Dryocoetes asperatus, Buhroo, 2024

Buhroo, Abdul Ahad, 2024, A taxonomic monograph of subfamily Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Western Himalaya, Zootaxa 5533 (1), pp. 1-82 : 23-24

15. Dryocoetes asperatus sp. nov.

( Figure 20 )

Diagnosis: This new species is exceptionally distinct and differs from other Indian species of the genus by its smaller size; covex, rugosely reticulate frons; serrate anterior pronotal margin; shining elytra with weakly impressed striae on disc; declivital interstriae with sparse, minute granules, more prominent apically; vestiture of sparse and short hairs on pronotum and elytra. The species also differs from D. alni ( Georg, 1856) by having a wider declivital interstraie 2 and outwardly curved striae 2 on the middle of its declivity; and short vestitutre with a brown body color versus long, dense vestiture and black color in D. alni .

Description: The species is new in this genus by the following morphological characters: frons convex, sub-shining, impressed just above epistoma, surface rugose reticulate, longitudinal rugosities stronger towards eyes; surface sparsely finely punctured with sparse, moderately long setae and fringe of dense setae on epistomal margin; vertex shining, finely reticulate; antennal funicle with five segments; club obliquely truncate with recurved sutures on anterior face and one suture on posterior face; eyes of normal size, with upper part above emargination smaller than lower part, and not extending onto frons, finely faceted; pronotum slightly longer than wide (1.03×), widest close to base, posterior angles broadly rounded, sides sub-parallel in basal half, rather narrowly rounded anteriorly; anterior pronotal margin with serrations, summit at middle, anterior slope with numerous, densely placed asperities of variable size, arranged more or less concentrically, asperities somewhat triangular, larger and more elevated anteriorly; disc with a distinct, smooth median impunctate area, rest irregularly punctate upto base, becoming rugulose postero-laterally; vestiture of sparse, moderately long, setae on anterior slope and margin, shorter at sides; scutellum shining, broad, tongue shaped; elytra 1.51× as long as wide, 1.56× as long as pronotum, slightly wider than pronotum at base; sides parallel up to basal three-fourths, thence evenly rounded to apex; elytral surface shining; striae feebly impressed marked by distinct shallow, round punctures, separated by about half the width of one puncture, each with a microhair; interstriae 2–3× wider than striae, interstrial punctures uniseriate, much smaller and more widely separated, with short hairs visible laterally; declivity rather steep and convex, strongly impressed along stria 1 and 2; strial punctures somewhat smaller than those on disc; interstriae 1, 2 and 3 raised with minute, sparse granules more prominent towards apex, rest of interstriae also with few minute granules; declivital striae 2 rather outwardly curved on its middle; vestiture inconspicuous; protibia somewhat broader towards apex with five-socketed teeth on outer margin, meso and meta tibiae also with five spines on their outer margin; ventrites with short, rather recumbent and moderately dense setae; body color brownish; body length: 2.01–2.21 mm, 2.53× as long as wide.

Remark: Sex could not be determined and also confirmation of the species using molecular data was not possible as only two specimens were available for the study.

Material examined: India: Holotype: Kashmir , Ganderbal, Thajwas Sonamarg (34° 18.222′ N, 075° 16.388′ E, 9105 ft.), A.A. Buhroo, 03.09.2019 ( KUIC); 1 PT NHMW.

Type Locality: Kashmir (Sonamarg)

Hosts: Unknown

Etymology: The species epithet asperatus refers to the presence of asperities on the anterior slope of pronotum.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Dryocoetes asperatus sp. nov. Holotype: dorsal view A, lateral view B, frons C, elytral declivity D, ventral view E.