Neomicracis squamigera Jordal, 2021

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2021, A phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Micracidini (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) reveals a strong diversifying role for Madagascar, Organisms Diversity & Evolution 21 (1), pp. 245-278 : 260-262

Neomicracis squamigera Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8D5258B2-AC48-4EF2-8C22-607F50C2F3D5

(Figs. 48, 51, 54)

Type material. Female holotype: Tanzania, Udzungwa National Park, GIS -7.868, 36.844, ex small twig, 11xi-7, B. Jordal, leg. Allotype male and paratypes: same data as holotype (5). Holotype, allotype and two paratypes in ZMBN , two paratypes in NHMW .

Etymology. Latin adjective composed by squama, meaning scale, and -ger, meaning bearing, referring to the broad scale-like setae associated particularly with asperities on the pronotum.

Diagnosis, female. Pronotum with very broad scale-like setae. Scapus short, bearing dorsally an elongated spine with long setae pointing inwards; funiculus 6-segmented; frons smooth and slightly impressed on central third; scutellum with four short setae in a transverse row. Male similar to female except scapus elongated, frons flat, reticulated, and ventrites III-V with very broad and long scale-like setae.

Description, female. Length 1.1–1.2 mm long, 2.4–2.6 × as long as wide. Colour brown. Frons flat, weakly impressed and impunctate on central one-third, coarsely reticulated elsewhere; scattered fine setae present around impressed area, slightly thicker and much longer, dense setae on epistoma. Antennal scapus shorter than funiculus, strongly elongated on its dorsal side into a long triangular horn, with a tuft of long forwardly pointing setae; funiculus 6-segmented, pediculus about as long as segment 2–4 combined; club flat, as long as wide, with suture 2 transverse, suture 1 absent in median three quarter, segments 1 and 2 fused, corneous, shiny. Pronotum short, much wider than long, summit slightly elevated, anterior slope short, steep; anterior half with sharp, almost quadrated asperities, each associated on its posterior side with a broad scale-like setae; on posterior half generally smooth, reticulated, in median posterior area slightly granulated; vestiture consisting of fine, semi-erect setae. Basal and lateral margin rounded. Scutellum U-shaped, wider than long, with 3–4 short setae. Elytra finely rugose, finely granulated, on declivity granules sharper; punctures faint, confused. Vestiture consisting of regular interstrial rows of slightly curved, pointed or slightly spatulate setae, and fine, short semi-erect strial setae. Ventral vestiture of fine, rather long setae. Legs. Protibiae with lateral edges evenly rounded towards a large, posterio-laterally curved terminal mucro, appearing slightly twisted; one lateral socketed denticle and one additional denticle on posterior side close to tarsal insertion. Metatibiae narrow, sides parallel, with a distinct, fine, long inner mucro, and two transversely set apical denticles.

Proventriculus. Apical plate slightly shorter than posterior plate, with regular transverse rows of sharp triangular. Apical teeth not apparent. Closing teeth smooth, long; femoral teeth sharp, connected to base of closing teeth.

Male. Similar to female except length 1.0– 1.1 mm, 2.2– 2.5 × as long as wide; frons rugose, lightly impressed on lower half; upper margin of impressed area marked by two small tubercles; antennal scapus short, rounded; setae on abdominal ventrites III–V very broad and long, one transverse row on each ventrite, pointing posteriorly. Genitalia elongated, apophyses as long as penis body, tegmen open dorsally, Yshaped, with long manubrium; spiculum gastrale a simple rod, as long as penis.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the type locality in the Udzungwa mountains in Tanzania. It was taken from a 1 cm thick twig of an unknown host plant where it was excavating longitudinal but irregular egg tunnels.