Metachroma suturale J. L. Le Conte 1858

Metachroma suturale LeConte

Metachroma suturale LeConte, 1858, p. 85.

Metachroma dubiosum Crotch (not Say), 1873, p. 41.

Metachroma aterrimum Horn, 1892, pp. 214, 215.

DESCRIPTION.—Between 4.8 and 6.4 mm in length, broadly oblong oval, lustrous, varying in color from yellow-brown with a dark elytral sutural vitta of varying width to deep reddish brown or piceous with the sutural vitta in some specimens so wide as to cover entire elytra, in these darker specimens prothorax also dark (M. aterrimum Horn), pronotum with variable degrees of punctation but never so lightly punctate as in M. ustum LeConte. Femora toothed.

Head with interocular space approximately half width of head, no transverse sulcus dividing front from clypeus, a short median depression on front, occiput densely and coarsely punctate, less so on front, clypeus also densely and coarsely punctate, with anterior margin over labrum widely and shallowly emarginate; shining, varying from deep reddish or even piceous to dark piceous with two reddish brown spots on front. Antennae extending below humeri, usually yellowish or reddish brown, but in dark specimens outer joints dark. Prothorax not twice as wide as long, convex, with widely curved sides, a tooth at each angle, surface lustrous, punctation variable, from being fine and sparse to dense and coarse, in color varying from reddish brown to piceous. Scutellum dark. Elytra more than twice as long as prothorax, lustrous, a slight basal umbone with a transverse depression below; striate punctation in basal half well developed but after middle tending to fade out, color varying from deep reddish brown with a dark sutural vitta or dark sutural edges to entirely piceous. Body beneath also varying from reddish brown to piceous, legs usually yellowish brown but in some dark specimens also entirely dark; apex of femora usually dark. Claws with long basal tooth. Femora toothed. Length, 4.8–6.4 mm; width, 2.5–3.3 mm.

TYPE.—In LeConte collection, MCZ. (Type of M. aterrimum Horn in Horn collection, PAS.)

TYPE-LOCALITY.—“Texas, Mr. Haldeman.” (Type-locality of M. aterrimum: “Occurs in New Mexico.”)

OTHER LOCALITIES.—Texas: Valentine, R. H. Beamer; The Basin, Big Bend National Park, K. Roever; H. and A. Howden, Howden and Becker; Green Valley, Brewster County, H. W. Wenzel; Alpine, at 4,400–6,000 feet, Wickham; Round Mountain, H. W. Wenzel; Chisos Mountains, Triplehorn, Knull; Davis Mountains, D. J. and J. N. Knull; Fort Davis, Howden and Becker; 10 miles west of Fort Davis, H. and A. Howden. New Mexico: Santa Fe, Gisler. Arizona: Douglas, F. H. Snow; San Bernardino Ranch, Cochise County, at 3,750 feet, F. H. Snow.

Metachroma suturale is a species of leaf beetle. It is found in the United States, ranging from Arizona to Texas. Its length is between 4.8 and 6.4 mm.