Scolytoplatypus daimio Blandford, 1893b

Buhroo, Abdul Ahad, 2024, A taxonomic monograph of subfamily Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Western Himalaya, Zootaxa 5533 (1), pp. 1-82 : 58

45. Scolytoplatypus daimio Blandford, 1893b

( Figure 58 )

= muticus Hagedorn, 1904

= siomio Blandford, 1893b

This species is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: ♂ frons weakly concave, impunctate dull with uniform fine granules throughout; anterolateral edges with long golden hairs extending from upper frontal area almost up to epistoma, forming inwardly curled tufts on upper level of eyes; eyes entire; antennal club ovate, elongate, widest at base, 1.7× longer than wide, narrowly rounded at the apex, surface densely covered with setae, longer setae on base and apex; pronotum 1.22× wider than long, widest at anterior third, devoid of any distinct summit and asperities, surface finely reticulate with minute punctures, set 3–4 diameters apart from each other; dorsal surface somewhat smooth with sparse minute pubescence; prosternum with a pair of widely separated, divergent, straight processes on the anterior margin; scutellum triangular, flush with elytral surface; elytra 1.29× as long as wide, 2× as long as pronotum, clearly widened posteriorly; basal angles rectangular, sides parallel to abruptly declivous apex; elytral surface shining, with irregularly placed minute punctures; striae & interstriae indistinct; declivity commencing on posterior fourth, sub-convex; striae 1 and 2 somewhat visible, rest confused; interstriae shortly carinate at the commencement of declivity, 1 and 3 well- marked, lined with a row of distinct tubercles, interstriae 7 toothed forming a lateral tooth on elytron; elytral apex with distinct carina; surface with long, pale hairs; elytral color yellowish, gradually becoming darker posteriorly, without a distinct darker band along suture; body length: 2.97–3.22 mm, 2.16× as long as wide.

Female is very similar to male except the frons being strongly convex with a feeble longitudinal median impression, either side of which is finely but distinctly punctate with sparse minute hairs; commencement of elytral declivity devoid of any distinct longitudinal ridges; odd numbered interstriae with few minute, scattered tubercles on the declivity; body length: 3.0– 3.28 mm.

Material examined: New records: India: 3 ♂ ′s, 3 ♀ ′s. Kashmir, Thajwas Sonamarg (34° 18.222′ N, 075° 16.388′ E, 9105 ft.), A.A. Buhroo, 30.08.2018 ( KUIC). Kashmir, Pahalgam (34° 05.15′ N, 075° 15.47′ E, 8000 ft.), A.A. Buhroo, 07.09.2019 ( KUIC) .

Distribution: India: Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttarakhand

Hosts: Acer caesium ( Sapindaceae )

Figures

FIGURE 58. Scolytoplatypus daimio. Male: dorsal view A, lateral view B, frons C, prosternum D; female: dorsal view E, frons F.