Premnophilus sarahsmithae Atkinson & Flechtmann, 2023

Atkinson, Thomas H., Flechtmann, Carlos A. H. & Petrov, Alexander V., 2023, Synopsis of the Neotropical Premnobiina (Coleoptera: Curculonidae: Scolytinae Ipini) with descriptions of new species, new synonymy and keys to species, Zootaxa 5249 (1), pp. 69-91 : 86-87

Premnophilus sarahsmithae Atkinson & Flechtmann , new species

Fig. 10 A–D urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7396FDB0-6FAB-439B-8391-FF15158C0500

Diagnosis. P. sarahsmithae and P. pedrosai are similar in that the declivity is slightly sulcate without an elevated posterolateral crest. This species differs from the other two because the declivity is weakly sulcate and the granules are largest and in a uniseriate row on interstria 1.

Female. Total length: 1.45 mm, maximum width: 0.54, length of elytra: 0.76 mm, total length / width: 2.69, elytra length / total length: 1.41, pronotal length / width: 1.28 (n=1). Color yellowish brown, darker in declivital area.

Frons reticulate, with large, shallow punctures, these contiguous. A weakly elevated, shining, longitudinal carina runs from well above the eyes to the epistomal margin. First segment of anterior face of antennal club corneus, bisinuate, middle portion not reaching middle of club; distal part densely pubescent without visible sutures; pubescent area not reaching base of antennal laterally. Posterior face with corneous portion occupying 3/4 club length, pubescent distally, lateral areas not pubescent.

Anterior margin of pronotum rounded, asperities on its leading edge not larger than those on the rest of the anterior slope. Summit slightly anterior to middle, asperities short, with about 2 their thickness, becoming wider and confluent towards summit. Pronotal disc shining, faintly reticulate; punctures shallow, small, widely spaced. Sparse erect setae on disc, spaced by about their length.

Elytral disc shining, smooth. Striae not impressed, punctures shallow, with short recumbent setae. Interstriae about 2 width of striae with slightly confused erect setae, their length subequal to interstrial width. All interstriae becoming granulate at the base of the declivity. Declivity occupying 30% of declivital length in lateral view; steep, with face sulcate from the base to the apex. A rounded posterolateral marginal elevation is present on the lower half of the declivity. In the middle of the declivity the area corresponding to interstriae 3 and 4 is elevated (more apparent in lateral view). Margins of interstria 1 raised along suture with a uniseriate row of blunt denticles 2/3 of the distance from the base to the apex. The remainder of the declivital face is covered with confused punctures, setae and granules, these much smaller than those on interstria 1. Setae on upper and lateral areas of declivity with longer, stouter setae.

Male. Unknown.

Type Material. Holotype, female, Brazil: Amapá: São Sebastião do Uatumã, Reserva Biológica do Uatumã , 18–II–2010, 148′17.77″ S, 5915′5.44″ W, 18–II–2010, unbaited flight intercept trap, R.S.L. Abreu, ombrophilous dense forest ( MEFEIS) . Paratypes, females: Brazil: Pará: São Domingos do Araguaia, Guzerá Farm, 531′54.4″ S, 4842′35.0″ W, 26–VI–2012, ethanol-baited FIT, D.B. Guinhazi, Tectona grandis stand planted 2003 ( MEFEIS, 1); Redenção , Arteca Furniture Factory , 82′35.49″ S, 503′23.36″ W, 17-II-2012, ethanol-baited FIT, C.S.S. Ferreira ; Roraima: Cantá , EMBRAPA Campo Experimental Roraima, 414′50″ N, 6039′49″ W, 20–IX–2014, 88 m, FIT with ethanol, E.G.S. Morais ( MEFEIS, 1) ; Mato Grosso: Sinop, Universo Farm , 1134′38″ S, 5523′30″ W, FIT with ethanol, 24–VIII–2014, J.N. Corassa, Amazonian terra firme forest fragment, ( MEFEIS, 1; USNM, 1; UTIC, 1) ; Rondônia: Ouro Preto do Oeste , CEPLAC, 16-yr old secondary-growth forest enriched w/ native tree planting (“capoeira″), 1043′1.85″S, 6213′22.72″W, 21–XI–2011, ethanol-baited FIT, O. Trevisan ( MEFEIS, 1) ; Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad, Arima Valley, Simla , 11–15–III–2000, blacklight trap, R.E. Woodruff ( FSCA, 1) .

Distribution. This is the most widely distributed Neotropical species of Premnophilus ( Fig. 12F ).

Etymology. This species is named for Dr. Sarah Smith in recognition of her outstanding work on the taxonomy of bark and ambrosia beetles.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Premnophilus sarahsmithae Atkinson & Flechtmann, female holotype. A. dorsal habitus; B. lateral habitus; C. frons and antenna; D. declivity. All photographs by T.H. Atkinson.

FIGURE 12. Known localities for Neotropical species of Premnobiina. A. Premnobius cavipennis; B. Premnobius ambitiosus; C. Premnobius perezdelacrucei; D. Premnobius species.; E,F. Premnophilus species. Species are grouped only to avoid overlap of collection localities on maps. No ecological or systematic relationships are implied.