Diuncus papatrae ( Schedl 1972 ) Schedl, 1972

Hulcr, Jiri & Cognato, Anthony I., 2009, Three new genera of oriental Xyleborina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Zootaxa 2204, pp. 19-36 : 34

Diuncus papatrae ( Schedl 1972) comb. n.

Previous genus: Xyleborus

Diagnosis: One of the more common Diuncus in New Guinea. Most representatives have very characteristic coloration, with orange or light brown pronotum and much darker brown elytra. The coloration is often lost in museum specimens. However, individuals from high elevations are entirely black. Distinguishable from other Diuncus spp. primarily by the single prominent recurved spine in each interstria 3 at the declivital summit. Otherwise the elytra are usually entirely smooth, without other tubercles or granules, shining. The posterolateral elevated carina is very conspicuous, elytral declivity is notably broad, appearing angulate from apical view.

Length: 2.1–2.5 mm.

Discussion. Schedl (1972) compared the species to Xyleborus approximatus and suggested several distinguishing characters, among them the single spine on each elytron. Wood & Bright (1992) indicate that a type specimen is housed in ANIC (as CSIRO), however, it appears absent from ANIC. Only a paratype from NHMW was available.

Biology: Ubiquitous parasitic associate of Anisandrus ursa , often also found with Xylosandrus crassiusculus .

Examined material: New Guinea, West New Britain, Pagi R., ( FICB); New Guinea, New Ireland, Rapontamon, (paratype, NHMW); PNG: Chimbu Prov. (1), Madang Prov. (77), Oro Prov. (13), J. Hulcr 2002–2006 ( MSUC, 3).