Semanotus amethystinus (LeConte, 1853)

(Figs 4A, 7 A, 8, 16A; Map 1)

Physocnemum amethystimum LeConte, 1853: 234

Material examined. 131 males, 159 females.

Holotype. Female (MCZ), examined; labelled “ S. amethystinus /(Lec.)// Type /3829 [Red label]”.

Diagnosis. This species can be separated from other species of Semanotus by the following combination of characters: head, thorax and abdomen black, elytra metallic dark blue to purple; pronotum goblet shaped, broadly round laterally, with basal stalk forming a short pedicel between pronotum and elytra; antennae short, usually ≤1/2 elytra length in both sexes; antennomeres 1, 3–5 long and narrow,> 2X as long as wide, especially in male; elytra minutely punctate, slightly rugulose near base; wing vein r3 very short; wing vein RP very short or obsolete; tibia with long, erect setae (“flying hairs”) greatly reduced in males, absent in females; basal apophysis of abdominal sternum VIII long, longer than the length of one lateral sclerite; basal apophysis of spiculum ventrale short, ~ 2X length of lateral apophysis; ventral lobe of aedeagus apically sinuate and pointed, dorsal lobe of aedeagus narrowly rounded.

Hosts. Libocedrus decurrens Torr. (incense-cedar), Thuja plicata Donn (western redcedar).

Flower and Associated Vegetation Records. Chaemaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. (Port Orford cedar), Pinus sp. (pine), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Douglas-fir).

Distribution. Primarily a west coast species, from Washington to southern California, with a few records from high elevation localities in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.

Remarks. This species seems to get transported around in lumber, as there is a record from Alaska emerging from pine 2 x2 ’s, and a record from New York emerging from cedar wood, however, there is no evidence that suggests that this species is established in these areas.