Scolytoplatypus denticauda, Buhroo, 2024

Buhroo, Abdul Ahad, 2024, A taxonomic monograph of subfamily Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Western Himalaya, Zootaxa 5533 (1), pp. 1-82 : 59-61

47. Scolytoplatypus denticauda sp. nov.

( Figure 60 )

Diagnosis: This new species is distinct from other species of the genus by its indistinct discal striae and interstriae, a transverse incised dark band on the pronotum, the distinct tubercles on the declivital interstriae 1 and 3, and the strongly concave propleura and pyriform fovea at the antero-ventral corners.

The new species closely resembles with S. gardeneri Maiti & Saha, 2009 but can be distinguished by: the indistinct discal striae and interstriae in S. denticauda sp. nov. versus distinct discal striae and interstriae in S. gardeneri ; a transverse incised dark band on the pronotum of S. denticauda sp. nov. versus not seen in S. gardeneri . The new species also resembles with S. ruficauda Eggers, 1939 in its prosternum but differs in other features.

Description: The species is new by the following morphological characters: ♂ frons broadly, moderately concave, surface micro-reticulate, with evenly spaced fine punctures, a broad V-shaped shining area on lower one-third; a distinct incised line from vertex up to middle; vestiture on entire surface with sparse, moderately long hairs, somewhat longer on the margins; antennal funicle with six segments, club flattened, elongate widest at the base, 2.21× longer than wide, narrowly rounded at the apex, surface covered by short setae, and a few longer hairs on margins and apex; eyes elongate and weakly convex; pronotum 1.25× wider than long, widest in the middle, anterior margin with distinct median emargination, basal margin indistinctly bisinuate, not produced in the middle; postero-lateral corners sub-angular, lateral sides divergent up to middle; dorsal surface shining, finely reticulate, with small punctures, punctures shallow and set 2–3 diameters apart from each other, somewhat more denser towards anterior and basal margins; pronotum with a broad transverse dark band below anterior margin and a raised longitudinal median line; vestiture of short fine hairs prominent anteriorly; lateral margins of pronotum distinctly ridged and propleura strongly concave, antero-ventral angles of pronotum with a relatively deep, pyriform fovea separated from anterior margin by a narrow ridge; prosternum raised medially on posterior half with a distinct triangular elevation anteriorly between procoxae, its pointed apex oriented anteriorly; anterior margin projecting in two sub-rounded lobes, with asymmetrical, weakly sclerotised translucent process between them; procoxae somewhat flattened, with sparse, setae on the inner surface and a few long, erect setae posteriorly; scutellum small, triangular and sunken; elytra 1.18× longer than wide, 1.87× as long as pronotum, shining; elytral base carinate, sides slightly diverging posteriorly, widest on apical fourth, apex slightly angularly rounded and carinate, disc flat, shinning with small punctures not arranged in distinct striae and interstriae, except lateral (last) two rows of strial punctures set in regular fashion; declivity towards apical fourth, steeply convex with well-marked impressed striae up to middle of declivity, with somewhat larger punctures than on disc; interstriae convex, granulate, unevenly alternately raised; interstriae 1 with seven to eight distinct tubercles, 2 somewhat depressed, 3 with four distinct tubercles and a few tubercles on lateral interstriae, 9 toothed, confluent with carinate, raised apex; vestiture on declivity with fine covering of short hairs; ventrites with shallow, dense punctures and vestiture of short, fine yellowish setae directed backwards, more longer medially and on last ventrite; body dark brown, anterior half of elytra yellowish brown; body length: 2.64–2.74 mm, 1.88× as long as wide.

Female is very similar to male except with convex frons, pronotum with somewhat projecting postero-lateral angles, pronotal surface without a transverse band; fovea on antero-ventral angles absent; declivity with less impressed striae and a few, less stronger tubercles on declivity. Mycangial pore on the pronotum absent. Body length: 3.03–3.07 mm.

Material examined: Holotype: ♂ India: Kashmir , Thajwas Sonamarg (34° 18.222′ N, 075° 16.388′ E, 9105 ft.), A.A. Buhroo, 30.08.2018 . Allotype, ♀: the same site and date as HT; Paratypes: the same data as HT (1 ♀), except, Aru, Pahalgam (34° 05.15′ N, 075° 15.47′ E, 8000 ft.), A.A. Buhroo, 07.09.2019 (1 ♂, 1 ♀); HT, AT and 3 PT deposited at KUIC; 3 PTs NHMW .

Type locality: India: Kashmir (Sonamarg)

Hosts: Acer caesium ( Sapindaceae )

Etymology: The species epithet refers to the presence of tubercles on the declivity.

Figures

FIGURE 60. Scolytoplatypus denticauda sp. nov. Holotype male: dorsal view A, lateral view B, frons C, ventral view D; Allotype female: dorsal view E, lateral view F.