Agrilus hespenheidei
Nelson in Nelson & Westcott, 1991
Henry's Agrilus
Agrilus hespenheidei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae. It occurs in North America. The was described in 1991 and is named in honor of entomologist Henry Hespenheide. Field observations indicate are associated with flowers of Bouvardia ternifolia (firecrackerbush).
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Agrilus hespenheidei: //ˈæɡrɪləs hɛspənˈhaɪdi//
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Distribution
North America. Specific records include southeastern Arizona (Huachuca Mountains, Canyon area).
Seasonality
have been observed in late July in southeastern Arizona, suggesting summer activity.
Host Associations
- Bouvardia ternifolia - flower visitation collected by sweeping flowers of firecrackerbush; possibly a nectar source
Behavior
have been observed on flowers and captured by sweeping vegetation. No other behavioral details are documented.
Similar Taxa
- Agrilus latifronsSimilar size and habit of occurring on flowers in the same region; distinguished by specific morphological characters of the Agrilus group
- Agrilus cavatusFound sympatrically in southeastern Arizona on Acaciella angustissima; A. hespenheidei is smaller and associated with different plants
More Details
Etymology
Named for Henry A. Hespenheide, entomologist known for his work on Buprestidae and other .
Taxonomic note
Described by Nelson in Nelson & Westcott, 1991. The belongs to the large Agrilus, which contains over 3,000 described species worldwide.