Ampheremus
Fall, 1917
Species Guides
1Ampheremus is a of jewel beetles ( Buprestidae) containing a single described , Ampheremus cylindricollis. The genus was established by Fall in 1917 and is classified within the Chalcophorinae. Little is known about the or distribution of this genus beyond its type species.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ampheremus: //æmˈfɛrɪməs//
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Identification
Ampheremus can be distinguished from related by the cylindrical pronotum of A. cylindricollis, which gives the its specific epithet. The genus belongs to the Chalcophorinae, a diverse of Buprestidae characterized by generally elongated body forms and often metallic coloration. Definitive identification requires examination of the single known species.
Distribution
The distribution of Ampheremus is effectively that of its sole , A. cylindricollis. Specific locality data for the is sparse in the provided sources. The genus has been recorded from the southwestern United States based on collector notes mentioning attempts to find the species in Washington County, Utah and Mojave County, Arizona.
Similar Taxa
- NanulariaBoth Ampheremus and Nanularia are within the Chalcophorinae that were revised together by Bellamy (1987). They share similar body plans and are often discussed in the same taxonomic treatments, though Nanularia contains multiple and shows greater morphological diversity.
- ChrysobothrisChrysobothris is another large in the Buprestidae that shares the general 'jewel beetle' with Ampheremus. However, Chrysobothris typically have more sculptured pronota and , and the genus is far more species-rich and widely distributed.
More Details
Taxonomic History
The Ampheremus was revised by Charles L. Bellamy in 1987 (Contributions in Science, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History 387:1–20), who treated it alongside the related genus Nanularia. This revision remains the primary taxonomic reference for the genus.
Collector Interest
Despite its obscurity, Ampheremus cylindricollis has been specifically targeted by coleopterists during collecting trips to the southwestern United States. One collector noted planned stops in Washington County, Utah and Mojave County, Arizona specifically to search for this , though success was limited by difficulty locating the plant Eriogonum inflatum at the expected localities.