Agrilus prionurus
Chevrolat, 1838
Soapberry Borer
Agrilus prionurus, commonly known as the soapberry borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae. The is native to North America and Central America. Like other members of the Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as larvae in wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The suggests an association with soapberry plants (Sapindus), but this relationship has not been rigorously confirmed in published literature.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Agrilus prionurus: /əˈɡraɪləs priːˈɒnʊrəs/
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Distribution
Recorded from North America and Central America. GBIF distribution records indicate presence in the conterminous 48 United States. Specific locality records are sparse in the available literature.
Host Associations
- Sapindus - suspected 'soapberry borer' implies larval development in soapberry, but this association requires confirmation. No published rearing records were found in the provided sources.
Similar Taxa
- Other Agrilus speciesThe Agrilus contains nearly 4,000 described , many of which are morphologically similar and difficult to distinguish without examination of male genitalia. A. prionurus would require comparison with regional species in North and Central America.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- Catalogue of Life
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