Wand Kh. Ali

Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus.
(2010) 11 (2):17- 26

CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENUS
CHALCOPHORELLA KERR. 1903(COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE) IN

THE NORTH OF IRAQ (KURDISTAN REGION)
Wand Kh. Ali

Salahaddin University, Erbil
College of Education, Scientific Departments, Biology Department

E-mail:wand2iq@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
In this study an illustrated key for the identification of the Iraqi species of the genus
Chalcophorella Kerr. is given with information about general distribution for each species.
Information is also given about period of collection, plants on which the specimens were
collected. The real host plant if they are available and known are also given referring to the
previous works.
Key words: Coleoptera, Buprustidae, Chalcophorella

INTRODUCTION
The Buprestidae of Iraq has been very poorly studied and is known only from a few faunal
lists. The first list made by Holdhous (1919) identified 16 species of jewel beetles, while
Obenberger (1926,1930,1934,1935,1936,1937) within his six volume catalogue
(Coleopterorum catalogue) mentioned about 51 species and subspecies distributed in
Mesopotamia .Since the publication of Obenbergers work there is no catalogue for the
Buprestid fauna of Iraq but from time to time a few species were recorded by various authors
such as (Sage,1961; Hussain,1963 ; Derwesh,1962,1965 ; Kaddou,1967 ; Shalaby et al.,1970 ;
Knopf,1971 ; Khalaf and Al-Omar,1974 ; Swailem et al.,1974 ; Selim et al.,1975 ; Abdul-
Rassoul,1976 ; Al-Ali,1977 ; Bily, 1980 ; Abdul-Rassoul et al.,1988; and Ismail,1994) and
the only work that deals with general morphology of this family in Iraq made by Ali (2007)
without the Genus Chalcophorella, therefore there is need for detailed study and preparing
identification key for the species of this genus . It is hoped that this contribution will be a step
towards a (Buprestid fauna) of the Iraq and at the same time, will stimulate the publication of
further Collections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Area Description
Iraqi Kurdistan regarded as a mountain region, bounded by the N. and N.E frontiers of Iraq,
with Turkey and Iran respectively. The region includes some mountain valleys where the
elevation falls well below the 500m contour, the climate of Kurdistan characterized by wide
diurnal and annual ranges of temperature with a higher annual rainfall, The mountains above
1800m level are snow-bound for several months and snow often falls in the valleys. The
vegetation here does not begin to develop much before the end of March and the main
growing period is from April to June onwards.
Survey and Morphological study
Specimens were collected from the different parts of Kurdistan governorates (Erbil,
Sulaimanyia, Dohuk) during April 2008 to the end of November 2008 by the beating and
sweeping net or directly with hands on trees, after that specimens were killed then pinned,

mailto:mail:wand2iq@gmail.com

The Knowledge of the Genus Chalcophorella

labeled and prepared for identification, Dried specimens of Chalcophorella spp. were relaxed
in warm water for about 20 minutes, then dissected into several large parts, which were
further softened and cleared of non-chitenous material in a 10% solution of warm KOH.The
genitalia of species were dissected. This was carried out by pulling the genitalia through the
opening between the last plates. The specimens were examined by using a binocular
microscope and all diagrams were made with the aid of camera Lucida and measurements
were done with an ocular micrometer. The scale of figures was fixed for all diagrams with
1mm.

RESULTS AND DISCUSION
Genus Chalcophorella Kerr.

Kerremans,1903,wytsm.Gen.fasc.12,bupr.p.79
Type species: Buprestis stigmatica SchÖenherr

The genus Chalcophorella belonging to the subfamily Chalcophorinae Lacordaire 1857 but
it has been recently transferred to the subfamily Chrysochroinae Laporte,1835 and according
to Bellamy (2003,2008)the genus Chalcophorella include three subgenera as follows:
subgenus Chalcophorella Kerremans 1903
subgenus Rossiella Obenberger 1942
subgenus Stigmatophorella Toyama1986

The genus Chalcophorella is represented in Iraq by only four species (Ali 2007)
C. stigmatica (SchÖenherr,1817), C. bagdadensis (Laport and Gory,1836),C.quarioculata
(Redtenbacher,1843) and C. morgani Théry,1925. Only three of them has been collected and
studied in this paper.

key to the species of genus Chalcophorella in Kurdistan region.
1. Compound eye separated from the anterior edge of the prothorax (Fig 2a.,3a), pronotum

with levigated spaces mesally (Fig2c.,3c).Elytra black or dark its base with white hollow
surrounding with two dark spots (Fig2d.,3d.). Mentum irregular (Fig2b.) metacoxal plate
distinctly notched with sparse foveae and slant or straight apex (Fig2g.), wedge cell closed
with long apex (Fig2e.,3e.) male genital basal plate delicate (Fig2h.) and parameres with or
without constriction near apex (Fig2h.,3h.)………………………………...……………….2

- Compound eye very close to the anterior edge of the pothorax (Fig1a.), pronotum rough
without levigated spaces mesally (Fig1c.). Elytra bronze or brown with two irregular white
foveae, one at the base large and the other small near apex (Fig1d.). Mentum straight
(Fig1b.) metacoxal pLate distinctly notched with numerous foveae and straight apex
(Fig1g.),wedge cell closed with short apex (Fig1e.), male genital basal plate vast and
paramers constricted near apex (Fig1h.)…………………………..………… C. stigmatica

