Chrysobothris sloicola

Manley & Wellso, 1976

Chrysobothris sloicola is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae. It is a member of the Chrysobothris femorata -group, a taxonomically challenging complex of species that was revised in 2007. The species is known only from Michigan and is associated with Prunus (cherry/plum) as its plant. It was described by Manley & Wellso in 1976.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chrysobothris sloicola: /ˌkrɪsoʊˈboʊθrɪs ˌsloʊɪˈkoʊlə/

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Identification

Members of the Chrysobothris femorata -group are distinguished by suites of subtle morphological characters rather than single diagnostic features. Specific characters for C. sloicola are not detailed in available sources. Identification within this group requires examination of: antennal segment shape; post- elytral foveae (circular impressions) and their separation; pygidial form and impression depth; presence or absence of hyaline lateral margins on the ; elytral posteriolateral margin shape and coloration; elytral and cross- patterns; and callosity shape and coloration.

Distribution

Known only from Michigan, United States. No additional localities have been documented.

Diet

Larvae develop in wood of Prunus . presumably feed on foliage or bark surfaces of plants, as is typical for the , though this has not been specifically documented for this species.

Host Associations

Prunus - larval sole documented ; wood-boring larvae develop within host tissues

Ecological Role

As a wood-boring , larvae contribute to decomposition of dead and dying Prunus wood. The is part of the guild of buprestid beetles that recycle woody plant in forest .

Human Relevance

No direct economic or agricultural significance has been documented. The is of interest primarily to taxonomists and collectors due to its restricted distribution and rarity in collections.

Similar Taxa

Chrysobothris femorataFormerly a catch-all under which C. sloicola and related were subsumed; distinguished by straight elytral posteriolateral margins and reddish elytral tips versus arcuate margins with bronze tips in related species
Chrysobothris viridicepsOccurs in overlapping eastern North American range; distinguished by distinctly separated post- elytral foveae versus joined foveae in C. sloicola
Chrysobothris shawneeEastern US associated with Quercus; distinguished by larger, bronze-black callosities versus transverse bronze callosities in C. sloicola

More Details

Taxonomic history

Chrysobothris sloicola was described in 1976 by Manley & Wellso. It belongs to the Chrysobothris femorata -group, which underwent major revision by Wellso & Manley (2007) that doubled the number of described species in the group from 6 to 12. The revision clarified species limits but maintained reliance on character suites rather than single diagnostic characters for identification.

Collection rarity

As of 2010, the was noted as lacking from the extensive personal collection of buprestid Ted C. MacRae, who had collected numerous specimens of most other species in the femorata group. This indicates genuine rarity rather than mere obscurity.