Subtribe Anilarina Bílý, 2000

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Subtribe Anilarina Bílý, 2000

Anilarina Bílý, S. 2000. A new concept of Anthaxiini (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Folia Heyrovskyana 8(2): 109-114 [111].
Type genus:
Anilara Saunders, 1868 [original designation].

Introduction

This subtribe was only recently defined by Bílý (2000) in a work that more clearly defined generic placement and relationship of the Australian genera that were confused in older definitions of Anthaxiae (see Théry 1929) or between Anthaxiini and Melanophilini (see Bellamy 1986).

The genus Anilara Saunders is an apparently polyphyletic assemblage and contains two, if not three, groups of species that are not particularly close, either morphologically or biologically. The species group or lineage defined by the type species, A. adelaidae Hope, is very different from the generally perceived concept of Anilara represented by the more Anthaxia-like species associated with dead Eucalyptus. A third group appears to be associated with Casuarina and Allocasuarina in more arid parts of the continent. Revisionary studies of this group are overdue with the last such work by Carter (1926), which was challenged shortly after by Obenberger (1928).

Anthaxoschema Obenberger (1923) was established for a single species, A. terraereginae and later this genus was challenged by Carter (1928) as no more than a synonym of Notographus Thomson. This was followed in Carter's (1929) checklist but the genus was revalidated later by Théry (1945) when he described the second species.

The genus Notographus Thomson has been confused by insufficient descriptions by Obenberger (1922) and unsupported arguments for synonymies later by Carter (1929). Even though new synonymy has been published recently, it is apparent that there are more species present in the Australian fauna than have well-defined names.

The presently monotypic genus Australorhipis Bellamy (1986) differs from Notographus mainly in the pectinate condition of the male antennae. A second undescribed species is represented in the Australian National Insect Collection.

The boundaries between Notographus, Anthaxoschema, some Anilara species and Australorhipis are not clearly defined and the relationships are vague. The relatively new genus Barakula Peterson & Bellamy was originally proposed to possibly be a member of the Thomassetiina Bellamy (Peterson & Bellamy 2000). Bílý (2000) transferred this genus to its current placement.

The taxonomy of Torresita Gemminger & Harold is not completely worked out but the recent comments on Pseudanilara Théry by Bellamy & Peterson (2000) will hopefully have settled some of the debates about that genus and its synonym Neotorresita Obenberger.