Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) wethloi Obenberger 1940
Creators: name: Baiocchi, Daniele
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Buprestidae
Anthaxia
Anthaxia wethloi

description: Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) wethloi Obenberger, 1940
(Figs. 8, 9, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 37, 38, 47, 52, 57, 64, 65, 72, 77, 82, 92, 93, 94, 96)
Anthaxia wethloi Obenberger, 1940: 116. Type locality: [Iran] “Bushire, Persia “; Obenberger, 1946: 34.
Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) wethloi: Bílý, 1983: 58, 87; Bílý, 1997: 38, 128; Bílý, 2006: 378; Bellamy, 2008: 1494.
Type specimens studied. Lectotype (by present designation) ♂ (NMPC: inv. 22146) (Fig. 8), original labelling: fig. 11; 4 paralectotypes: same data as lectotype (NMPC: 1♂ without inv. nr., 1♂ inv. 22149, 1♀ inv. 22147 (Figs 9, 12), 1♀ inv. 22148).
Additional material studied. IRAN: Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye prov.: [IRAN] Kohkiluyeh & Boyerahmad, Kākān, Hoseynkhāni, 2100m., 26–27.V.1995, Badii/Safz./Hāsh (1♂ PPDRI); IRAN env. Sisaht 2400m., (Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye), Dena Nat. Reserve, 30°52’46’’N 51°25’12’’E, 14–16.V.2013 Baiocchi leg. (1♂ 1♀ DBCR); IRAN env. Sisaht 2400m., (Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye), Dena Nat. Reserve, 30°52’46’’N 51°25’12’’E, 31.V.2012 D.Baiocchi leg. (1♂ DBCR); IRAN env. Sisaht 2400m., (Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye), Dena Nat. Reserve, 30°52’46’’N 51°25’12’’E, 31.V.2012 D. Gianasso leg. (1♂ 1♀ DGCC); IRAN NW of Yasuj 1770m., (Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye), 30°45’16’’N 51°29’53’’E, 14.V.2013 D.Baiocchi leg. (2♂♂ DBCR); IRAN (S Yasuj) 2315m., (Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye), S of Malashoreh pass, 30°30’07’’N 51°43’23’’E, 29–30.V.2012 D. Baiocchi leg. (20♂♂12♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (S Yasuj) 2315m., (Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye), S of Malashoreh pass, 30°30’07’’N 51°43’23’’E, 29–30.V.2012 Gianasso leg. (3♂♂2♀♀ DGCC); IRAN occ. 24.5.2010, Fars prov. [not Fars prov., Būyer Ahmad-o-Kūhgīlūye prov.], Zagros Mts., Malashoreh pass 1900m, 30 Km S of Yasuj, J. Simandl lgt. (1♂ 1♀ DGCC); IRAN occ., 22.5.2009, Boyer Ahmad va, Kohgiluyeh prov. Zagros Mts., 1600 m., 10 Km. NE of Yasui, J. Simandl lgt. (1♀ MKCN); S. Iran, 29 km E. Yasuj, 2300 m, 16– 17.6.1973, 29 km E Yasuj // Loc. no.245, Exped. Nat. Mus. Praha (2♀♀ NMPC); S. Iran, Zagros, Sisakht, 2400 m, 13– 15.6.1973 // Loc. no. 240, Exped. Nat. Mus. Praha (1♀ NMPC); IRAN, Zagros Mt. prov. SHIRAZ, YASUJ aoj., 23.05. – 24.05.2009, Jaroslav DALIHOD lgt. (2♂♂ HMCM); IRAN, Zagros Mt., Prov. Kohgiluyeh a Boyer-Ahmad, Yasuj eoj., 0 3.06.2011, Jaroslav DALIHOD lgt. (2♂♂1♀ MKCN; 2♂♂ MSCL). Čahār Mahāll-o-Bahtiyāri prov.: IRAN 2100m., (Čahār Mahāll-o-Bahtiyāri) Salamzar env., N 32°02’05.6“ E 50°51’31.6“, 6.V.2009 D.Gianasso leg. // Ex larva Prunus dulcis 16–5–2009 (1♂ DGCC). Esfahan prov.: IRAN C. Esfahan, dint. Kegan (Nāīn), 28– 4–2007 m. 2700, leg. D. Gianasso // Ex larva Prunus sp. 18–6–2008 (1♂ DBCR; 1♀ DGCC); same data, emerged 3–6–2008 (1♀ DGCC); IRAN (Esfahan) 2700m., (W Nāīn) env. Keğān, 32°47’N 52°47’E, 27.IV.2007, Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Prunus sp. 14.IV.2009 (3♀♀ DBCR); IRAN – Esfahan m.2700, 30 km W. Nain (Kegan), 27/ 28.IV.2007 G.Magnani // ex larva Prunus sp. 26.V.2007 (1♂ GMCC). Fārs prov.: IRAN (Fārs), Tang-e Bostanak Protected Area, ENE