Anthaxita peruviana gen. n., sp. n. by present designation.

Medium-sized (5.4 mm), dark, with silky lustre, Anthaxia-like, subparallel (Fig. 1); dorsal surface asetose, ventral surface with sparse, white, recumbent pubescence.

Head large, as wide as anterior pronotal margin; frons flat, vertex almost 3 times as wide as width of eye; antennae very short reaching anterior third of pronotal margins when laid alongside; clypeus short, transverse, anterior margin weakly emarginate.

Pronotum regularly convex, lateroposterior depressions and “agriloid” carina missing; lateral pronotal carina short, reaching posterior third of pronotal margin; posterior pronotal margin (covered by elytral base) serrate; posterior pronotal angles obtuse-angled; prescutellar pit and basal tubercles missing; pronotal sculpture very fine, homogeneous, consisting of very fine polygonal cells. Scutellum cordiform, 1.5 times as long as wide (Fig. 32), resembling the scutellum of the click-beetles of the subfamily Cardiophorinae.

Elytra about twice as long as wide, subparallel at anterior two thirds, regularly tapering at posterior third; elytral apices narrowly rounded, very finely serrate; elytral epipleura very narrow, narrowing posteriorly, reaching posterior fourth of elytral margin; subhumeral carina well defined; humeral swellings small; basal, elytral, transverse depression of elytra deep, narrow, reaching scutellum but interrupted by small tubercle near humeri; elytral sculpture very fine, homogeneous.

Ventral surface lustrous, metepisterna with patch of cream-white pubescence; prosternum weakly convex, anterior margin straight; prosternal process flat, slightly tapering posteriorly, not widened behind procoxae. Suture between abdominal ventrites 1–2 missing; anal tergite concave, posterior margin obtusely rounded, not serrate; anal ventrite slightly convex with obtusely rounded and finely serrate posterior margin. Legs short, stout, tarsi much shorter then tibiae. Tarsal claws strongly curved, robust, slightly enlarged at base.

The genus name Anthaxita gen. n. (feminine) indicates the strong similarity to the genus Anthaxia.

Except for the characters mentioned in the key, the genus Anthaxita gen. n. differs from other Neotropical genera of Anthaxiina by the combination of the following characters: pubescence of ventral surface, very wide vertex, very fine sculpture of pronotum and elytra, serrate posterior margin of pronotum, shortened elytral epipleura, missing suture between abdominal ventrites 1–2, short lateral pronotal carina, posteriorly acuminate prosternal process, concave anal tergite (pygidium), narrowly attenuate elytral apex and by the absence of the “agriloid” carina, lateroposterior pronotal depressions, and prescutellar pit. The male is unknown.

Peru.

Among all Neotropical Anthaxiini, the genus Anthaxita gen. n. is most similar to the Holoarctic species of Anthaxia, particularly to the subgenus Melanthaxia Rikhter, 1949.

Peru, Cusco.

Holotype (female, NMPC): “Pérou (Cusco) Gay 59–49”.

Medium-sized (5.4 mm), black-bronze, matt with silky lustre (Fig. 1); clypeus and anterior portion of frons with weak, violet lustre; ventral surface lustrous, black-violet; entire dorsal surface asetose, ventral surface with rather long, sparse, recumbent white pubescence, metepisterna covered with cream-white tomentum.

Head wide, large, as wide as width of anterior pronotal margin; clypeus twice as wide as long, separated from frons by shallow, transverse impression, anterior margin widely, shallowly emarginate; frons flat with two shallow, rounded depressions above antennal insertions; vertex flat, 2.8 times as wide as width of eye; eyes relatively small, elliptical, not projecting beyond outline of head; antennae very short, finely serrate from fourth antennomere; scape pyriform, slightly flattened, 3.5 times as long as wide; pedicel suboval, 1.5 times as long as wide; third antennomere weakly triangular, 1.5 times as long as wide; antennomere 4 sharply triangular, 1.3 times as long as wide; antennomeres 5–10 trapezoidal, 1.3 times as wide as long, terminal antennomere rhomboid, somewhat longer than wide; sculpture of head consisting of small, fine, very dense polygonal cells with microsculptured bottoms.

Pronotum almost regularly convex, 2.2 times as wide as long, slightly flattened at posterior angles; anterior margin deeply biarcuate, medial lobe large, strongly projecting forward, posterior margin nearly straight; lateral margins regularly, widely rounded, posterior angles obtuse-angled; prescutellar pit and “agriloid” carina missing; sculpture consisting of very fine, small, polygonal cells, nearly indistinct on pronotal disc. Scutellum (Fig. 31) 1.3 times as long as wide, cordiform, flat, lustrous, microsculptured.

Elytra 2.2 times as long as wide, regularly convex, subparallel, regularly tapering at posterior third; humeral swellings slightly projecting beyond outline of elytra; each elytron narrowly rounded apically, with quite indistinct serrations; subhumeral carina well defined, flat, reaching apical third of lateral margins; elytral epipleura narrow, not very well defined, becoming narrower posteriorly, reaching posterior fifth of elytral margins; elytral sculpture very fine, consisting of tiny, transverse, zig-zag rugae which are much denser on humeral portion of elytra than that on disc.

