Knowltonia biramosa Fisher

Westcott, Richard L. & Barr, William F., 2007, 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), Zootaxa 1481, pp. 49-58 : 53

Knowltonia biramosa Fisher , resurrected combination

( Figs. 4–6 )

Knowltonia biramosa Fisher, 1935:118 .

Chrysobothris atrifasciata: Fisher, 1942:237 (part, misidentification); Beer, 1949:83 (misidentification; C. artifasciata , lapsus); Walters, 1975:69 (misidentification) Chrysobothris biramosa: Fisher, 1942:233 (synonymy).

Chrysobothris biramosa biramosa: Knull, 1958:96 ; Nelson, 1966:39 (part); 1967:26 (description female). Chrysobothris biramosa calida: Barr and Westcott, 1976:140 (misidentification).

This species was known only by the male holotype described from Utah until Nelson (1966) reported collecting it (as C. biramosa biramosa ) on Atriplex confertifolia at the type locality. He also indicated a new record for California based on specimens taken on A. lentiformis in Imperial Co., Winterhaven, but those represent K. calida . Also he reported it as new to Arizona, based on specimens he collected from Atriplex sp. in Navajo Co., Woodruff, but clearly those refer to K. alleni . In fact, Fisher (1942) reported a specimen of the latter from the same locality. Later, Nelson (1967) described the female of K. biramosa . Barr (1971) expanded the concept of this species to include both coppery and green forms, listed three species of Atriplex as larval hosts, and added Idaho and Oregon to its range. Westcott (1990) added Nevada to its distribution; we have seen both coppery and green forms from a single locality there: Mineral Co., Walker Lake, as well as from SW Idaho. Although the status of green specimens may remain in doubt, for now we feel they should be placed with the coppery forms, at least until a more complete picture of the distribution of this species becomes available. Barr and Westcott (1976) reported the green phenotype (as C. biramosa calida ) reared from A. canescens in Idaho and taken on A. confertifolia in Oregon. We include in K. biramosa green specimens from CALIFOR- NIA, Inyo Co., S end Owens Lake, sand dunes, ex Atriplex , 15-VII-78, CSCA; Inyo Mts., Long John Canyon, 5600’, 2/II-14/VII-82, ethylene glycol pitfall trap, CASC; L.A. Co., Lancaster, 4-VI-69, WFBM; San Bernardino Co., Victorville, 4-VII-70 & 3-VII-76, on Atriplex sp. and A. lentiformis , GCWC.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 9. Antennae. 4 – 6, Knowltonia biramosa Fisher: 4 – 5, male; 6, female. 7, K. calida (Knull), male; 8, K. atrifasciata (LeConte), male; 9, Chrysobothris quadrilineata LeConte, female.