Anambodera

Barr, 1974

Species Guides

Anambodera is a of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) established by Barr in 1974. The genus comprises seven described distributed in western North America. Unlike the closely related and flower-visiting genus Acmaeodera, Anambodera species exhibit more cryptic habits, often found alighting on rock surfaces or bare soil rather than on flowers. The genus remains incompletely known and is currently undergoing revision.

Anambodera gemina by cricketsblog. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anambodera: /ˌænæmˈboʊdərə/

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Identification

Anambodera can be distinguished from the closely related Acmaeodera by several key characters: the front margin of the epistoma is not reflexed or plate-like; the front angles of the pronotum are rounded in side view; and the between the first and second abdominal sterna is visible. within Anambodera typically exhibit coarse elytral punctation and a heavily sculptured, bronzed pronotal surface. These beetles are small and vittate (striped), resembling small Acmaeodera species in general gestalt.

Images

Habitat

Arid and semi-arid regions of western North America, including rocky areas and bare soil surfaces. have been collected in association with pinyon-juniper zones, oak-juniper woodlands, and desert mountain .

Distribution

Western North America. Documented from the southwestern United States including Arizona, California, and Texas, with ranging into northern Mexico. Specific localities include the San Bernardino Mountains, Santa Rosa Mountains, and Atacosa Mountains in Arizona.

Behavior

are slow fliers that frequently alight on bare ground, rocks, or sticks rather than visiting flowers. This cryptic contrasts markedly with the flower-visiting habits of related and contributes to their poor representation in collections.

Similar Taxa

AcmaeoderaClosely related with similar small, vittate appearance, but distinguished by reflexed epistomal margin, acute pronotal angles, and flower-visiting .