Scolytocis australimontensis, Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade, 2017

Souza-Gonçalves, Igor & Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano, 2017, Taxonomy of Xylographellini (Coleoptera: Ciidae) from the Australian and Oriental regions with descriptions of new species of Scolytocis and Xylographella, Zoologia (e 13730) 34, pp. 1-7 : 3-4

Scolytocis australimontensis sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ F5B169D2-9A4D-499A-85DB-F56BC5E16167

Figs 1–5, 24

Scolytocis sp. in Lawrence (2016: 198).

Type locality. Mount Haig , state of Queensland, northeastern Australia (17°06’S, 145°29’E) .

Diagnosis. Scolytocis australimontensis sp. n. can be distinguished from other Australian and Oriental species of Scolytocis by the combination of the following features: pronotum with a conspicuous rugose border along the posterior edge and smooth interspaces of punctures; metatibiae with a clear distinction between the outer and apical edges, the outer edge being straight and bearing at least five spines separated from each other by more than a spine-width. Scolytocis novazelandiae has a similar posterior pronotal border, but interspaces of punctures are microreticulate. Scolytocis werneri has a comparatively narrower posterior pronotal border and interspaces of punctures are coarsely reticulate.

Description, holotype ( Figs 1–5). Adult fully pigmented. Measurements in mm: TL 1.15, PL 0.38, PW 0.50, EL 0.78, EW 0.58, GD 0.50. Ratios: PL/PW 0.75, EL/EW 1.35, EL/PL 2.07, GD/ EW 0.87, TL/EW 2.00. Body elongate, convex; dorsum and venter dark reddish-brown; antennae, palpi and tarsi yellowish-brown; dorsal vestiture of minute setae, smaller than a puncture-width and barely discernible even in high magnification (150×), except for the posteriormost portion of elytra with conspicuous setae (easily seen in lateral view); venter subglabrous. Head with anteriormost portion visible from above; dorsum with shallow, coarse punctures, separated from each other by a puncture-width or less and with smooth interspaces. Antennae bearing nine antennomeres, as follows (in mm, left antenna measured): 0.06, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, 0.01, 0.03, 0.03, 0.06 (FL 0.07, CL 0.12, CL/FL 1.71). Eyes finely facetted, each bearing about 70 ommatidia; GW 0.11. Gula 0.52 times as wide as head. Pronotum with shallow, single punctation; punctures irregular, separated from each other by a puncture-width or less and with smooth interspaces; anterior edge broadly rounded; lateral edges smooth, not explanate and not visible when seen from above; posterior edge with a rugose border along it. Scutellar shield triangular, bearing fine punctures; BW 0.10. Elytra with shallow, dual punctation; large punctures coarse, seriate, about twice as large as small punctures; small punctures sparsely and irregularly distributed; interspaces of punctures, smooth; elytral apex truncate; apical declivity concave with conspicuous cuticular globules ( Fig. 4, arrows). Hind wings developed, apparently functional. Hypomera with coarse, shallow punctation; each puncture bearing a fine decumbent seta; interspaces microreticulate. Prosternum in front of coxae concave; interspaces microreticulate. Prosternal process laminate, as long as prosternum at midline, apex acute. Pro-, meso- and metatibiae ( Fig. 5, left metatibia of a paratype) with similar shape and length, approximately three times as long as broad; tibiae with distinct apical and outer lateral edges; outer apical angle rounded; outer edge of tibiae straight and with about five spines separated from each other by more than a spine-width; apical edge with about 10 spines very close to each other. Metaventrite with coarse, shallow punctures; interspaces microreticulate; discrimen about half the length of metaventrite at midline. Abdominal ventrites with coarse, small punctures, separated from each other by a puncture-width or less; interspaces microreticulate; length of ventrites (in mm, from base to apex at the longitudinal midline) as follows: 0.15, 0.05, 0.05, 0.05, 0.10.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios (n = 7, including the holotype): TL 1.10–1.33 (1.16 ± 0.07), PL 0.38–0.43 (0.39 ± 0.02), PW 0.45–0.55 (0.48 ± 0.04), EL 0.70–0.90 (0.77 ± 0.06), EW 0.50–0.63 (0.55 ± 0.04), GD 0.45–0.55 (0.49 ± 0.03), PL/PW 0.75–0.89 (0.82 ± 0.05), EL/EW 1.33–1.55 (1.41 ± 0.08), EL/PL 1.75–2.12 (1.96 ± 0.14), GD/EW 0.86–0.95 (0.88 ± 0.03), TL/EW 2.00–2.30 (2.13 ± 0.10).

Material examined. Australia: holotype ( ANIC) labeled “ 17.06S 145.29E QLD, Mt. Haig 1150 m GS1, 1 Dec. 1994 – 3 Jan. 1995, P. Zborowski, FI Trap ANIC [printed] \ Scolytocis australimontensis Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade HOLOTYPUS [printed on red paper]”. Paratypes: 8 specimens (3 females and 5 with gender not determined) as follows: one female ( ANIC, dissected) and 2 specimens ( CELC), same locality data as holotype ; one specimen ( CELC) “ 17.06S 145.37E QLD, Mt. Edith GS2, 1050 m, 3 Jan. – 4 Feb. 1995, P. Zborowski, FI Trap ANIC [printed]” ; one female ( CELC, dissected) “ 17.27S 145.29E QLD, Hugh Nelson Rg. GS3 1150 m, 1 Dec. 1994 – 3 Jan. 1995, P. Zborowski, FI Trap ANIC [printed]” ; one specimen ( ANIC) “ Mt. Lewis , 800 m, QLD, 26 Dec. 1986, H. & A. Howden, flight intercept trap [printed]” ; one specimen ( QMBA) “ Mt Bartle Frere , N. Qld. Sth. Peak Summit, 1620 m, 6–8 Nov. 1981, EARTHWATCH/ QLD MUSEUM, Pyrethrum knockdown [printed]\ QUEENSLAND MUSEUM LOAN DATE: Dec. 2001 No. LE 01.28 [printed on green paper]\A.N.I.C. COLEOPTERA Voucher No. 83-0880 [printed on green paper]” ; one female ( QMBA) “ Mossman Bluff Track , 5–10 Km W. Mossman N. Qld, 20 Dec 1989 – 15 Jan 1990, Monteith, Thompson & ANZSES Site 7,100 0 m, flt. intercept [printed]\ QUEENSLAND MUSUEM LOAN DATE: Dec. 2001 No. LE 01.36 [printed on green paper]”. All paratypes are additionally labeled\ Scolytocis australimontensis Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade PARATYPUS [printed on yellow paper] .

Etymology. The species name derives from the Latin adjectives “australis”, which means “of the South” and refers to Australia, and “montensis”, which means “of or belonging to mountains”, both in the genitive singular. The name is a reference to the Australian mountains where most specimens were collected.

Remarks. This new species was collected only in localities above 800 m, three of them at Australian mountains (Mount Haig, Mount Edith and Mount Bartle Frere) ( Fig. 24). This species may be included in the Sc. werneri species-group, in which the species have a rugose border along the posterior pronotal edge.