Amphiscolytus (Dacryophthorus) capensis (Schedl, 1971)

Yu, Michail, Mandelshtam & Beaver, Roger A., 2003, Amphiscolytus a new genus, and Amphiscolytini a new tribe of Scolytidae (Coleoptera) for Dacryophthorus capensis Schedl, Zootaxa 298, pp. 1-8 : 4-5

Redescription of Amphiscolytus (Dacryophthorus) capensis (Schedl, 1971)

In the original description ( Schedl, 1971b) many important features of the species were omitted or improperly described. Thus we have found it necessary to redescribe the species completely.

Length of the body 2.0– 2.7 mm (damaged holotype approximately 2.0 mm). Frons broadly impressed above the epistomal margin with a small tubercle in the middle of this margin; surface dull, strongly reticulated and unpunctured; vertex faintly shining and minutely punctured.

Pronotum slightly (1.03–1.1) wider than long. Basal angles of pronotum nearly rectangular. Basal and lateral margins of pronotum rounded, without an elevated raised line. Pronotum convex, unarmed, dull, uniformly punctured except for a median raised line free of punctures, the punctures separated by almost their own diameter, the spaces between the punctures densely reticulate. Pronotal vestiture of straight hairs with the apices directed towards the median line, setae near basal margin of pronotum in the form of elongated scales ( Fig. 5 ).

Elytra distinctly wider than the pronotum and 1.45–1.55 times as long as wide, the sides nearly parallel in basal half, the apex rounded. Minute crenulations are present on the basal margin of the elytra and behind this margin. Strial punctures large and round, in regular rows, significantly larger than pronotal punctures ( Fig. 5 ). Interstriae with minute punctures on the basal 2/3 of elytra and with small tubercles in the apical 1/3, each interstrial puncture or tubercle with a long semirecumbent scale, each strial puncture with a short, fine recumbent hair ( Fig. 5 ). Elytral surface finely reticulate, the reticulation much fainter than on pronotum, so that surface is weakly shining.

Protibia with a row of three strong denticles across the posterior surface just basal to the tarsal insertion, and two or three smaller denticles on the lateral margin; posterior surface minutely roughened. Mesotibia with 8–9 socketed denticles on the lateral margin, metatibia with 7–8 denticles.

Sexual dimorphism is shown by the frons, which has long yellowish hairlike vestiture around the frontal impression in the female, while the male has only very short and sparse hairs.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 6 ) small relative to the size of the beetle. Apophyses are thin and the gastral spiculum is strengthened, but not enormously. The tegmen is strongly reduced and does not form even a half­circle around the penis tube. The elaborate internal structures at the basis of the penis tube typical of some Hylesininae (e.g. Hylesinus , Tomicus ) are not present in the aedeagus of Amphiscolytus .

Figures

FIGURES 1 ­ 6. Amphiscolytus capensis (Schedl, 1971): 1 — habitus; 2 — antenna, from outside, and the antennal club from inside; 3 — metatergum; 4 ­ fore leg outline; 5 — vestiture of the pronotum and elytra; 6 — aedeagus, dorsal view. Abbreviations used in 3: is = intersegmental suture, pn = postnotum, sg = scutellar groove, ss = scutoscutellar suture. Scale bar — 0.6 mm (1, 5), 0.2 mm (2, 4), 0.23 mm (3) and 0.13 mm (6).