Premnophilus bertii 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 : 80

Premnophilus bertii Atkinson & Flechtmann , new species

Fig. 6 A–D urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6E1C9795-4092-410A-B870-CC8ECFF7438D

Diagnosis. This species and P. maiai differ from those previously described here in that the declivity is clearly sulcate, with a rounded margin from the declivital apex almost to its base which bears 2 or 3 denticles. There are no granules on the declivital face.

Female. Total length: 1.81 mm, maximum width: 0.66, length of elytra: 0.99 mm, total length / width: 2.74, elytra length / width: 1.50, pronotal length / width: 1.24 (n=1). Color reddish brown.

Frons reticulate, with small, shallow punctures, these widely spaced, some with erect setae slightly longer than the distance between punctures. Punctures becoming granulate near epistoma. A weakly elevated, 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 slightly larger than those on the rest of the anterior slope. Summit slightly anterior to middle, asperities short, with about 3 their thickness, becoming wider and confluent towards summit. Pronotal disc shining; punctures shallow, small, widely spaced. 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 mostly uniseriate erect setae, their length slightly longer than interstrial width. Interstriae becoming weakly granulate near base of declivity. Declivity abrupt, steep occupying 20% 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 declivity from apex to near the base. Declivity narrowly concave in center of declivity between interstria 3, narrowed posteriorly. Strial punctures and interstrial setae present on declivital face. Two small, acute denticles are present on rounded declivital margin, one near base on interstria 2 and a larger one near the middle on interstria 3.

Male. Unknown.

Type Material. Holotype, female, Brazil: Amazonas : São Sebastião do Uatumã, Reserva Biológica do Uatumã, 4–II– 2010, 148′18″ S, 5915′5″ W, 18–II–2010, unbaited flight intercept trap, R.S.L. Abreu, ombrophilous dense forest ( MEFEIS).

Distribution. Known only from the lower Amazon Basin in tropical rain forest ( Fig. 12F ).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Evoneo Berti Filho, retired professor at the Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba campus, São Paulo, Brazil who was the first to do research on Scolytinae in reforested areas in the state of São Paulo.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Premnophilus bertii 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.