Scolytocis difficillimus Lopes-Andrade, 2008

Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano, 2008, An essay on the tribe Xylographellini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Ciidae), Zootaxa 1832 (1), pp. 1-110 : 20-21

Scolytocis difficillimus Lopes-Andrade sp. nov. ( Figs 36–38 , 57 , 64A , 67A , 71 , 80 )

Etymology

The specific epithet is a reference to the difficulty in recognizing the species, mainly in distinguishing it from Scol. bouchardi sp. nov.

Diagnosis

The species belongs to the bouchardi species-group, so it differs from the other Scolytocis mainly by the triconcave prosternum. It differs from Scol. bouchardi sp. nov., the most closely related species, by the comparatively smaller body (total length less than 1.3 mm) and small eyes (1.0X the basal width of scutellum).

Description

Holotype. ( Figs. 36–38 ) Measurements in mm: TL 1.16; PL 0.42; PW 0.53; EL 0.74; EW 0.53; GD 0.53. Ratios: PL/PW 0.80; EL/EW 1.40; EL/PL 1.75; GD/EW 1.00; TL/EW 2.20. Body dark brown; antennae, mouthparts and legs yellowish brown. Head with shallow, sparse, inconspicuous punctation; interstice between punctures finely microreticulate. Each antenna ( Fig. 64A , paratype) with nine antennomeres (FL 0.078mm; CL 0.150mm; CL/FL 1.94); length of the antennomeres (in mm) as follows: 0.088; 0.040; 0.040; 0.013; 0.013; 0.013; 0.040; 0.038; 0.073. Eyes with greatest width 1.0X the basal width of scutellum. Pronotal punctation coarse, sparse, shallow; punctures separated by a distance of two to four punctures widths; interstice microreticulate; anterolateral margins slightly arched inwards; posterolateral angles broadly rounded; posterior margin without rugose border. Scutellum with some fine, sparse punctures; basal width 0.21X the EW. Elytral punctation confuse at base and subseriate at disc; punctures coarse, shallow, irregular; punctures without conspicuous border; interstice between punctures finely rugose; elytral apex subacute, declivity with weak concavity; cuticular globules very small, inconspicuous; elytral suture weakly margined at apical third. Each hindwing ( Fig. 57 ) with apical area bearing one vague, incomplete pigmented line near the anterior margin. Prosternum triconcave, without longitudinal carina at midline; surface shiny, rugose. Metaventrite bearing small and sparse setae, with interstice finely microreticulate; discrimen one-fifth the length of the metaventrite at midline. Abdominal ventrites bearing small and sparse setae; interstice finely microreticulate. Each metatibiae ( Fig. 67A ) broadly rounded, near 3.5X as long as broad; outer edge with spines (around 20) regularly distributed at apical two thirds and then getting sparser. Male genitalia (in a paratype). ( Fig. 71 ) Apex of tegmen (sclerotized apical two-thirds) subtriangular; median lobe not observed, probably extremely membranous.

Type series

Holotype. (ANIC) Ecuador: /ECUAD: Pichincha Rio Palenque, 47Km.S Sto Domingo JULY 20-30, 1975 / S. & J. Peck Collectors / Rigidoporus sp. / Scolytocis difficillimus Lopes-Andrade HOLOTYPUS [printed on red paper] /. Paratypes. Ecuador: 4 specimens (2 ANIC, 2 LAPC), same data as holotype. All the paratypes with an additional label / Scolytocis difficillimus Lopes-Andrade PARATYPUS [printed on yellow paper]/.

Variation

Measurements in mm (n = 2, including the holotype): TL 1.16–1.26 (1.21 ± 0.07); PL 0.42–0.42 (0.42 ± 0.00); PW 0.53–0.53 (0.53 ± 0.00); EL 0.74–0.84 (0.79 ± 0.07); EW 0.53–0.58 (0.55 ± 0.04); GD 0.53–0.53 (0.53 ± 0.00). Ratios: PL/PW 0.80–0.80 (0.80 ± 0.00); EL/EW 1.40–1.45 (1.43 ± 0.04); EL/PL 1.75–2.00 (1.88 ± 0.18); GD/EW 0.91–1.00 (0.95 ± 0.06); TL/EW 2.18–2.20 (2.19 ± 0.01).

Distribution Known only from the type locality in Ecuador ( Fig. 80 ).

Host fungi Rigidoporus sp. (Meripilaceae) .

Comments

I was a little bit reluctant in describing this species, due to its similarities to Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. However, after a careful comparison of morphological features, I concluded that some specimens from Ecuador, from a single field collection, are quite distinct and cannot be adequately included in any of the new northern Neotropical species of Scolytocis . After delimiting Scol. difficillimus sp. nov., I found out that it was very similar to Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. in the morphology of hindwings, tibiae, and prosternum (“triconcave”), which led me to define a morphological group for both species (the bouchardi species-group).

Figures

FIGURE 80. Distribution map of the continental Northern Neotropical species of Scolytocis Blair, showing the known distributions of Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. (stars), Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (double circles), Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. (fulfilled square), Scol. howdeni sp. nov. (open squares), Scol. indecisus sp. nov. (plus symbols), Scol. lawrencei sp. nov. (fulfilled triangles), Scol. panamensis sp. nov. (open circle).

FIGURES 36–38. Scolytocis difficillimus sp. nov, holotype. 36. Dorsal view. 37. Lateral view. 38. Ventral view.

FIGURES 57–59. Hindwings of Northern Neotropical Scolytocis Blair. 57. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. 58. Scol. howdeni sp. nov. 59. Scol. indecisus sp. nov.

FIGURES 63–65. Antennae of the Northern Neotropical Scolytocis Blair. 63. Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. (A), Scol. cariborum sp. nov. (B), Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (C). 64. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. (A), Scol. howdeni sp. nov. (B), Scol. indecisus sp. nov. (C). 65. Scol. kiskeyensis sp. nov. (A), Scol. lawrencei sp. nov. (B), Scol. panamensis sp. nov. (C). First antennomere not shown in Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (63C, asterisk).

FIGURES 66–68. Metatibiae of the Northern Neotropical Scolytocis Blair. 66. Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. (A), Scol. cariborum sp. nov. (B), Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (C). 67. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. (A), Scol. howdeni sp. nov. (B), Scol. indecisus sp. nov. (C). 68. Scol. kiskeyensis sp. nov. (A), Scol. lawrencei sp. nov. (B), Scol. panamensis sp. nov. (C).

FIGURES 69–71. Male genitalia of Scolytocis Blair showing the Y-shaped ninth segment (ix), basal piece (b.p), tegmen (teg) and penis (pen). 69. Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. 70. Scol. cariborum sp. nov. (ninth segment broken; see asterisks). 71. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov.