On the Identity of Agrilus anxius Gory and Some Allied Species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Extract

Agrilus anxius Gory has been reported as breeding in numerous species of birches and poplars. Because species of Agrilus are often poorly characterized morphologically, and usually restrict their feeding to one or to a few closely allied species of plants, it has been suspected that two species were confused. Barter, working in New Brunswick, noted that male specimens reared from, or artracted to, birches and poplars were separable allvays by characters of their genitalia. He found also the differences in biology which described below. Study of material in the Canadian National Collection and the U.S. National Museum shows that the genitalic characters hold in specimens associated with food-plants in other localities. Smith (1949, Nature 164: 237), working with material reared in New Brunswick, found that males and females from birches have 22 chromosomes, and those from poplars only 20. Thus it has been demonstrated that two species, one feeding on birches, the other on poplars, have been confused as Agrilus anxius.