Paragrilus rugatulus

Thomson, 1879

Metallic Woodborer

Paragrilus rugatulus is a metallic wood-boring (: Agrilinae) described by Thomson in 1879. It belongs to the P. rugatulus group, one of three species groups recognized in the for North and Central America. The species occurs in the United States and extends into Central America. Members of its species group are associated with plants in the genus Sida (Malvaceae).

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Paragrilus rugatulus: /pæˈræɡrɪləs ruˈɡætjʊləs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Paragrilus rugatulus can be distinguished from other North Paragrilus using the provided in Hespenheide (2002). It belongs to the P. rugatulus species group, characterized by association with Sida (Malvaceae). The Paragrilus differs from the related and more speciose genus Agrilus by having that are received in grooves along the sides of the . Four species of Paragrilus occur in the United States: P. burkei, P. lesueuri, P. rugatulus, and P. tenuis.

Distribution

United States; Central America. The is present in North America and Middle America according to GBIF distribution records. It is one of four Paragrilus species documented from the United States.

Host Associations

Sida - associated withFour of the P. rugatulus group are known to associate with this in the Malvaceae

Similar Taxa

Paragrilus tenuisAlso occurs in the United States and is associated with Hibiscus (Malvaceae), but differs in association and geographic distribution—P. tenuis is the only eastern U.S. , found from New York south to Florida and west to Missouri and Mississippi
Paragrilus burkeiAnother U.S. , but belongs to a different species group with presumably different associations
Paragrilus lesueuriU.S. that has been reared, unlike P. rugatulus for which rearing records are not mentioned
Agrilus spp.Related with similar body form, but distinguished by that are not received in pronotal grooves; most Agrilus are associated with rather than herbaceous like Sida

More Details

Taxonomic History

The Paragrilus was reviewed for North and Central America by Hespenheide (2002), who recognized 18 including six newly described. The species falls into the P. rugatulus group, one of three species groups (the others being P. trifoveolatus group and P. aeraticollis group). have been designated for related species in the genus.

Collection Records

As of the available data, iNaturalist shows 72 observations for this . The species has been documented through , hand netting, and pan traps; Lindgren funnel and have not been successful for capturing Paragrilus species.