Scolytodes clusiapraelatus Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, New species and records of Scolytodes (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from South America, Zootaxa 3721 (6), pp. 529-551 : 532-533

Scolytodes clusiapraelatus Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BA7864D3-51CC-48D7-A40E-A339BBE1B3B8 ( Figs 2, 5, 8 )

Type material. Holotype, female: “ Bolivia, La Paz, 6.0 km W. Chulumani, El Paraiso, 2550 m, 16º 23.61' S 67º33.19' W, 20.1.2001, R. Anderson, wet Clusia –bamboo litter, 2001-006A”. Allotype and paratypes (10): same data as holotype (6 females, 4 males). Holotype and allotype in CMN, paratypes in ZMBN (2), USNM (2) and CMN (6).

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated to level of metacoxae, protibiae with an additional mesal tooth. A typical Clusia associated species with double-pitted strial punctures. Very closely related to S. clusiaphilus , but distinguished by the smooth and almost impunctate upper frons and the much simpler setae on the last tergite.

Description female. Length 1.3–1.5 mm, 2.1–2.2 times longer than wide; colour black. Head. Eyes separated above by 3.4–3.6 times their width. Frons convex, epistomal lobe impressed, lower frons slightly swollen; surface smooth and shiny, with few shallow punctures in a horse shoe shaped area from epistoma to just below upper level of eyes. Vestiture consisting of sparse fine short erect setae in punctured area. Antennal club with two obliquely transverse sutures marked by relatively long setae. Funiculus apparently 4-segmented. Pronotum as long as wide, widest at basal third, sides straight on basal third, relatively broadly rounded in front; surface smooth, weakly reticulated, distinct punctures spaced by 2–4 times their diameter. Glabrous, except erect frontal median and posterior bristle-like setae (4–2–2). Elytra 1.3 times longer than wide, 1.4–1.5 times longer than pronotum; sides broadest at mid–length, narrowly rounded behind; stria 1 moderately impressed, other striae not, or just weakly so on declivity and close to scutellum, striae in regular rows of paired punctures, each larger distinct puncture spaced by three times their diameter and associated with one almost contiguous tiny puncture one third the size of a strial puncture. Interstriae 3–4 times wider than striae, smooth, no punctures. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated to level of metacoxae. Vestiture consisting of 16–24 erect bristle-like setae on odd numbered interstriae. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.75 times the width of a coxa. Mesocoxae separated by the width of one procoxa. Protibiae narrow, teeth 1 and 2 of equal size, 2–3 granules or tiny spines along lateral margin towards base; an additional short socketed tooth near tarsal attachment. Meso- and metatibiae with 6 lateral socketed teeth on distal third. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum bifid, on metanepisternum simple.

Description male. Similar to female, except lower frons slightly more inflated, almost glabrous and impunctate; pronotum with very fine anterior asperities; eyes more narrow, separated above by 4.0–4.2 times their width.

Key. To couplet 26, but does not fit further.

Etymology. From Latin praelatus, meaning 'give preference to' and Clusia , with reference to the plant community in which this species was sampled – a likely host plant given the close relationship to species breeding in Clusia .

Biology and distribution. Only known from the high altitude type locality that was dominated by Clusia . Similar species in Central America breed in the same host plant genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Scolytodes uniseriatus (1, 4, 7), S. clusiapraelatus (2, 5, 8), S. clusiaphilus (3, 6, 9).