Ventral surface lustrous, finely ocellate, anal ventrite widely triangular, apically subtruncate, finely serrate laterally. Legs short, stout, all tibiae straight, unmodified; tarsi short, tarsomeres 1–4 rather wide with well defined, ventral, adhesive pads; all tarsi much shorter than corresponding tibiae. Tarsal claws robust, strongly hook-shaped, slightly enlarged at base.

Sexual dimorphism. Male unknown.

Measurements. Length: 5.4 mm; width: 2.0 mm.

Anthaxita peruviana sp. n. is named after the country of origin (Peru).

All differential characters are given in the description of the genus.

Peru.

The holotype was originally pinned, so the right elytron and corresponding portion of the abdomen are somewhat damaged (see Fig. 1).

Agrilaxia mrazi mrazi Obenberger, 1932 by present designation.

Medium-sized (5.5 mm), black, elongate, matt, entirely asetose; lateral margins of elytra with green tinge.

Head as wide as anterior pronotal margin; clypeus narrow, trapezoidal, anterior margin deeply emarginate; frons widely grooved; vertex flat, twice as wide as width of eye; eyes broad elliptical, not projecting beyond outline of head; antennae short and robust, scarcely reaching midlength of lateral pronotal margins when laid alongside; scape broad pyriform, twice as long as wide; pedicel subcylindrical, 1.4 times as long as wide; third antennomere short, 1.2 times as long as wide; antennomeres 4-10 short, trapezoidal, nearly twice as wide as long; terminal antennomere rhomboid, 1.5 times as wide as long; sculpture of head consisting of fine, simple, sparse punctures on frons and weakly defined, dense cells on vertex.

Pronotum twice as wide as long, with wide, deep lateroposterior depressions, without distinct sculpture; lateral margins weakly S-shaped, posterior angles right angled; “agriloid” carina well defined, rather sharp, as long as lateral pronotal carina; basal tubercles weakly defined, prescutellar pit small, deep, well defined. Scutellum small, cordiform (Fig. 31), flat, twice as long as wide, resembling the scutellum of the click-beetles of the subfamily Cardiophorinae.

Elytra elongate, 2.3 times as long as wide, widely sphenoidal with shallow, longitudinal depression at posterior fourth; humeral swellings small but well defined, basal, transverse depression deep, reaching scutellum; elytral epipleura strongly reduced, very narrow, not reaching apex of elytra; subhumeral carina well defined, reaching apical portion of elytra; elytral sculpture consisting of fine microsculpture and very small, lustrous grains. Anal ventrite with fine but sharp, lateral serrations; all tarsi distinctly widened; tarsal claws simple, strongly hook-shaped.

Aedeagus (Figs 130, 131 in Cobos 1972) long, slender, spindle-shaped, setiferous part of parameres very short, median lobe pointed apically.

The new genus Charlesina gen. n. (feminine) is dedicated to my friend and colleague, Charles Bellamy (Sacramento, California), one of the best world specialists in the taxonomy of Buprestidae, with my warm thanks for his life long cooperation.

The monotypic genus Charlesina gen. n. strongly differs from other Neotropical Anthaxiina except for the genus Sanchezia gen. n. Both genera share some general characters like black, flattened body without distinct sculpture of dorsal surface, widened, robust antennae and tarsi, well defined lateroposterior pronotal depressions and “agriloid” carina. The genus Charlesina gen. n. strongly differs from the genus Sanchezia gen. n. by the deeply grooved frons, well defined humeral swellings and basal, transverse, elytral depression, by the narrow, reduced elytral epipleura, long, well defined subhumeral carina and by the entirely asetose body.

Charlesina mrazi (Obenberger, 1932).

Argentina, Brasil.

Also this genus can be included among the Lycid immitating Buprestids (see Sanchezia gen. n. below).

Syntype (♂, NMPC): “Brazil, Rio, Itatiaya[h]//Typus[p]//Mus. Nat. Pragae Inv. 22638[p]// Agrilaxia mrazi m. Type, Det. D^r. Obenberger[h+p]”; since the number of syntypes is unknown and to avoid any confussion in the future I designate hereby this specimen as the lectotype.

Anthaxia (Agrilaxia) mrazi ssp. cyaneobscura Cobos, 1972: holotype by monotypy (♂, MNCN): “Vila Oliva, Rio Grande do Sul, P. Buck[p]// Anthaxia (Agrilaxia) mrazi cyaneobscura ssp. n.[h] Dr. A. Cobod det.[p] ”.

Aedeagus (Figs 130, 131 in Cobos 1972) spindle-shaped, setiferous portion of parameres very short, both parameres and median lobe sharply pointed apically.

Length: 5.8 mm; width: 1.7 mm.

Brasil (Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul).

The locality data given in the description (Obenberger, 1932) slightly differ from those on the syntype (see above); although the number of syntypes is unknown, there is no doubt that the species was described from this specimen which is hereby designated as the lectotype (see above).

