Morphology of the adult and immatures of a striking new species of leaf-mining Brachys Dejean from Brazil (Buprestidae, Agrilinae)

ABSTRACT

Adult and immature stages of a new species, Brachys cleidecostae sp. nov., are described and illustrated. This species represents the first leaf-mining buprestid with two broad, prominent horn-like apophyses on vertex, resembling broad horns. The material was collected within unusual shaped leaf mines in Alibertia sessilis (Vell.) K. Schum (Rubiaceae), a native species from Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). This is the first record of Brachys associated with a host plant of family Rubiaceae.