This new species of Phytoecia (Opsilia subgenus), described by our friend Denis Kasatkin from Afghanistan in 2013 [❖] , is most similar to Phytoecia (Opsilia) prasina Reitter, 1911. Species is well distinguished from Phytoecia (Opsilia) prasina by more short antennae, characters of pubescence: absence scale-like hairs in pubescence of elytra, almost complete absence of dark hairs on pronotum, more long erect hairs on head and pronotum; by form of pronotum and elytral apex.

Body length:	6.2 – 8.7 mm
Life cycle:	1 year
Adults in:	May
Host plant:	Boraginaceae
Distribution:	a species endemic to Afghanistan

The depicted beetle was collected in Khushkak village environs (2700 m, Kohi-Baba Mts., 8 km S Bamiyan, Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan) on May 30, 2010.

Collected by E.S.Ivanova

---

[❖]
Kasatkin Denis G.:
A new species of the genus Phytoecia Dejean, 1835 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Afghanistan.
Caucasian Entomological Bulletin 9 (2): 265, 2009.
[download ]