Cobos (1972), although treated this species in the genus Anthaxia subgen. Agrilaxia, noticed that this species should be probably treated in the genus Cylindrophora. This opinion was accepted by Bílý (1997) and Bellamy (2008). After the re-definition of the monotypic genus Cylindrophora (Cylindrophora maulica) Molina, 1782)) and its transfer to the subtribe Curidina (Bílý, 2004), Agrilaxia mrazi (together with several other species of the former Cylindrophora) was formally attributed to the genus Bilyaxia. This act was overlooked by Bellamy (2008) who still treated Charlesina mrazi in the genus Cylindrophora sensu Cobos, 1956 and 1972.

Cobos (1972) described Anthaxia (Agrilaxia) mrazi ssp. cyaneobscura Cobos, 1972 on a single male from south-eastern Brasil (Rio Grande do Sul). This subspecies differs from Charlesina mrazi mrazi only slightly by its colouration and by the more robust aedeagus (Figs 130, 131 in Cobos 1972). More specimens are needed to resolve the taxonomic status of this subspecies.

Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) willineri Cobos, 1972 by present designation.

Small (4.25 mm), subcylindrical, rather convex, subparallel, entirely asetose.

Head small, mouth parts small, only slightly visible, partly retracted into head; frontoclypeal portion of head rathed reduced, clypeus very short, widely transverse, with straight anterior margin; frons strongly convex; vertex about twice as wide as width of eye; eyes rather large, elliptical, not projecting beyond outline of head; antennae very short, reaching anterior third of pronotal margins when laid alongside; antennomeres 4–11 obtusely triangular to trapezoidal, wider than long.

Pronotum strongly convex, lateral margins without lateral carina; lateroposterior depressions almost indistinct, “agriloid” carina very short, flat; prosternum with very narrow, transverse groove just behind anterior margin; prosternal proceess flat, short, nearly triangular, not widened behind procoxae. Scutellum small, longer than wide.

Elytra moderately convex, with small humeral swellings; basal transverse depression wide, nearly reaching scutellum; elytral apices separately, widely rounded, with very fine apical serrations; posthumeral carina short, flat, weakly defined, reaching only level of metacoxae; elytral epipleura very narrow, scarcely visible, reaching posterior fourth of elytra.

Anal ventrite wider than long, slightly truncate apically, with very fine, lateral serrations; legs simple, male metatibiae not modified; tarsal claws thin, simple, as long as half of terminal tarsomere; aedeagus (Fig. 30) very short, widely spindle-shaped, with the maximum width at the posterior third of the parameres, which are sharply pointed; medial lobe wide, pointed apically, without lateral serrations.

The genus Cobosina gen. n. (feminine) is named in honour of my late colleague and well-known specialist in the taxonomy of the Neotropical Buprestidae, Prof Antonio Cobos Sánchez (Almería, Spain).

Although the genus Cobosina gen. n. resembles very much some European species of the genus Anthaxia (see below) it shares some principal characters with the Neotropical Anthaxiini: completely asetose body (only a few species of Anthaxia from south-eastern Asia are entirely asetose), prolonged scutellum which is longer than wide, narrow and shortened elytral epipleura, “agriloid” carina, posthumeral carina (the latter two rather reduced), obtusely rounded elytral apex and simple, spindle-shaped aedeagus.

The genus Cobosina gen. n. differs from other genera of the Neotropical Anthaxiina by the small, non-prognathous mouth parts which are partly retracted into the head, reduced, very short clypeus which is not separate from the frons (most of the Neotropical Anthaxiina are more or less prognathous), by the asetose protibiae (very often with the brush-like, stiff, pale setae on inner margin of protibiae in other Anthaxiina, namely Agrilaxia– Fig. 33) and last but not least by the clearly Anthaxia-like appearance.

Argentina, Brasil.

Holotype by monotypy (♀, MNCN): “[Argentina]Valle Fértil, San Juan, Rvdo. P. G. Williner coll., 5-6.xi.1970[p]”.

“Brasil, Catamarca, 6 km N Belém, 1240 m[h]” (1♂, NMPC).

The species was formally attributed tothe genus Bilyaxia by Bílý (2004). Already in the original description (Cobos, 1972) noted that this species is an extraordinary and isolated element of the Neotropical Anthaxiini being very similar to the European species of the Anthaxia (Anthaxia) funerula Illiger, 1803 species-group. After having studied the holotype and further, male specimen of this species from NMPC I found that Anthaxia (Bilyaxia) willineri ought to be removed from Bilyaxia, and a new genus should be proposed for this species.

I failed to find any difference between the sexes and also no significant variability since only two specimens were available for study.

Length: 4.2–4.4 mm; width: 1.4–1.5 mm.

Argentina (Prov. San Juan); Brasil (Prov.Catamarca), new country record.

Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) descarpentriesi Cobos, 1956 by present designation.

Medium-sized (4.0–5.5 mm), flat, black, lustrous, entirely asetose.