2- Pronotum with two unequal black spots at each side, one large and one small (Fig2c.)
Elytral base with two approximate black oval shaped spots located within the white halo
(Fig2c.). Apex of last abdominal sternite in female with notch (Fig2f.), paramers wider at
the base without constriction near apex (Fig2h.) …..…………………..… C. bagdadensis

-Pronotum without black spots (Fig3c.)Elytral base with two separate black circular shaped
spots located within the white halo(Fig3d.) ِ◌ ِ◌Apexoflast abdominal sternite in female
without notch(Fig3f.), Paramers with constriction near apex(Fig 3h.)…….C. quadrioculata

Wand Kh. Ali

Chalcophorella stigmatica (SchÖenherr, 1817)
Buprestis stigmatica SchÖenherr, Syn.Ins.I,1817P.232

Synonym:
Buprestis quadrinotata Klug,1829
uprestis lefebvrei Laport &Gory,1836
Buprestis quadrimaculata Redtenbacher,1867
Chalcophorella biimpressa Pic,1916
Chalcophorella smoliki Obenberger, 1936

General distribution: Extending from Perisa and Syria westwards at least to Albania and
Dalmatia (Obenberger, 1926 ; Niehuis,1989), Sardinia, Greece,Turkey, Cyprus,Syria,Lebanon,
Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Georgia(Volkovitsh,2004).
Distribution in Iraq: Dohuk, Mousl and Sulaminyia during May and June (Kheri,1974 ; Al-
Ali,1977),Erbil during June (Mohammed et al.,2006) also specimens were collected by the
author from Erbil (Choman, Koesinjac,Nazanin and Shaqlawa ) during June and July,
Sulaimanyia (Doukan ) during June. Dohuk (Zawita ) during June.
Host plant: Almond, Prunus amygdalus, Apple, Pyrus malus (Kheri,1974 ; Al-Ali,1977);
Paliurus spp.( Mühle et al.2000) ; Quercus aegilops (Mohammed et al.2006) also adults were
captured by the author on Pear, Pyrus communis and Peach, Prunus persica.

Chalcophorella bagdadensis (Laporte&Gory,1836)
Buprestis bagdadensis Cast.& Gory, Monogr.I,1836,p.125

Synonym:
Chalcophorella amarensis Obenberger 1942
Chalcophorella aureoscripta Mandl& Pochon 1957
Chalcophorella berhauti Mandl&Pochon 1957

General distribution: Mesopotamia and Baghdad,Iraq (Obenberger,1926)and the ssp. freyi is
recorded from localities in Iran (Bily,1983).
Distribution in Iraq: Mousul, Baghdad, Kut ,Wasit during March-July (Kheri,1974 ; Al-
Ali,1977; Abdul-Rassul et al.,1988) Dohuk, Sarsang during March, April and June
( Knopf,1971 ; Saad and Ameen,1983 ) also specimens were collected by the author from
Erbil (Askikalak, Nazanin, Koesinjac), Dohuk (Zawita) and Sulaimanyia (Bazean) during
April, June and July.
Host plant:Morus alba, Fraxinus and wild pistachio (Knof,1971)Turpentine tree, Pistacia
mutica, Fig, Ficus carica, Apricot, Prunus armenica (Kheri,1974 ; Swailem and Al-
Maroof,1981) Mulberry and elm ( Al-Ali,1977; Saad and Ameen,1983) also adults were
captured by the author on Turpentine tree, Apple, Almond, Oak, Fraxinus and some wild
plants.

Chalcophorella quadrioculata (Redtenbacher,1843)
Buprestis quadrioculata Redtenbacher.Russegg.Reise II,1843,P.993

Synonym: Chalcophorella akbesiana Cobos,1957
General distribution: Asia minor and Syria (Obenberger,1926) Turkey(Niehuis,1989).
Distribution in Iraq: Erbil-Khanzad during April (Knopf,1971) Mousl and Dohuk during
March-June (Kheri,1974; Swailem and Al-Maroof, 1981; Saad and Ameen, 1983) also
specimens were collected by the author from Erbil (Koesinjac),Sulaimanyia(Khormal,Beara)
during June and July.
Host plant: Willow (Knopf,1971)Apricot, Apple, Pistacia and turpentine tree (Kheri, 1974)
Apple, Mulberry, Pomegranate, Willow (Al-Ali, 1977; Saad and Ameen,1983) also adults
were captured by the author on Almond,Apple and Pear.

The Knowledge of the Genus Chalcophorella

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Wand Kh. Ali

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The Knowledge of the Genus Chalcophorella

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Wand Kh. Ali

The Knowledge of the Genus Chalcophorella

Wand Kh. Ali

The Knowledge of the Genus Chalcophorella

Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus.
(2010) 11 (2): 17- 26

Chalcophorella Kerr. 1903اثراء المعلومات حول الجنس
)Coleoptera:Buprestida( إقلیم كوردستان -في شمال العراق

وند خالص علي

أربیل-جامعة صالح الدین -كلیة التربیة-قسم علوم الحیاة

الخالصة

تم إعطاء مفتاح موضح بالرسوم لتشخیص األنواع المتواجدة في العراق و
مع المعلومات الخاصة بالتوزیع الجغرافي لكل Chalcophorellaالتابعة للجنس

نوع إضافة للمعلومات الخاصة بتاریخ الجمع و النباتات التي جمعت علیھا مع
.اإلشارة إلى العائل النباتي حسب المعلومات المتوفرة