long, semierect setae; legs more reddishcoppery, not greenish; pro- and mesotibiae with apical mucro-like spine on inner margin apparently absent. Length 3.56–4.66mm; width at humeri 0.86–1.16 mm.

Etymology. The species epithet, vachellia , is a noun in apposition based on the generic name of the adult host plant.

Distribution. At present, A. vachellia is only known from Cochise County in southeastern Arizona.

Discussion. This species was found to be common at the type locality on Vachellia constricta (Benth.) Seigler & Ebinger ( Fabaceae ; whitethorn acacia), its adult and presumed larval host. The adults feed on the pollen or petals of the bright yellow flowers, as when the male genitalia were dissected, the contents of the posterior gut was bright yellow.

New United States Records

The following two species are recorded from the U.S. for the first time.

Agrilus barri Hespenheide and Westcott ( Fig. 17–19 View Figures 17–19 ). 1♀, Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Nogales, 31.336°N, 110.938°W, 1190 meters, 11 June 2017, Jason T. Botz, MV/UV lights.

This species was described by Hespenheide and Westcott in Hespenheide et al. (2011) based on material from Mexico, primarily Baja California Sur. Additional specimens included in their paper, but not designated as paratypes, were from Sinaloa and Sonora. The authors noted that females usually had a dark greenish to bluish head and pronotum ( Hespenheide et al. 2011: fig. 6), there was variation in coloration, and some females were monochromatic, similar to males. I examined numerous paratypes and other specimens cited by Hespenheide et al. (2011) in the FSCA collection and could find no morphological differences between those and the Arizona specimen. The most northern locality for A. barri cited by Hespenheide et al. (2011), 6.5 miles S of Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, is only about 100 km south of Nogales, Arizona.

I identified as A. barri an additional series of 8♂, 6♀ from Mexico: Chihuahua, vicinity of Laguna de Encinillas, 1–2 July 1987, C.L. Bellamy ( CSCA). The male genitalia are identical to those in the paratype series, and although most females are monochromatic, one has a dull greenish pronotum. This represents a new state record for Mexico.

Taphrocerus leoni Dugès ( Fig. 20–24 View Figures 20–24 ). Arizona: Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, upper Miller Canyon Road, 31°25.01ʹN, 110°16.48ʹW, 1730 meters, 11 May 2017, N.E. Woodley, sweeping sedges; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, lower Ida Canyon 31°22.77ʹN, 110°19.82ʹW, 1815meters, 24 July 2016, N.E. Woodley, sweeping sedges; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, U.S. Forest Service Road 4759, Scotia Canyon, 31°27.031ʹN, 110°24.027ʹW, 1830 meters, 24 April 2020, N.E. Woodley, sweeping sedges; Cochise Co., Hereford, 8920 South Bryerly Court, 31°24.232ʹN, 110°13.864ʹW, 1500 meters, 1–5 August 2017, S.W. Lingafelter, Malaise trap; Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mountains, East Rucker Canyon Road at road to Red Rock Canyon, 31°45.919ʹN, 109°19.700ʹW, 1785 meters, 17 June 2022, N.E. Woodley, sweeping sedges.

This species was well characterized by Marek (2021) but was not recorded north of Mexico. It is quite common in the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, especially in the spring before monsoon rains. It co-occurs with T. chevrolati Obenberger and T. sulcifrons Fisher. All three species can be collected from the same patch of sedges at the same time.

New State Records

The following represent new U.S. state records, with the newly recorded state given in bold.

Acmaeodera cazieri Knull. New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., Peloncillo Mountains, Geronimo Trail 0.2 km NE of Arizona border, 31°30.068ʹN, 109°02.911ʹW, 1620 meters, 14 August 2020, N.E. Woodley.