Head as wide as anterior pronotal margin; clypeus broadly trapezoidal, anterior margin finely emarginate; frons flat to weakly depressed, vertex flat, 2.5 times as wide as width of eye; eyes reniform to elliptical, not projecting beyond outline of head; antennae filiform, slightly overlapping midlength of lateral pronotal margins when laid alongside; pedicel as wide as scape, 1.5 times as long as wide; antennomeres 4–10 sharply triangular to trapezoidal, terminal antennomere prolonged, 2.5 times as long as wide.

Pronotum moderately convex, 2.4 times as wide as long, posterior angles obtuse-angled; lateroposterior depressions small, shallow, situated at posterior corners of pronotum; “agriloid” carina sharp, reaching midlength of lateral margins, very close to the lateral pronotal carina; pronotal sculpture consisting of very fine, almost indistinct, transversely widened cells and rugae; basal tubercles missing, prescutellar pit wide but shallow. Scutellum small, triangular, weakly depressed, microsculptured, slightly longer than wide.

Elytra 2.2 times as long as wide, weakly convex, somewhat uneven, parallel-sided at anterior two thirds, nearly regularly tapering at posterior third; apices narrowly rounded, very slightly caudiform, without distinct serrations; humeral swellings well defined, transverse basal depression deep, wide, reaching scutellum, interrupted by lustrous tubercle near humeri; elytral epipleura narrowing posteriorly, reaching apical third of elytral margins; subhumeral carina indistinct; elytral sculpture consisting of simple punctures and short, irregular, transverse rugae; elytral suture strongly elevated in posterior half.

Suture between ventrites 1 and 2 missing; anal ventrite widely rounded, with fine lateral serrations, anal tergite truncate without distinct serrations. Prosternum flat, prosternal process slightly enlarged behind procoxae. Legs long, unmodified, tarsi somewhat widened. Tarsal claws simple, slender, moderately curved.

Aedeagus (Figs 76, 77 in Cobos 1956) short, widely spindle-shaped, median lobe pointed apically.

The genus Marikia gen. n. (feminine) is named in the honour of my life long friend and colleague Mark (Marik) G. Volkovitsh (St. Petersburg, Russia) with many thanks for his help, cooperation and hospitality during my stays in St. Petersburg.

The genus Marikia gen. n. somewhat resembles by its dark colouration, flattened body and narrowly acuminate elytra some small species of the tribe Melanophilini Bedel, 1921. Among the Neotropical Anthaxiina it is most similar to the genus Anthaxita gen. n. from which it differs (except for the characters given in the key) by the lustrous and flat, entirely asetose body, narrow clypeus, longer and slender antennae, indistinct pronotal sculpture, long, sharp “agriloid” carina, triangular scutellum, posteriorly widened prosternal process, uneven and somewhat caudiform elytra, strongly elevated elytral suture and by the rudimental subhumeral carina.

Ecuador.

Holotype (male, MNHN): “Quito, Equateur, Benoit, i.1932[h]”; allotype (female, MNHN): “Puembo, Equateur, Benoit, 20.ii.1931[h]”.

ECUADOR: “Pichincha-Quito, 23.vi.1985, Gustavo Morejón[p]” (1 male, 1 female, MNCN); “Pichincha, Alluriquin, 6.v.1948, F. Grazo leg.[h]” (1 male, NMPC).

No difference between both sexes were observed and also no variability in the colouration apparent.

Aedeagus (Figs 76, 77 in Cobos 1956) very short, widely spindle-shaped, median lobe simply pointed apically.

Length: 4.0–5.5 mm; width: 1.7–2.0 mm.

Ecuador.

Terminal antennomere unusually long, 2.5 times longer than wide which is rather strange character within Anthaxiini.

Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) bucki Cobos, 1956 by present designation.

Rather large (5.7–7.0 mm), flat, Lycid-like, matt; antennae and legs robust; dorsal surface asetose, frons and ventral surface with sparse but rather long, white pubescence, prosternum with lanuginose pubescence.

Head wider than anterior pronotal margin, eyes large, elliptical, projecting beyond outline of head; clypeus short, wide, anterior margin straight; frons flat with small, rounded cells with tiny central grains (central portion of frons with rather sparse cells), vertex flat, 1.6 times as wide as width of eye, with fine, transverse rugae; antennae reaching posterior fourth of lateral, pronotal margins when laid alongside; pedicel triangular, antennomeres 3–10 widely triangular to trapezoidal, much wider than long.

Pronotum tapering anteriorly, 2.2 times as wide as long, with fine, medial, longitudinal depression and large, deep lateroposterior depressions reaching anterior fourth of pronotum; “agriloid” carina well defined, long, reaching beyond midlength of lateral margins; prescutellar pit missing; pronotal sculpture consisting of very fine, rather indistinct and transversely widened, polygonal cells without central grains. Scutellum very small, triangular, 1.5 times as long as wide.

Elytra flat, 1.8–1.9 times as long as wide, narrowly, separately rounded apically; humeral swellings small, not projecting beyond outline of elytra, basal, transverse depression missing; elytral epipleura wide, enlarged posteriorly, reaching elytral suture; subhumeral carina missing; elytral sculpture consisting of fine microsculpture and tiny, sparse, lustrous grains.

