Diplotrichus falcatus Jordal, 2021

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2021, An integrated taxonomic revision of Diplotrichus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) supports a Malagasy origin and single colonisation of South Africa, Zootaxa 5047 (2), pp. 101-122 : 112

Diplotrichus falcatus Jordal , sp. nov.

( Figs 26, 28, 31, 32 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:06EB9B73-9A77-4A87-9CE4-8670A2582912

Type material. Holotype female: Madagascar, Sambava , Marojejy Nat. Park, 500m alt. GIS: -14.45, 49.79, ex unknown liana, 24.X.2019. B. Jordal, leg. Allotype male and paratypes: same data as holotype (5). Holotype, allotype and one paratype in ZMUB , two paratypes in NHMW .

Diagnosis. Very elongated, about three times as long as wide; female frons with long projecting tuft of setae, scapus falcate with an inner tuft of setae as long as tuft on frons; strial punctures large, subcontiguous.

Description, female. Length 1.3–1.4 mm, 2.9–3.1 × as long as wide; colour brown. Frons concave, largely covered by a long dorsal tuft of setae projecting and meets with equally long tuft of setae from inner side of each antennal scapus. Eyes separated above by 2.0–2.5 × their width.Antennal scapus angular, falcate, on its inner face with a long tuft of setae; club with two strongly marked angularly procurved sutures. Pronotum asperate on anterior half, asperities separated by their size, a strong recurved rim with small teeth along the anterior margin; vestiture mixed hair- and bristle-like. Elytral interstriae slightly raised, lightly rugose, with erect bristle-like setae separated within regular rows by their length, closer on declivity; strial punctures large, subcontiguous; elytral apex very slightly inflated, posterolateral margin distinctly serrated. Protibiae with one lateral and two apical denticles.

Etymology. A Latin nominative adjective meaning bent or sickle-shaped, referring to the unusual falcate shape of the female scapus.

Distribution and biology. Madagascar. Only known from the type locality in Marojejy where it was dissected from a thin and sticky, dead, hanging liana. Broods of teneral adults and larvae ranged from 16 to 24 (n=3).

Remarks. A unique species defined by the falcate scapus in the female with long tuft of setae on its inner margin.

Figures

FIGURES 25–32. Dorsal, lateral, and front view of Diplotrichus minor female (25, 27, 29) and male (30), and Diplotrichus falcatus sp. nov. female holotype (26, 28, 31) and male allotype (32).