Pseudomicracis dispar ( Schedl, 1961 )

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 : 338

Pseudomicracis dispar ( Schedl, 1961)

( Figs 37, 40, 43 , 46, 49, 52 )

Micracidendron dispar Schedl, 1961: 142 , orig. spelling

Saurotocis dispar ( Schedl, 1961) , combination by Wood (1984)

Pseudomicracis dispar ( Schedl, 1961) , combination by Jordal (2021c)

Type material. Holotype, female: Madagascar, Perinet et Betsatsakry près Perinet, 17 nov. 1952, K.E. Schedl [ MNHN] . Allotype and paratypes: same data as holotype [ MNHN, NHMW] .

Diagnosis. Length 1.7–2.3 mm, 2.2–2.6 × as long as wide.Antennal club twice as long as wide, sutures obscure, basal segment subcorneous, elongated; male declivity impressed, demarcated laterally by 5–6 curled tubercles, 2 or 3 of these much larger than others; interstrial setae short, as long as wide, spatulate to truncated, densely placed and broadly confused; female declivity rounded, interstrial setae in uniseriate rows.

Distribution and biology. Madagascar. Previously known only from Andasibe (Perinet) where it was dissected from Ocotea cymosa branches sitting on a felled tree ( Schedl 1977). Two females joined one male, with each female tunnelling in opposite directions along the grain of the phloem and inner bark. The several new records from Ranomafana were all made together with P. pilosa sp. nov., in small branches of various Lauraceae trees.

New records. Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Centre ValBio [-21.25, 47.42] alt. 950 m, ex Ocotea branch, 30.ix.2012, B. Jordal, leg. (3) ; same data except ex Cryptocarya branch (1); same data as holotype except 3.x.2012 (3) . All specimens in ZMUB.

Remarks. As indicated by the molecular data this species is closely related to P. pilosa sp. nov. The females of the two species are very similar except P. dispar is much larger. Based on male characters, however, particularly on the declivity, and the stout shape of the females, it is expected that P. tomicoides and P. pennata ( Schedl, 1965) are also members of this clade.

Figures

FIGURES 36–44. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Pseudomicracis tomicoides male holotype (36, 39, 43); Pseudomicracis dispar male (37, 40, 43); Pseudomicracis pennata male holotype (38, 41, 44).

FIGURES 45–53. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Pseudomicracis tomicoides female allotype (45, 48, 51); Pseudomicracis dispar female (46, 49, 52); Pseudomicracis pennata female allotype (47, 50, 53).