Ventral surface lustrous, abdominal ventrites with fine horse-shoe-shaped punctures; prosternum weakly convex, densely, transversely rugate, prosternal process enlarged beyond procoxae; anal ventrite truncate, sharply serrate, anal tergite spatulate, unarmed. Legs robust, protibiae slightly curved with inner, preapical, brush-like row of dense, pale bristles (denser in males – like in Fig. 33); both meso- and metatibiae finely, obtusely serrate on inner margin; tarsal claws thin, hook-shaped.

Aedeagus (Fig. 2 in Bílý 1996) subparallel, strongly sclerotised, parameres sharply pointed apically; median lobe apically obtusely pointed.

The genus Sanchezia gen. n. (feminine) is named in the honour of my late colleague Prof Antonio Cobos Sánchez (Almería, Spain), the well-known specialist in the taxonomy of the Neotropical Buprestidae.

The genus Sanchezia gen. n. is quite unmistakable, characteristic genus which is somewhat similar to the genus Charlesina gen. n. (see above). It differs from other taxa of the Neotropical Anthaxiini by the rather non-Buprestid appearence, very fine, nearly velvet texture of dorsal surface, robust antennae with antennomere 3 triangularly enlarged, very wide elytral epipleura and other characters mentioned in the key.

Argentina, Brasil.

Anthaxia bucki: Holotype (female, MNCN): “Porto Alegre[h]// Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) bucki sp. n.[h] Dr. A. Cobos det.[p]”; Anthaxia kafkai: Holotype (male, NMPC): “Argentina, Entre Rios, Pronunciamiento, ix.1992[p]”.

BRASIL: “RS [main road] Canela, 22.ix.1985, leg. G. Scherer[p]” (1 female, NMPC).

No difference was observed between the sexes. It was impossible to study the variability of this species since only one specimen was found in the collections, except for the type specimens.

Length: 5.7–7.0 mm; width: 2.2–2.4 mm.

Argentina, Brasil.

Also Cobos (1956) stressed in his description the strange appearence of this species and attributed it to Anthaxia with strong doubts. Sanchezia bucki and Charlesina mrazi are further Neotropical species of Buprestidae mimicking Lycidae. As far as I know, there are only some species of the genus Agrilus (Agrilus dilaticornis Kerremans, 1897 species-group) and Chilean species Philandia valdiviana (Philippi & Philippi, 1860) mimicking Lycid beetles.

Anthaxia flavimana Gory, 1841 (subsequent designation: Chamberlin, 1926).

The genus Agrilaxia was described by Kerremans (1903) and 19 mostly Neotropical species were included without designation of a type species. Agrilaxia flavimana Gory, 1841 was subsequently designated by Chamberlein (1926) as the type species of the genus. Later on, the genus Agrilaxia was synonymized by Théry (1930) with Anthaxia Eschscholtz, 1829, ressurected again as a valid genus by Obenberger (1930), then finally treated as a subgenus of Anthaxia by Cobos (1972); this concept was followed also by Bílý (1984, 1993). Bílý & Bellamy (1999) upgraded Agrilaxia again to the generic level which was followed by Bílý (2000, 2004) and Bellamy (2008).

The genus was revised by Cobos (1972) (as a subgenus of Anthaxia) who described the most of the Neotropical species. Subsequently several species were described also by Bílý (1984, 1985, 1993), Bílý & Westcott (2005), Cobos (1986) and by Bílý & Brûlé (in press). The morphology and the characters specific to the genus Agrilaxia were discussed by Cobos (1972) and Bílý & Brûlé (in press).

Even after separation of some species as independent genera (see above), the genus remains still rather heterogeneous. I propose that first, the small and rather homogeneous group of species with short, green or violet, wedge shaped body should be split as the separate subgenus Costiptera subgen. nov (see below).

Anthaxia occidentalis Kerremans, 1900 by present designation.

Body short, wedge shaped, ventral surface with short but distinct, white pubescence, metepisterna and metacoxae often with a patch of white tomentum; dorsal surface green, golden green or violet-green, sometimes pronotum black or violet with two longitudinal, green stripes.

Head large, often wider than anterior pronotal margin, weakly prognathous; clypeus short, transverse, anterior margin straight; frons widely, deeply grooved; vertex shallowly depressed, about twice as wide as width of eye; antennae short, rather robust, reaching midlength of lateral pronotal margins when laid alongside; sculpture of frons consisting of small, dense, polygonal cells with small central grains.

Pronotum relatively narrow, convex, 1.8–2.0 times as wide as long, with well defined lateroposterior depressions situated near posterior angles; “agriloid” carina well defined, short, close to lateral carina; sculpture homogeneous, consisting of small, almost regular, polygonal cells, with or without central grains; prescutellar pit shallow, basal tubercles missing or very weakly defined. Scutellum small, flat, usually longer than wide.

Elytra convex, strongly wedge shaped, about 2.5 times as long as wide, large parts of abdominal ventrites well visible from above; elytra smooth or with 2–3 longitudinal costae; elytral epipleura narrow, nearly reaching elytral apex; basal, transverse depression deep, reaching scutellum, subhumeral carina well defined, long.

