Scolytodes clusiaphilus Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, New species and records of Scolytodes (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from South America, Zootaxa 3721 (6), pp. 529-551 : 533

Scolytodes clusiaphilus Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DA889254-7053-48B5-BCF0-4402BA0857E7 ( Figs 3, 6, 9 )

Type material. Holotype, female: “ Ecuador, Carchi, R.B. Guandera, ca. 15 km E. San Gabriel, 3500 m, 00º 35'11'' N 77º44'37' W, 1.XI.1999 -219exc., R. Anderson, Clusia /bromeliad forest litter”. Allotype: “ Ecuador, Pichincha, Bellavista Reserve, 2250 m, Ridge Trail, 12 km S. Nanegalito, 00º 00'54'' N 78º40'56' W, 28.X.1999 -211b, R. Anderson, cloud forest litter”. Paratypes: same data as holotype (3). Holotype and allotype in CMN, paratypes in ZMBN (1) and USNM (2).

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 short; protibiae with an additional mesal tooth. Closely related to S. clusiapraelatus which also has double-pitted strial punctures, but distinguished by the long and broad flap of pointed setae extending from the posterior edge of the last tergum (beyond elytral apex).

Description female. Length 1.45–1.65 mm, 2.15–2.25 times longer than wide; colour black. Head. Eyes separated above by 3 times their width. Frons flat; punctured from epistoma to upper level of eyes except smooth and less punctate on median fifth, vertex reticulate. Vestiture consisting of short fine setae from punctures, evenly distributed and slightly raised, longest setae shorter than scapus. Antennal club with two transverse sutures marked by short setae. Funiculus 5-segmented. Pronotum as long as wide, widest at base to mid-length, broadly rounded in front; surface smooth, finely reticulated, subshining, with fine punctures spaced by 3–4 times their diameter. Vestiture restricted to fine setae along anterolateral margins and larger erect setae (4–2–2). Elytra 1.3–1.4 times longer than wide, 1.5–1.6 times longer than pronotum, broadest at mid-length, narrowly rounded behind; basal area around scutellum impressed; striae not impressed, punctures tiny, shallow, in pairs of nearly contiguous equal sized punctures, each pair spaced by the length of a pair; interstriae 3–4 times wider than striae, impunctate. Interstriae 10 reaching level of metacoxae. Vestiture consisting of 20–30 erect bristle-like setae on odd numbered interstriae, those on interstriae 1 shorter, additional scattered microscopic strial and interstrial setae. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.6–0.7 times the width of a coxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.9 times the width of one procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal teeth 1 and 2 of equal size, 3–4 additional tiny lateral spines towards the base of tibia; one additional socketed mesal tooth close to tarsal insertion. Mesotibiae with 6–7 long lateral socketed teeth on distal half. Metatibiae with 5–6 small lateral socketed teeth on distal third. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum simple and bifid, on metanepisternum simple. Last ventrite impressed, marked by a ring of short bristles, matching the long flap of coarse apical setae on the last tergite.

Description male. Similar to female, with slightly fewer setae and punctures in frons.

Key. Couplet 26, but does not fit further.

Etymology. From Greek philus, meaning 'loving' and Clusia , with reference to the plant community in which this species was sampled – a likely host plant given that close relatives use this host.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the Ecuadorian high altitude type locality that was dominated by Clusia . Similar species in Central America breed in the same host plant genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Scolytodes uniseriatus (1, 4, 7), S. clusiapraelatus (2, 5, 8), S. clusiaphilus (3, 6, 9).