of Kamfiruz, 30°19'N 52°08'E, 17.V.2005 D. Baiocchi leg. (10♂♂2♀♀ DBCR); S. Iran Fars, dint. Dalin ”Lost Paradise”, 30°19‘N 52°08’E, 17– 5–2005 m.1780, Leg. D. Gianasso (3♂♂1♀ DGCC); IRAN – Fars m.1800, Lost Paradise N Shiraz, 17.V.2005 G.Magnani (7 unsexed exx. GMCC); IRAN Fārs 1850 m., env. Sivand, 30°06’N 52°58’E, 14.V.2005 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Acer sp. 13–30.IV.2006 (6♂♂10♀♀ DBCR); IRAN Fārs 1850 m., env. Sivand, 30°06’N 52°58’E, 28.IV.2006 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Acer sp. (alive adults in pupal cell) (1♂ 1♀ DBCR); same data, ex larva Ficus sp. 4–27.V.2007 (3♂♂7♀♀ DBCR); IRAN Fārs 1850 m., env. Sivand, 30°06’N 52°58’E, 24.IV.2007 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Ficus sp. 4.V.2007 (1♂ 3♀♀ DBCR); IRAN Fārs Sivand, 28– 4–2006 m.1800, Leg. D. Gianasso // Ex larva Ficus sp. 10–5–2007 (1♂ DGCC); same data, emerged 4–6–2007 (1♀ DGCC); same data, emerged 17–5–2007 (1♀ DGCC); same data, emerged IV–2007 (1♂ DGCC); IRAN (Fārs) 1575 m., env. Task, 29°46’N – 53°34’E, 24.IV.2007 Baiocchi leg. (3♂♂2♀♀ DBCR); S. Iran Fars, Task 24–4–2007, Leg. D. Gianasso (1♀ DGCC); IRAN (Fārs) 2050 m., 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 12.V.2005 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Acer sp. IV– 12.V.2006 (1♂ 1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) 2050 m., 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 27–29.IV.2006 D.Baiocchi leg. (1♂ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) 2050 m., 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 25.IV.2007 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Acer sp. IV– 12.IV.2008 (1♂ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) 2050 m., 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 4–6.V.2008 D.Baiocchi leg. (33♂♂29♀♀ DBCR); same data, ex larva Prunus sp. 14.IV.2009 (1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) 2050 m., 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 1–3.V.2009 D.Baiocchi leg. (1♂ 1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) 2050 m., 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 12.V.2010 D.Baiocchi leg. (5♂♂3♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) m.2050, 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 4–6.V.2008 D.Gianasso leg. (4♂♂2♀♀ DGCC); IRAN (Fārs) m.2050, 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’N 51°54’E, 1–3.V.2009 D.Gianasso leg. (1♀ DGCC); IRAN (Fārs) m.2050, 7 Km. W Dašt-e-Aržan, 29°38’00”N 51°54’50.7”E, 12.V.2010 D.Gianasso leg. (1♀ DGCC); IRAN – Fars m.2000, Dasht e Arjan, 12.V.2005 G.Magnani // ex larva Prunus arabica sfr. 7.VI.2008 (1♂ GMCC); IRAN (Fārs) W Sarvestān, (40 Km NW Fasā) 1830m., Kūh-e Mian Jangal, 29°10’01”N 53°23’01”E, 15.V.2005 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Ficus sp. IV.2006 (3♂♂3♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) W Sarvestān, (40 Km NW Fasā) 1830m., Kūh-e Mian Jangal, 29°10’01”N 53°23’01”E, 15–16.V.2006 Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Acer sp. 6.IV.2008 (1♂ DBCR); same data, ex larva Ficus sp. IV.2007 (1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Fārs) W Sarvestān, (40 Km NW Fasā) 1830m., Kūh-e Mian Jangal, 29°10’01”N 53°23’01”E, 7.V.2010 Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Acer sp. 20.IV.2011 (1♂ DBCR); S. Iran Fārs, 40 Km NO di Fasa, 15– 5–2005 m.1750, Leg. D. Gianasso // Ex larva Ficus sp. VI.2006 (1♂ 1♀ DGCC); IRAN (Fārs) 40 Km N Fasa, Mian Jangal 1750m., N 29°10’ E 53°23’, 2.V.2009 D. Gianasso leg. (1♀ DGCC); IRAN – Fars – m.1750, Mian jangal, 40 km N. Fasa, 15.V.2005 G.Magnani // ex larva Prunus sp. 6.V.2007 (1♂ GMCC); same data, emerged 10.V.2007 (16 unsexed exx. GMCC); same data, emerged 13.V.2007 (2 unsexed exx. GMCC); same data, ex larva Ficus sp. 6.V.2007 (1♀ GMCC); IRAN-SW, Fars prov., Shiraz (30km SSE): FAKH ABAD [= Fath Abad], 2–3.V.2004, S. Prepsl leg. (3♂♂ DBCR; 1♂ MKCN; 3♂♂7♀♀ SPCV); S. Iran Fars, 14 km NO di Forg, 16– 4–2007 m.1540, Leg. D. Gianasso (1♂ 3♀♀ DGCC); Iran (Fārs prov.) 14 km NO Forg, 16– 4–2007 m.1540, D.Baiocchi leg. (11♂♂3♀♀ DBCR); IRAN – Fars – m.1440, Ses Deh dint. [= Sheshdeh], (65 km N.W. Darab), 15.IV.2007 // ex larva Astragalus sp. sfr. 7.VI.2008 (1♂ GMCC); Iran / Fars, 35 km N Shiraz 1700m., e.l. Astragalus Juni 2011, leg. Muhle (11♂♂13♀♀ HMCM); same data, emerged VI.2012 (2♂♂4♀♀ HMCM); IRAN, Zagros Mt., prov. SHIRAS - Sangar, 21.05.2009, Jaroslav DALIHOD lgt. (1♂ 1♀ HMCM); IRAN, Zagros Mt., Prov. Fars, SHIRAZ – Guyon eoj, 0 7.06.2011, Jaroslav DALIHOD lgt. (1♂ MKCN); IRAN occ. Fars prov., 25 Km. NW of SHIRAZ, SANGAR Vil. 23.5.2010, J. Simandl lgt. (1♂ MKCN); IRAN Fars 68 km NW of, Shiraz (30°06’N 52°08’E), DALIN 17–18.V., 2001 S. Prepsl leg. (2♂♂1♀ SPCV). Kerman prov.: IRAN (Kermān prov.), 18 km E Esfandagheh, 28°41’30”N 57°20’01”E, 20.IV.2007 D.Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Salix sp. 19.IV.2008 (1♂ 3♀♀ DBCR); same data, emerged 10.IV.2009 (1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Kerman) Sirjan- Bardsir road 2500m., 29°51’N 56°07’E, 25.IV.2006 Bardsir // ex larva Rosa sp. (alive adult in pupal cell) (1♂ DBCR); IRAN (Kerman) 2045m., 2 km N Mohammadabad, 28°55’N 57°53’E, 24.IV.2006 Baiocchi leg. // ex larva Prunus sp. April 2007 (1♂ DBCR); same data, ex larva Acer sp. V.2008 (1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Kermān) 1800m., N Deh Bakrī, 29°07’40”N 57°55’21”E, 26.V.2012 D.Baiocchi leg. (3♂♂3♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (Kermān) 1825m., N Deh Bakrī, N 29°07’40” E 57°54’44.6”, 23.V.2011 D. Gianasso leg. (2♂♂1♀ DGCC); IRAN (Kermān) 2200m., S Deh Bakrī, 29°01’22”N 57°54’44.6”E, 23.V.2011 D.Baiocchi leg. (8♂♂2♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (Kermān) 2360m., S of Deh Bakrī, N 29°08.2” E 57°56’09.8”, 25.V.2011 D. Gianasso leg. (1♂ DGCC); IRAN Fars 30 km SSE of, Shiraz (29°20’N 52°38’E), FAKH ABAD 13–16.V., 2001 S. Prepsl leg. (2♂♂1♀ SPCV); IRAN-S, Kerman prov., DEH BAKRI (BAM), 7.–12.V.2004, S. Prepsl leg. (1♂ 1♀ DGCC; 3♂♂ DBCR; 1♂ GMCC; 1♂ MKCN; 27 unsexed exx. SPCV); IRAN (Kermān) 2680m., near Rayen, N 29°34’40.2” E 57°18’35.1”, 24.V.2011 Gianasso leg. (3♂♂1♀ DGCC); IRAN (Kermān) 2680m., Rayen env., 29°34’40.2”N 57°18’35.1”E, 24.V.2011 D.Baiocchi leg. (6♂♂3♀♀ DBCR); SE Iran, Kerman, Maskon (NE di Jiroft [= Sabzvārān]), 28°55’N 57°53’E, 24– 4–2006 m. 1830, Leg. D.Gianasso (1♂ DGCC); IRAN – Kerman m. 1750, 30 km N.N.E. Jiroft [= Sabzvārān], 21.IV.2007 G.Magnani // ex larva Pistacia sp. sfr. 8.VI.2008 (2♂♂ GMCC); C. Iran, 2800 m, Dalehzar [locality in Kerman prov. not traced in maps], 24–30–5.1977 // Loc. no. 347, Exped. Nat. Mus. Praha (1♂ 1♀ NMPC); IRAN Maimand, prov. Kerman, 160 Km W Kerman, lgt. Orszulik 8.5.2010 (1♂ NMPC); Iran Prov. Kerman Kerman N, Darb-e-Asiab waterfall near, Kuhpayeh Schlucht/Schotterbank, N 30°31’ 18.42 E 57°09’44.62, 07.VI.2014 2600M Ünn, leg. Weigel IR 08b HF (2♀♀ MNCA); IRAN: Chorasan prov., Sir Kuch [Sir Kuh] Ali Abad [locality in Yazd prov., not in Khorasan prov.], 31°37’N 53°50’E, 30.VI.2008 V. Maior lgt. (5♂♂3♀♀ MOCO); IRAN Qohrud Mts., Gardaneh Khǎneh, Sorkh [locality not traced in maps], 2500 m. – 3.6.2005, Vladimir Major leg. (1♂ MOCO); IRAN, Chur. Elburs mts. [locality not traced in maps] 2400m., 7.VI.2008 V. Maior lgt. (1♂ MOCO).
