Diplotrichus calvifrons Jordal, 2021

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2021, An integrated taxonomic revision of Diplotrichus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) supports a Malagasy origin and single colonisation of South Africa, Zootaxa 5047 (2), pp. 101-122 : 108-110

Diplotrichus calvifrons Jordal , sp. nov.

( Figs 16, 19, 23 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D880EC8F-14A8-4882-8306-0D0011E13D8D

Type material. Holotype female: South Africa, West Cape, Tsitsikamma, Storms River [ GIS: -33.964, 23.898], ex Kiggelaria africana , 14 Nov. 2006, B. Jordal, leg. Allotype male and paratypes: same data as holotype (4); South Africa, West Cape, Natures Valley , deVasselot [ GIS: -33.965, 23.562], ex Rhus chirindaensi,s 9 Nov. 2006, B. Jordal, leg. (7) . Holotype, allotype and two paratypes in SAMC , six paratypes in ZMUB , two in NHMW.

Diagnosis. Female frons flattened, lower median third glabrous, shiny, with short setae encircling the glabrous area; antennal club with two distinct and angularly procurved sutures; elytral interstriae with regular rows of erect setae separated in a row by half the length of a seta, closer on declivity than on disk.

Description, female. Length 1.4–1.5 mm, 2.6–2.7 × as long as wide; colour dark brown. flattened, on lower median third glabrous, with short setae in circle around glabrous area. Eyes separated above by 2.5–2.8 × the width. Antennal scapus triangular with setae as long as antennal club; the club with two angularly procurved sutures. Pronotum with distinct summit, asperities on anterior half; vestiture mixed hair-like, mainly on posterior half, and scale-like, mainly on anterior half. Elytral interstriae with regular rows of erect, pointed, bristle-like setae separated within rows on average by two-thirds their length, closer on declivity. Protibiae with three apical denticles.

Etymology. Composed by the stem of the Latin adjective calvus, meaning hairless, and frons, referring to the glabrous lower median part of the frons in the female.

Distribution and biology. South Africa. It was collected twice in coastal forest sites in the Cape region. Fully developed broods were dissected from phloem of 2–5 cm thick branches of Kiggelaria africana (Achariaceae) and Searsia chirindensis (Anacardiaceae) . Among the seven families studied, one contained a male-female pair, five had a bigamous structure and one had three females per male. Brood size ranged between 30 to 60 larvae (n=14) per family.

Remarks. This species is very similar to the next one, D. medius , both with densely placed, pointed, bristle-like setae, but distinguished in females by the glabrous lower median frons, and by genetic data.

Figures

FIGURES 15–24. Dorsal, lateral, and front view of Diplotrichus pilifrons sp. nov. female holotype (15, 18, 21) and male allotype frons (22), Diplotrichus calvifrons sp. nov. female holotype (16, 19, 23), and Diplotrichus medius sp. nov. female holotype (17, 20, 24).