Acmaeodera solitaria Kerremans. New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., Peloncillo Mountains, Geronimo Trail 2.4 km NE of Arizona border, 31°30.617ʹN, 109°02.250ʹW, 1790 meters, 3 August 2022, N.E. Woodley. As far as I am aware, this common summer/early fall-occurring species has been recorded only from southeastern Arizona and western mainland Mexico. However, clearly in error, Chamberlin (1926; as its synonym, A. daggetti Fall ) listed it from “Southern California.” He did not provide any further information. Unfortunately, Nelson et al. (2008) followed him; however, Bellamy (2008) did not. Surely there is no suitable habitat for this species anywhere near California.

Acmaeoderoides stramineus Nelson. Arizona: Yuma Co., East County 19 th Street, 0.9 km W of Highway 195, 32°33.192ʹN, 114°34.307ʹW, 65 meters, 27 June 2024, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Tiquilia plicata (Torr.) A. Richards ( Boraginaceae ).

Acmaeoderopsis prosopis Davidson. Arizona: Maricopa Co., Tonopah, West Salome Highway at Baseline Road, 33°22.680ʹN, 112°46.271ʹW, 280 meters, 1 May 2021, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Prosopis sp. ( Fabaceae ). Acmaeoderopsis westcotti (Barr) . Arizona: Yuma Co., Yuma, West Wetlands Park, 32°43.797ʹN, 114°38.004ʹW, 30 meters, 25 June 2024, S.W. Lingafelter, night beating Prosopis velutina Wooton ( Fabaceae ).

Acmaeoderopsis rockefelleri (Cazier) . Arizona: Cochise Co., Foothills Road, 3 miles N of Portal, 31°57ʹN, 109°08-09ʹW, 1390 meters, 28 May 1981, H.A. Hespenheide; same data but 17 May 1985; Cochise Co., 2 miles ESE of Portal, 31°54ʹN, 109°06ʹW, 1370 meters, 28 May 1985, H.A. Hespenheide.

Agrilus blandus Horn. Arizona: Mohave Co., unnamed road SW of Nothing, 37.1 km SE of Wikieup off Highway 93, 34°28.600ʹN, 113°20.630ʹW, 970 meters, 20 May 2021, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Senegalia greggii (A. Gray) Britton & Rose ( Fabaceae ).

Agrilus cavatus Chevrolat. New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., Peloncillo Mountains, Geronimo Trail 0.2 km NE of Arizona border, 31°30.068ʹN, 109°02.911ʹW, 1620 meters, 14 August 2020, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Acaciella angustissima (Mill.) Britton & Rose ( Fabaceae ).

Agrilus cochisei Knull. New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., 30 miles S of Animas, 27 August 1980, N.E. Woodley; Luna Co., Highway 9, 14.6 km E of Columbus, 31°48.734ʹN, 107°29.383ʹW, 1215 meters, 14 September 2016, Salvador Vitanza.

Agrilus crataegi Frost. Arizona: Coconino Co., Lake Mary Road at Mormon Lake Overlook, 34°57.775ʹN, 111°26.297ʹW, 2225 meters, 2 June 2021, N.E. Woodley.

Anambodera palmarum (Timberlake) . Arizona: Maricopa Co., Highway 88 at Needle Vista View Point, 33°29.738ʹN, 111°27.829ʹW, 650 meters, 2 May 2021, N.E. Woodley, on flowers of Eriogonum inflatum Torr. ( Polygonaceae ); Maricopa Co., Highway 88 at Bulldog Canyon Trail, 33°30.080ʹN, 111°27.807ʹW, 640 meters, 21 May 2023, N.E. Woodley, on flowers of E. inflatum ; Mohave Co., Rawhide Wash, on Road 15, 6.0 km NW of Alamo Lake, 34°17.717ʹN, 113°48.450ʹW, 480 meters, 7 May 2024, N.E. Woodley, on flowering E. inflatum .

Chrysobothris atriplexae Fisher. Arizona: Maricopa Co., Tonopah, West Salome Highway at Baseline Road, 33°22.680ʹN, 112°46.271ʹW, 280 meters, 1 May 2021, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. ( Amaranthaceae ).