Prosternum flat or weakly convex, anterior margin sometimes weakly, narrowly elevated; both anal ventrite and sternite finely serrate.

The name of the new subgenus Costiptera subgen. n. (feminine) is composed of the Latin substantive “costa” (carina, rib) and Greek substantive “pteron” (wing) to stress one of the main characters of the subgenus.

The subgenus Costiptera subgen. n. differs from the nominate subgenus particularly by shorter, wedge shaped elytra (usually 2.5 times as long as wide), pubescence of the ventral surface and by the set of characters given above and in the key.

Agrilaxia (Costiptera) ambigua (Cobos, 1972), Agrilaxia (Costiptera) clara (Kerremans, 1899), Agrilaxia (Costiptera) costulipennis (Cobos, 1972), Agrilaxia (Costiptera) interposita (Cobos, 1972), Agrilaxia (Costiptera) modesta (Kerremans, 1897) and Agrilaxia (Costiptera) occidentalis (Kerremans, 1900).

Two species groups can be separated within the subgenus. Agrilaxia (Costiptera) modesta (Kerremans, 1897) species-group which is characterised by the smooth elytra, well defined central grains in the fine frontal and pronotal ocellation, shorter, pentagonal scutellum which is as wide as long and by the shorter subhumeral carina reaching only midlength of elytral margins and by the anterior margin of the prosternum bearing a peg-like spine (like in Figs 29, 34f); only Agrilaxia (Costiptera) modesta can be included into this species-group. For the remaining species, the Agrilaxia (Costiptera) occidentalis (Kerremans, 1900) species-group is suggested which is characterised by the longitudinal elytral costae, frontal and pronotal sculpture without central grains, prolonged scutellum which is 1.5 times longer than wide and by the long, well defined subhumeral carina reaching the elytral apex.

Anthaxia flavimana Gory, 1841 (subsequent designation: Chamberlin, 1926).

According to Bellamy (2008), the genus Agrilaxia comprises 88 species. After removing of 5 species from Agrilaxia to Bilyaxia (see below) and after transferring of 5 species into the subgenus Costiptera subgen. n., 78 species remain in the subgenus Agrilaxia s. str. Quite naturally the subgenus will have to be split into several (or many) species-groups since several very different morphotypes (e.g. Figs 6, 19–25) can be found within the subgenus - some of them have been suggested by Bílý & Brûlé (in press).

The very special morphological character of the subgenus Agrilaxia is the shape of the prosternum (Figs 29, 34a–34f) which is normally flat or slightly convex. In the most species the prosternum is more or less transversely grooved just behind the anterior margin. The “grooving” of the anterior portion of prosternal plate and the relative elevation of the anterior margin of the prosternum which, in the extreme case, forms a sharp, transverse, rolled up ledge which is sometimes transformed into a peg-like, medial spine (Figs 29, 34f).

Anthaxia cupriceps Fairmaire & Germain, 1858 by original designation.

The genus was originally described by Hołyński (1989) as a subgenus of Anthaxia and it was upgraded to the genus level by Bílý (2004). According to Bellamy (2008) it contains 18 species but the division to several subgenera is necessary. Three species were transferred to the separate, monotypic genera (Charlesina gen. n., Cobosina gen. n. and Marikia gen. n. – see above), the remaining 15 species is assigned into three subgenera.

Anthaxia cupriceps Fairmaire & Germain, 1858 by original designation.

Medium-sized (3.5–6.3 mm), subparallel, moderately convex, Anthaxia-like species.

Head large, very often somewhat wider than anterior pronotal margin; frons flat or slightly depressed, vertex 1.3–1.8 times as wide as width of eye; sculpture of head consisting of dense, oval or polygonal cells with or without central grains

Pronotum flattened, lateral margins subparallel or regularly rounded, posterior margin weakly biarcuate or almost straight, lateroposterior depressions usually well defined; “agriloid” carina short, almost parallel with lateral carina; prescutellar pit missing, basal tubercles small or missing. Scutellum small, subcordiform, usually 1.5 times as long as wide, flat.

Elytra moderately convex, subparallel, rarely weakly wedge shaped, 1.7–1.8 times as long as wide; humeral swellings well defined, elytral apices widely, obtusely rounded; basal, transverse depression rather deep, reaching or nearly reaching scutellum; elytral epipleura narrow, usually narrowing posteriorly, reaching elytral apex; subhumeral carina rather long, obsolete, not very elevated.

Ventral surface finely ocellate, prosternum flat or weakly convex; anal sternite obtusely rounded or truncate, serrate laterally. Legs moderately long, rather robust, tarsi distinctly widened, almost as long as tibiae.

The subgenus Bilyaxia differs from both newly described subgenera by flat, wide, Anthaxia-like body, flat or slightly depressed frons, shape of pronotum, obtusely rounded elytral apex, short elytra, distinctly widened tarsi and by the geographical distribution: all species are distributed west of the Andes mountains in Chile; only Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) auronotata (Bílý, 1978) is distributed also in Argentina (Neuquén).