Taxonomic notes. Although Obenberger (1940) did not specify the number of specimens he had examined, the description of Anthaxia (H.) wethloi was certainly based on more than one specimen, since he gave a range of dimensions of 4 to 5 mm. More particularly, the fact that he wrote of a last ventrite not notched, means that he was describing a male specimen. In the Obenberger collection are conserved five syntypes of this species, all with the same data, three of which are males. In order to establish a single name-bearing type for this species, I designate the male specimen with extracted genitalia (NMPC inv. 22146) as lectotype, and the remaining four specimens as paralectotypes (2♀♀ inv. 22147/22148, 1♂ inv. 22149, 1♂ without inv. nr.).
In his description, Obenberger compared this species to A. (H.) semiramis Obenberger, 1913, actually a very similar species from northern Syria belonging to the A. (H.) angustipennis species-group, from which A. (H.) wethloi can be readily distinguished by the shape of male genitalia and of the protrochanters.
Morphology and variability. In the abundant material that I have studied, the overall colouration of Anthaxia (H.) wethloi varies from dark bronze to bright coppery (Figs. 92–94), sometimes with a slight reddish or greenish shade, regardless of sex. Sexual dichromatism is virtually absent, except for a bright green tinge present on the frons of some males (Fig. 37). Females also differ from males by having a more stout body, wider frons (Fig. 38), less incurved meso- and metatibiae, and a deep notch on the anal ventrite (Fig. 65). The shape of the anal notch is rather variable except that it is always rather deep, it can be narrowly shaped, widely rounded or widely parallel. Males may also very rarely have a slight indication of an apical notch.
Bionomy and distribution. Anthaxia (H.) wethloi is a strongly polyphagous species and its larva develops in a wide range of Angiosperms. It has been reared from Acer sp. (Aceraceae), Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae), Ficus sp. (Moraceae), Pistacia sp. (Anacardiaceae), Prunus sp. (Rosaceae), Rosa sp. (Rosaceae) and Salix sp. (Salicaceae) (all first hostplant records). The adults are flower-visitors and are active from April to June.
This species was described from the Bushir province, and is currently considered endemic to Iran. It is mainly found in rather hot and arid biotopes, from the southeastern part of the Zagros range to most of the central and eastern Iranian provinces. Apparently, there are no records from the southern coastal area where it seems to be widely replaced by A. (H.) iveta Svoboda, 2003 a species developing in Acacia (Fabaceae) and Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) (both first hostplant records). Records from eastern Syria, northeastern Iraq and Caucasus (Bílý 1997, 2006) though possible, need confirmation (Bílý pers. com.).
description: Published as part of Baiocchi, Daniele, 2015, A revision of the Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) schah Abeille de Perrin, 1904 species-group, with description of two new species from Iran (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Anthaxiini), pp. 57-91 in Zootaxa 3918 (1) on pages 64-67, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3918.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/287844