Pseudomicracis verrucosa Jordal, 2022

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2022, The strongly dimorphic bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Madagascar-an integrated taxonomic revision, Zootaxa 5125 (3), pp. 325-343 : 330

Pseudomicracis verrucosa Jordal , sp. nov.

( Figs 2, 5, 8 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:70419563-38E7-436B-A4D4-FC9A497A73DA

Type material. Holotype, male: Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Vato trail, GIS: -21.29, 47.42, alt. 1100 m, ex unknown branch, 5.x.2012, B. Jordal, leg. Paratype, male: same data as HT. Types deposited in ZMUB .

Diagnosis, male. Elytral interstriae strongly tuberculate; interstrial setae long, spatulate, and curved.

Description, male. Length 1.4–1.5 mm long, 2.2–2.4 × as long as wide; colour black. Frons weakly convex, finely reticulate, nearly glabrous except a fine triangular brush of setae on epistoma. Antennal scapus rounded, with few, short setae; club with two strongly procurved sutures, segment one smooth and shiny, about half the length of club. Eyes separated above by 3.0–3.1 × their width. Pronotum large, about 1.1 × as long as wide, 1.5 × as long as elytra; surface strongly asperate on anterior two-thirds, 4–6 fine granules along anterior margin; posterior third rugose-punctate. Elytral interstriae strongly granulate or tuberculate, setae curved and spatulate, about 4–6 × as long as wide; strial punctures coarse, with fine curved and lightly raised setae about half the length of interstrial setae. Protibiae with one lateral and two apical short socketed denticles.

Female. Not known.

Etymology. The Latin nominative (female) adjective verrucosa means warty, referring to the strongly tuberculated elytra of this species.

Distribution and biology. Madagascar. Only known from the type locality in Ranomafana where two dead specimens were dissected from a thin old branch.

Remarks. This is a unique species in the genus in having a distinctly tuberculate elytra. Although the two type specimens are in comparatively poor condition, the very striking appearance allows unambiguous recognition of the species.

Figures

FIGURES 2–10. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Pseudomicracis verrucosa male holotype (2, 5, 8); Pseudomicracis coronata male holotype (3, 6, 9), and female allotype (4, 7, 10).