Bilyaxia auronotata was described from the Argentinian province Neuquén (Lago Lacar). The lake Lacar lies at the Chilean border at the lowest spot of this part of the Andean range; here is the only “gate” where the Buprestid species can pass through the Andes. Bilyaxia auronotata was rather frequently collected also in the opposite side in Chile (prov. Villarica).

The distribution of the genus Bilyaxia is similar in distribution to the genera Conognatha Eschscholtz, 1829 and Dactylozodes Chevrolat, 1838, the subgenera of these are also distributed on the opposite sides of the Andes.

Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) auronotata (Bílý, 1978), Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) concinna (Mannerheim, 1837), Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) cupriceps (Fairmaire & Germain, 1858), Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) cordillerae (Obenberger, 1928), Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) obscurata (Reed, 1873) and Bilyaxia (Bilyaxia) rubricollis (Moore, 1981).

Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) mariae Cobos, 1956 by present designation.

Rather large (7.0 mm), robust, moderately convex, multicolorous: dorsal surface and legs blue-green with green tinge, pronotum with two, weakly defined black spots, humeri and posterior half of elytra bronze with red lustre, ventral surface blue-green; antennae black with strong green lustre.

Head large, as wide as anterior pronotal margin; clypeus trapezoidal, separated from frons by deep, transverse depression, anterior margin rounded; frons deeply, widely grooved, vertex almost flat, about twice as wide as width of eye; antennae slightly extending beyond midlength of lateral pronotal margins when laid alongside, antennomeres 5-10 widely trapezoidal; sculpture of head consisting of small, oval cells with large, flat central grains which are dense along eyes and very sparse in middle.

Pronotum convex, 2.2 times as wide as long, posterior margin deeply biarcuate; lateral margins slightly S-shaped, posterior angles sharp; “agriloid” carina well defined, reaching posterior third of lateral margins; lateroposterior depressions and basal tubercles weakly defined, prescutellar pit large, deep; sculpture consisting of basal microsculpture and dense, weakly defined polygonal cells without central grains. Scutellum cordiform, somewhat longer than wide, convex.

Elytra regularly convex, twice as long as wide, with obtusely rounded apices, not caudiform; humeral swellings small, basal, transverse depression deep, wide, reaching scutellum; elytral epipleura well defined, subparallel, reaching elytral apex; subhumeral carina strongly defined, nearly reaching elytral apex; sculpture consisting of short, transverse, zig-zag rugae.

Ventral surface roughly ocellate, prosternum slightly convex with shallow transverse groove just behind anterior margin which is in this way transformed into fine, transverse, perpendicular ledge (as in Fig. 34e); both anal ventrite and tergite simply rounded, not serrate. Legs moderately long, all tarsi shorter than tibiae; tarsal claws strong, simply hook-shaped.

Male unknown.

The subgenus Paraguayetta subgen. n. (feminine) is named after the country of the origin (Paraguay).

The subgenus Paraguayetta subgen. n. differs from other subgenera of Bilyaxia by the large, robust body, anteriorly rounded clypeus, S-shaped lateral, pronotal margins, weakly defined lateroposterior pronotal depressions, large and deep prescutellar pit, ledge-shaped anterior prosternal margin (as in Fig. 34e) and by the simple, not serrate anal ventrite.

Bilyaxia (Paraguayetta) mariae (Cobos, 1956).

Except for the holotype (female, MNCN), only one further specimen was found in the collections: the female holotype of Brasilaxia jacobi Obenberger, 1958 which was synonymized with Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) mariae by Cobos (1972). This specimen (female, NMPC) is labelled: “Paraguay, Alto Paraná, Hohenau, H. Jacob[p], Nov. 1931[h]”.

Anthaxia maculicollis Kerremans, 1887 by present designation.

Small to medium sized (3.3–4.8 mm), slender, subcylindrical species.

Head relatively large, slightly wider or as wide as anterior pronotal margin; clypeus wide, trapezoidal, anterior margin straight or weakly emarginate; frons flat or convex, rarely weakly grooved; vertex flat or weakly convex, 1.8–2.2 times as wide as width of eye; eyes large, reniform, often slightly projecting beyond outline of head; sculpture of head consisting of small, fine, oval or polygonal cells.

Pronotum subcylindrical or lateral margins regularly rounded, 1.8–2.0 times as wide as long (exceptionally lateral margins S-shaped: Bilyaxia (Tomasia) hayeki (Cobos, 1972)); lateroposterior depressions wide, well defined; “agriloid” carina fine but well defined, usually reaching posterior third of lateral margins; prescutellar pit missing, basal tubercles weakly defined or missing; pronotal sculpture consisting of fine, poorly defined, polygonal cells without central grains and usually also by very fine basal microsculpture. Scutellum small to very small, cordiform, longer than wide.

Elytra regularly convex, smooth or with more or less defined, longitudinal costae, 2.2–2.4 times as long as wide; humeral swellings small but well defined, basal transverse depressions usually wide, deep, rarely shallow but always reaching scutellum; elytral epipleura narrowing posteriorly, reaching elytral apex; each elytron narrowly rounded, sometimes slightly caudiform; subhumeral carina well defined, usually reaching apical portion of elytra, sometimes shortened, scarcely reaching elytral midlength.

