Brachys wellsoi
Brachys wellsoi is a of jewel beetle in the Buprestidae, tribe Trachyini. Members of this are leaf-miners of hardwood trees, primarily oaks (Quercus). The tribe Trachyini exhibits a distinctive flattened, compact, wedge-shaped body form compared to the more typical elongate, cylindrical shape of other buprestids. This is associated with their unique larval habit of mining within leaf tissue rather than boring through wood.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Brachys wellsoi: /ˈbrækɪs ˈwɛlsoɪ/
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Host Associations
- Quercus - larval Brachys primarily associated with oaks; specific records for B. wellsoi not documented
Similar Taxa
- Brachys ovatusLargest of the three Brachys in Missouri (exceeding 5 mm), distinguished by dense row of long hairs along apex of last abdominal sternum and white-margined band of bronze before elytral apex
- Brachys aerosusHighly variable with basal elytral region largely lacking and showing purple, blue, or green luster; predominantly gold to bronze pubescence on ; 3-5 mm in length
- Brachys aeruginosusSmaller (3-4 mm) most similar to B. aerosus but with predominantly light gold to silver setae on
More Details
Tribe characteristics
in tribe Trachyini exhibit highly derived —flat, compact, and wedge-shaped—compared to other buprestid groups. This is associated with their unique larval habit of mining within leaves of plants rather than boring through wood.