Chrysobothris axillaris Horn. New Mexico: Cibola Co., Cibola National Forest, Mt. Taylor Road 547, 35°13.91ʹN, 107°42.88ʹW, 2130–2470 meters, 9–14 August 2007, E.H. Nearns.

Chrysobothris bispinosa Schaeffer. New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., Peloncillo Mountains, Geronimo Trail 2.4 km NE of Arizona border, 31°30.617ʹN, 109°02.250ʹW, 1790 meters, 20 June 2024, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Quercus sp. ( Fagaceae ).

Chrysobothris chalcophoroides Horn. New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., Animas Mountains, Gray Ranch, Indian Creek Canyon, 31°36ʹ15ʺN, 108°46ʹ26ʺW, 4829 feet, 25 August 2004, M. Gates.

Chrysobothris costifrons costifrons Waterhouse. New Mexico: Grant Co., Gila National Forest, Gomez Peak Picnic Area, 32°50ʹ55ʺN, 108°16ʹ32ʺW, 1957 meters, 15 August 2007, N.E. Woodley, on cut Quercus ( Fagaceae ).

Other Significant Records

The following represent records of some rarely collected species and new adult host records indicated in bold.

Acmaeodera horni Fall. Arizona: Cochise Co., west slope of Dragoon Mountains, Middlemarch Road, 20.5 km NE of Highway 80, 31°51.568ʹN, 109°57.534ʹW, 1710 meters, 30 May 2020, N.E. Woodley, on flowers of Fallugia paradoxa (D. Dond.) Endl. ( Rosaceae ). Other specimens from same locality, 1 June 2020, 12 May 2021, 14 May 2021, 4 May 2022, 10 May 2022, 16 May 2022, 24 May 2022, 30 May 2022. New adult host record.

This species was known only from the holotype until an additional specimen was discovered in UAIC from the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona, which led Westcott and Bellamy (2004) to collect eight additional specimens. The specimens they collected were on or near two species of Quercus . All the specimens I have collected were on flowers of Fallugia paradoxa . I observed some individuals feeding on the petals of the flowers of this plant.

Agrilus falli Fisher. Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Patagonia Mountains, Duquesne Road 18.0 km N of Highway 82, 31°23.267ʹN, 110°43.067ʹW, 1770 meters, 28 August 2022, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Dalea albiflora A. Gray ( Fabaceae ). New adult host record.

Mastogenius puncticollis Schaeffer. Arizona: Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mountains, Forest Road 42 at crossing of East Turkey Creek, 31°54.550ʹN, 109°15.115ʹW, 1960 meters, 10 June 2020, N.E. Woodley; Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mountains, John Hands Campground, 31°52.706ʹN, 109°13.379ʹW, 1715 meters, 12 June 2024, N.E. Woodley, beating dead twigs of Quercus sp. ( Fagaceae ); Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, Carr Canyon Road just below Carr House, 31°26.574ʹN, 110°17.190ʹW, 1660 meters, 2 June 2022, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Quercus hypoleucoides A. Camus ( Fagaceae ); Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, Miller Canyon Trail just SW of Beatty’s Guest Ranch, 31°24.801ʹN, 110°16.739ʹW, 1790 meters, 6 June 2022, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Q. hypoleucoides ; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, Carr Canyon Road 9.5 km from Highway 92, 31°25.797ʹN, 110°16.984ʹW, 2160 meters, 14 June 2022, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Q. hypoleucoides ; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, upper Carr Canyon Road, Reef Townsite Campground, 31°25.689ʹN, 110°17.441ʹW, 2195 meters, 7 July 2022, N.E. Woodley, sweeping Q. hypoleucoides .

In addition to the holotype, there have been only two additional specimens of M. puncticollis recorded ( Walters and Bellamy 1990, Bellamy 2002). I have collected 26 specimens from the above localities, mostly by sweeping Quercus hypoleucoides , new adult host record. The species seems to be mostly associated with dead twigs of that oak species. However, the series noted above from John Hands Campground was collected on Quercus that was not Q. hypoleucoides , so additional oak species probably serve as larval hosts