Agrilus sapphirinus Jendek & Chamorro

Jendek, Eduard & Chamorro, Maria Lourdes, 2012, Six new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Agrilinae) from the Oriental Region related to the emerald ash borer, A. planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 and synonymy of Sarawakita Obenberger, 1924, ZooKeys 239, pp. 71-94 : 78-79

Agrilus sapphirinus Jendek & Chamorro sp. n. Figs 4050

Diagnosis.

This species shares several characters present in species close to Agrilus ascanius Deyrolle, 1864. Agrilus sapphirinus sp. n. can be easily differentiated by the bright metallic-blue color; lack of yellow abdominal pubescence; strongly convergent marginal and submarginal carinae; and by the dilated prosternal process with acute angles.

Description. BODY: Size: 10.5 mm (Holotype); Shape: cuneiform; Build: slender.

HEAD: Medial impression: present; Depth: moderately deep; Extent: frons; Epistoma: in plane with frons; Frons: Shape: flat; Outline: slightly protruding from head outline; Vertex: Sculpture (predominant): punctures; Aspect: semispherical; Density: sparse; Intensity: rough; Eyes: large; Shape: protruding from head outline; Lower margin: in line with antennal socket; Antennae: Length: moderate (females) Shape: slender.

PRONOTUM: Shape: transverse; sides moderately arcuate; widest subapically; anterior margin slightly narrower than posterior; Anterior lobe moderate; Shape: arcuate; Position: at level with anterior pronotal angles; Posterior angles: Apex: blunt, Shape: moderately obtuse; Disk: flat; Disk impressions: Presence: medial and lateral; Medial impression: Shape: anteromedial and posteromedial; Lateral impressions: Depth: deep; Width: wide; Prehumerus: Development: carinal; Shape: arcuate; Extent: to third of pronotal length; Anterior end: distant from pronotal angle or margin; Posterior end: distant from pronotal angle or margin; Marginal and submarginal carinae: Interspace: narrow; Convergence: strongly convergent; Junction: present; Scutellum: Size: moderate, Disk: impressed, Scutellar carina: present.

ELYTRA: Color: unicolored; Humeral carina: absent; Apices: Arrangement: separate; Shape: spinose; Position of dominant spine: medial; Elytral pubescence: absent.

STERNUM: Prosternallobe:Size: moderate, Anterior margin: angulately emarginate, Emargination: Depth: deep; Width: wide; Prosternal process: Size: moderate; Shape: dilated; Sides: arcuate, Angles: acute, Disk: flat; Metasternal projection: flat.

ABDOMEN: Sternal groove: Shape on apex of last ventrite: arcuately sinuate; Width: narrow; Pygidium: Apical margin: arcuate.

LEGS: Metatarsus: about as long as or somewhat longer than mesotarsus; Metatarsomere1: longer than 2-4 combined.

GENITALIA: Ovipositor elongate.

Type locality

. North Laos, Louang Namtha environ, N21°00.3, E101°24.6.

Type specimens.

Holotype, ♀, (EJCB): "LAOS north, 31.v.1997, Luoang Namtha env., N21°00.3, E101°24.6, E. Jendek & O. Šauša leg".

Distribution.

Laos: Louang Namtha Province.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is Latin sapphirinus, -a, -um (of sapphire) and refers to the color of the species.