Anal ventrite usually simply rounded, finely serrate. Legs slender, long, tarsi not enlarged, distinctly shorter than tibiae; tarsal claws short, slightly curved.

The subgenus Tomasia subgen. n. (feminine) is named after my friend and colleague Tomás Moore Rodríguez (Santiago, Chile), the well-known specialist in the taxonomy of Chilean Buprestidae.

Bilyaxia (Tomasia) bruchiana (Obenberger, 1926), Bilyaxia (Tomasia) cinctipennis (Kerremans, 1913), Bilyaxia (Tomasia) cyaneoviridis (Kerremans, 1900), Bilyaxia (Tomasia) emmanueli (Cobos, 1972), Bilyaxia (Tomasia) hayeki (Cobos, 1972), Bilyaxia (Tomasia) lata (Kerremans, 1903) and Bilyaxia (Tomasia) macullicollis (Kerremans, 1887).

Bilyaxia (Tomasia) cinctipennis (Fig. 15) somewhat contradicts the definition of the subgenus by its colouration (black and yellow pattern) and by the widely rounded elytral apices. In 2010 I found in Paraguay (Prov. Presidente Hayes) a specimen with entirely yellow elytra.

Brasilaxia morretesi Théry, 1935 by original designation.

The monotypic genus lacks taxonomic problems. The type species was synonymised with Anthaxia costifera Obenberger, 1913 by Cobos (1956). A further two species described in the genus Brasilaxia (Brasilaxia jacobi Obenberger, 1958 and Brasilaxia olavei Obenberger, 1958) were removed from Brasilaxia and synonymised by Cobos (1972) with Anthaxia (Cylindrophora) mariae (Brasilaxia jacobi) – see above, and with Curis oyarcei Germain & Kerremans, 1906 (Brasilaxia olavei–currently Ctenoderus oyarcei in Curidini).

Brasilaxia costifera (Obenberger, 1913).

Curis hemiptera Burmeister, 1872 by original designation.

This monotypic genus lacks taxonomic problems and has very often been treated as a subgenus of Anthaxia, e.g. Bellamy (1985, 2003), Bílý (1997), Cobos (1956, 1986). Bílý (2004) upgraded it to genus which was was accepted by Bellamy (2008).

The type species, Curis hemiptera, was synonymized with Anthaxia bimaculata Gory, 1841 by Berg (1884) and Cobos (1956) described the subspecies Anthaxia (Paracuris) bimaculata litigiosa Cobos, 1956 from Argentina (Rio Colorado, Rio Negro).

The nominotypical subspecies possesses rather strong sexual dichromatism (Figs 17, 18). The female is rather similar to Paracuris bimaculata litigiosa and only the different form of the male genitalia (Figs 45–48 in Cobos, 1956) justifies treating the subspecies litigiosa as a valid taxon.

Anilara brasiliensis Kerremans, 1900 by original designation.

The genus was originally described by Théry (1934) as a subgenus of Tetragonoschema Thompson, 1857 which was accepted also by Bellamy (2008). The subgenus was subsequently upgraded to a genus by Bílý (2012). The genus Anilaroides contains only two very similar species distributed in Brasil and revised by Bílý (2012).

Tetragonoschema chrysomelinum Thomson, 1857 (by monotypy; currently junior subjective synonym of Tetragonoschema quadratum (Buquet, 1841)).

The genus contains 17 species distributed from Mexico to Patagonia. The genus was quite recently revised by Bílý (2012) and divided into two subgenera.

The nominotypical subgenus contains 14 black, bronze or multicolorous, shortened (sometimes nearly as wide as long) species; elytra usually very short, flat, conspicuously uneven with one common, medial depression and with deep lateral and preapical depressions; elytral epipleura wide, well-developed, reaching or nearly reaching elytral suture; frons usually deeply impressed with projecting prominences above antennal insertions, rarely frons convex; pronotum weakly convex, transverse, usually with more or less distinct lateroposterior depressions; antennae and tarsi black; aedeagus spindle-shaped or elongate, parameres very often with lateral hooks or spines. The subgenus is distributed from Mexico to central Argentina.

Tetragonoschema patagonicum Obenberger, 1922 by original designation.

The subgenus contains 3 dark bronze, subcylindrical species; elytra completely or partly red-bronze, convex, without lateral and preapical depressions only with flat, medial, triangular depression at anterior elytral third; elytral epipleura narrow, not reaching elytral apex; frons convex with weak postclypeal depression; pronotum regularly, rather strongly convex, sometimes with two small, weakly developed, rounded depressions; antennae and tarsi reddish-brown; aedeagus short, spindle-shaped. The subgenus is distributed in southern Argentina (Patagonia).

Tetragonoschema (Patagoschema) patagonicum (Fig. 28) is the southernmost distributed species of the genus Tetragonoschema (Patagonia, Santa Cruz). The province of Santa Cruz is situated south of latitude 46 where the climatic conditions are rather extreme and Tetragonoschema (Patagoschema) patagonicum is most probably one of the southernmost distributed species of the Neotropical Buprestids.