Scolytoplatypus brahma Blandford

Figure 5

Scolytoplatypus brahma Blandford, 1898: 425.

Scolytoplatypus hamatus Hagedorn, 1904: 260. Synonymy: Schedl 1952: 159.

Scolytoplatypus hirsutus Blackman, 1943: 124. Synonymy: Schedl 1952: 159.

Scolytoplatypus paucegranulatus Eggers, 1935: 242. Synonymy: Beaver and Gebhardt 2006: 167.

Material examined.

4 males, 1 female (JXAU) China: Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Jinping County, 22°46'48"N, 103°13'48"E, 21.IV.2017, ethanol trap, Bo Duan, Hongchang A leg. ; 1 female (JXAU) as previous except: Hekou County, Mahuangbao, 22°34'49"N, 103°58'30"E, 10.VIII.2018, ethanol trap, Bo Duan, Hongchang A leg. ; 1 male (JXAU) as previous except: Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Mengpeng Farm, 21°24'45"N, 101°20'21"E, 26.VII2018, ethanol trap, Bo Duan, Hongchang A leg. ; 1 male (JXAU) as previous except: Mengman Farm, 21°23'34"N, 101°18'51"E, 26.VII.2018, ethanol trap, Bo Duan, Hongchang A leg. ; 1 male (JXAU) as previous except: Mengpeng Farm, 21°24'45"N, 101°20'21"E, 17.XI2019, ethanol trap, Bo Duan, Hongchang A leg.

Distribution.

Bangladesh, Borneo, India, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java) Malaysia, Thailand (Sabah) (Beaver and Gebhardt 2006; Beaver et al. 2014). New to China (Yunnan)

Diagnosis.

The species is most closely related to S. bombycinus, but is considerably smaller. The male of S. brahma is characterised by its characteristic prosternal plate, which is structurally similar to that of S. bombycinus, and by a small elongate swelling in the midline on the upper part of the frons (Blackman 1943: fig. 12).

Host.

This species is polyphagous attacking a wide range of host trees in many families, including: Cryptocarya wightiana Thwaites ( Lauraceae), Ilex dipyrena Wall. ( Aquifoliaceae), Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. ( Meliaceae) (Wood 1992), Erythrina subumbrans (Hassk.) Merr. ( Leguminosae), Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg. ( Euphorbiaceae), Theobroma cacao L. ( Sterculiaceae), Vernonia arborea Buch.-Ham. ( Compositae) (Kalshoven 1959).