''Lepismadora'' is a

monotypic genus In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

''Lepismadora algodones''.
Plant Pest Diagnostics Center - Entomology. California Department of Food and Agriculture. of

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

s in the family Buprestidae, the jewel beetles. It contains the single species ''Lepismadora algodones'', which is known by the common name Algodones sand jewel beetle.NatureServe. 2014
''Lepismadora algodones''.
NatureServe Explorer. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

in the United States, where it has been collected only from the

Algodones Dunes The Algodones Dunes is a large sand dune field, or erg, located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of California, near the border with Arizona and the Mexican state of Baja California. The field is approximately long by wide and ex ...

Imperial County Imperial Count (german: Reichsgraf) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. In the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from ...

. The beetle is no more than 7 millimeters long. It is elongated oval in shape and covered in a coat of scaly hairs, especially on the underside. It has large eyes and hairy antennae and legs. Among the collected specimens, females are slightly larger and thicker than males. The coloration is variable; smaller males are coppery in color, larger males are a "brassy green", and females are generally brassy with a green tinge. The color also varies with the distribution of the hairs, the color changing as the hairs wear off. This beetle is most similar to genus '' Eudiadora''.Velten, R. K. and C. L. Bellamy. (1987)
A new genus and species of North American Coroebini Bedel with a discussion of its relationships within the tribe (Coleoptera: Buprestidae).
''The Coleopterists Bulletin'' 41(2) 185-92. Most adults have been found on fanleaf crinklemat (''Tiquilia plicata''), a desert plant. The larval host plant is unknown. Adults are active during the hottest hours of the day.

References

External links

Monotypic Buprestidae genera Endemic fauna of California Endemic insects of the United States Natural history of Imperial County, California Buprestidae {{Buprestidae-stub