Paratyndaris olneyae

(Skinner, 1903)

Paratyndaris olneyae is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae, originally described as Tyndaris olneyae by Skinner in 1903. It is classified in the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris) within the Paratyndaris, a predominantly southwestern North American and Mexican group. The occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its and associations remain poorly documented in the available literature.

Paratyndaris olneyae by (c) Michael A. Alcorn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael A. Alcorn. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Paratyndaris olneyae: /ˌpærəˈtɪndəˌrɪs ˈoʊlnijaɪ/

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Identification

Members of the Paratyndaris are small to medium-sized jewel beetles that can be distinguished from related genera by a combination of characters including antennal structure and body form. Within the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris), P. olneyae can be differentiated from by characters described in the revision by Nelson & Bellamy (2004), which includes a key to . The species name honors Olney, presumably an individual associated with the or collection locality.

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Distribution

Recorded from Central America and North America. The occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic regions. Specific locality records are sparse in the available sources, but the Paratyndaris is predominantly distributed in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

Similar Taxa

Paratyndaris prosopisSimilar size and general appearance; both occur in the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris) and share the characteristic compact body form of the . P. prosopis has been recorded from hackberry (Celtis spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), and mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas, and shows some plasticity in use.
Paratyndaris crandalliAnother member of the same subgenus with overlapping geographic range in the southwestern United States. Distinguishable by specific morphological characters detailed in Nelson & Bellamy (2004).
Paratyndaris anomalisCongeneric in the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris) with similar overall habitus; identification requires examination of specific characters including elytral and coloration patterns.