New and Interesting Records of Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Kenya

Abstract

During the period 2016-2019, jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) associated with Vachellia xanthophloea (Fabaceae) were studied in Kenya. Samples of dead and infested wood were collected from different localities in the country. In laboratory conditions, the samples were placed in plastic boxes and kept at room temperatures (23±2ºC). Two new buprestid species for Kenya, Chalcogenia toroensis Obenberger, 1931 and Agrilus (Agriphylus) claudulus Obenberger, 1935, were reared from infested stems and branches of V. xanthophloea. In addition, five previously reported species were found in new localities. The new records have increased the number of known buprestid taxa in the country up to 540.