Anthaxia (Capanthaxia) aterrima Kerremans, 1903

Bílý, Svatopluk, 2019, Subgeneric classification of the genus Anthaxia Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Anthaxiini), Zootaxa 4568 (2), pp. 261-278 : 269

Anthaxia (Capanthaxia) aterrima Kerremans, 1903 species-group

DEFINITION OF THE SPECIES- GROUP. Large (7.0–9.0 mm), robust, subparallel, asetose (except for very short, pale frontal pubescence) species; dorsal surface lustrous, black or black bronze, exceptionally with scutellum and short, narrow prescutellar line green ( Fig. 22 ); ventral surface metallic bronze.

Head relatively small, narrower than anterior pronotal margin; frons flat, vertex 0.6–0.8 times as wide as width of eye; antennae of both sexes fusiform, very short reaching anterior third of lateral pronotal margins when laid alongside; eyes large but not projecting beyond outline of head; sculpture consisting of small, oval cells with tiny central grains.

Pronotum wide, lateral margins widely rounded at anterior two thirds, almost straight at posterior third, posterior angles rectangular; disc of pronotum with wide, rather deep, longitudinal depression in posterior two thirds, lateroposterior depressions wide, deep, prolonged anteriorly to pronotal midlength ( Figs. 22 , 53 ); sculpture rather complicated, consisting of fine, transverse rugae on posterior half of disc, fine, longitudinally prolonged cells without central grains along lateral margins and simple, fine punctures on anterior third of disc ( Fig. 53 ). Scutellum small, cordiform, about 1.5 times as long as wide.

Elytra slightly shortened (pygidium visible from above), wedge-shaped, strongly uneven with wide, almost rounded depression at anterior third, wide, transverse depression at posterio third and deep, longitudinal depressions along middle part of lateral margins ( Fig. 22 ); basal, transverse depression wide, deep, reaching scutellum; each elytron widely, separately rounded apically, humeral callosities well-developed but not projecting beyond elytral outline.

Legs relatively short, male metatibiae straight with very fine inner serrations, anal ventrite of both sexes simply rounded.

Aedeagus prolonged, parameres moderately widened at basal half, median lobe without lateral serrations (figs. 21–24 in Obořil & Baňař, 2015).

DISTRIBUTION: South Africa (Cape Provinces).

SPECIES INCLUDED: Anthaxia (Capanthaxia) aterrima Kerremans, 1903 , A. (C.) kamieserrima Obořil & Baňař, 2015.

Figures

FIGURES 13–24. Anthaxia, dorsal aspect. 13—Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) kochi Obenberger, male, 6.5 mm; 14- A. (Richteraxia) angustipennis (Klug), male, 6.1 mm; 15—A. (R.) congolana Kerremans, male, 11.0 mm; 16—A. (R.) marginifera metallescens Bílý, male, 9.1 mm; 17—A. (Merocratus) miranda Deyrolle, female, 8.0 mm; 18—A. (Thailandica.) rondoni Baudon, 5.5 mm; 19—A. (Capanthaxia) capensis Kerremans, lectotype, 3.9 mm; 20—the same, male, blue form, 4.5 mm; 21—A. (Cap.) hilaris Gory, female, 4.8 mm; 22—A. (Cap.) aterrima Kerremans, male, 7.1 mm; 23—A. (Cap.) sulcicollis Obenberger, male, 4.0 mm; 24—the same, female, 5.8 mm.

FIGURES 40–54. Anthaxia, pronotal sculpture (not in scale). 40—Anthaxia (Anthaxia) fulgurans (Schrank); 41—A. (A.) salicis salicis (Fabricius); 42—A. (A.) manca (Fabricius); 43—A. (Melanthaxia) nigrojubata nigrojubata Roubal; 44—A. (Cratomerus) hungarica hungarica (Scopoli); 45—A. (Haplanthaxia) cichorii (Olivier); 46—A. (H.) kneuckeri zabranskyi Bílý; 47—A. (H.) pumila (Klug); 48—A. (Richteraxia) angustipennis (Klug); 49—A. (R.) marginifera metallescens Bílý; 50— A. (Merocratus) tamdaoensis Bílý; 51—A. (Thailandia) rondoni Baudon; 52—A. (Capanthaxia) capensis Kerremans; 53—A. (Cap.) aterrima Kerremans; 54—A. (Cap.) sulcicollis Obenberger.