Scolytoplatypus hova Schaufuss, 1905

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, Deep phylogenetic divergence between Scolytoplatypus and Remansus, a new genus of Scolytoplatypodini from Madagascar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), ZooKeys 352, pp. 9-33 : 14

Scolytoplatypus hova Schaufuss, 1905 Figs 14-19

Scolytoplatypus hova Schaufuss, 1905: 12.

Diagnosis.

Length 3.5-4.5 mm.

Male.Frons concave, marked at its upper margin by a small protruding tubercle. Pronotum with a short spine in each postero-lateral corner, posterior margin strongly bisinuate. Scutellum narrow, sunken. Posterior half of elytral disk with carinate interstriae and deeply excavated striae; interstriae 2 closer to 3 than to 1 on disk, interstriae 2, 4 and 6 not carinate on declivity; transition from the smooth disk to posterior area with impressed striae angular, appearing hunchbacked, declivity in lateral profile angular.

Female. Similar to male except frons convex, pronotum with one large mycangial pore, posterior third of pronotum laterally constricted, striae not impressed, interstriae 1, 3 and 5 on declivity weakly elevated, declivity in lateral profile rounded, elytral apex transverse and extended between interstriae 1 and 3, with a narrow v-shaped emargination at suture.

Molecular data.

DNA barcodes in Table 1.

Distribution and biology.

New records: Antsiranana Prov, 7 km N Joffreville, 12°20'00"S, 049°15'00"E, MA-01-07-12, 13-16 May 2001, Malaise trap; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre [Petit Lac road], 12°31'13"S, 049°10'45"E, MA-01-01D-03, 29 Jan-11 Feb 2001, Malaise trap; Fianarantsoa Prov, Forêt d’Atsirakambiaty, 7.6 km 285° WNW Itremo, 20°35'36"S, 046°33'48"E, BLF7155, 22-26 Jan 2003, EB09 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood); Fianarantsoa Prov, Ranomafana National Park, JIRAMA water works, 21°14'55"S, 047°27'08"E, MA-02-09D-08, 21-24 Dec 2001, malaise trap [CAS]. Fianarantsoa prov, Ranomafana NP, Vato trail [-21.29, 47.42], alt. 1100m, ex Xylopia branch, 2012: 4x-11, B.Jordal leg; Valo area [-21.31, 47.43], alt. 1100m, ex Albizia branch, 2012: 6x-9, B.Jordal leg. [ZMBN].

The biology and distribution of this species is similar to Scolytoplatypus permirus and these two species frequently occur on the same host plant. Previously reported from the Montagne d’Ambre area in the North, from Moramanga and Perinet (Andasibe in Toamasina) east of Antananarivo, from Infanadiana (Fianarantsoa) in the south-east, and Fort Dauphin in the south ( Schedl 1977). It has been collected from more than ten different host plant genera in eight plant families, adding another two families here ( Fabaceae , Annonaceae ).