Chrysobothris purpureovittata cercocarpi
Westcott & Nelson, 2000
Chrysobothris purpureovittata cercocarpi is a of described from a at Cloudcroft, New Mexico, associated exclusively with mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). It is distinguished from the nominate subspecies by having an entirely red and uniformly dark . The belongs to a where most members exhibit , though the nominate subspecies is notably . This western population represents a rare case of specialization within an otherwise species.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Chrysobothris purpureovittata cercocarpi: /ˌkɹɪsəˈbɒθɹɪs ˌpɜrpjʊrioʊˈvɪtə tə ˌsɜrkəˈkɑrpaɪ/
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Identification
Differs from nominate Chrysobothris purpureovittata by entirely red and uniformly dark without the purple vittae (stripes) suggested by the name. The nominate typically shows greenish or coppery pronotum with purple longitudinal stripes on elytra. No other morphological differences have been documented.
Habitat
Associated with mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) in montane environments of the southwestern United States. The locality at Cloudcroft, Otero County, New Mexico, lies in the Sacramento Mountains at approximately 8,600 feet elevation.
Distribution
Known only from the western edge of the range at Cloudcroft, Otero County, New Mexico. This represents a disjunct separated from the main distribution of the nominate in the central and south-central United States.
Host Associations
- Cercocarpus montanus - exclusive larval The only documented for this ; have been collected from this . This represents the sole known case of host specialization within an otherwise highly .
Similar Taxa
- Chrysobothris purpureovittata purpureovittataNominate with which it is in broader geographic context; distinguished by coloration (greenish/coppery with purple elytral stripes versus entirely red pronotum and uniformly dark ) and associations ( on >25 in 11 versus exclusive association with Cercocarpus montanus).
- Other Chrysobothris species on CercocarpusSeveral other are associated with Cercocarpus, including C. bisinuata (exclusive to Cercocarpus), C. piuta, and C. mali; these differ in body form, coloration, and specific relationships within the .