Phloeocurus Wood, 1984

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2021, A phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Micracidini (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) reveals a strong diversifying role for Madagascar, Organisms Diversity & Evolution 21 (1), pp. 245-278 : 271-272

Phloeocurus Wood, 1984

Type species. Hylocurus africanus Schedl, 1957 . Monotypic.

(Figs. 92–95)

Diagnosis. Antennal scapus short, inflated, with a dense tuft of setae; funiculus 6-segmented, club with two weakly procurved sutures at middle and near apex. Frons convex in both sexes. Body elongated, elytral apex mucronate, surface of elytra asperate with short spines or sharp granules on declivity, interstrial setae scale-like, in rows, intermixed with confused smaller setae. Protibiae broad, squared and flattened, with transverse row of denticles at apex; inner mucro much enlarged, curved posteriorly.

Distribution. Ethiopia to South Africa.

Remarks. This monotypic genus is unique among the Afrotropical members of Micracidini by having a broadly flattened, squared protibiae with apical, transversely set denticles, and a mucronate elytral apex similar to Micracis . Molecular data was not available but based on the strict Neotropical-Afrotropical split between genera, irrespective of morphological similarities, it is hypothesised that the similarity to Neotropical micracidines is not reflecting a close evolutionary relationship.