Scolytodes teres Jordal and Smith, 2020

Jordal, Bjarte H. & Smith, Sarah M., 2020, Scolytodes Ferrari (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) from Ecuador: 40 new species, and a molecular phylogenetic guide to infer species differences, Zootaxa 4813 (1), pp. 1-67 : 30-31

Scolytodes teres Jordal and Smith , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7B21996A-E00A-40DB-9E07-980E4DC6C952

( Figs 46, 49, 52 )

Type material. Holotype, female: Ecuador: Los Ríos, Canton Valencia , Reserva Murucumba, S 00°38.544’ W 79°08.902’, 731m, 16.V.2015, Cognato, Smith, Osborn, Martinez et al., ex Coussapoa log . Allotype: same label as holotype. Paratypes: same data as HT (3). Holotype, allotype in QCAZ , 2 PTs in USNM, 1 in ZMBN.

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 elevated to level of metacoxae. Protibiae with tiny mesal tooth. A shiny species with exactly two erect setae on the elytral disc. It can be further separated from similar species such as S. pilifrons (Schedl, 1962) , S. reticulatus Wood, 1961 , S. obscurus Wood, 1961 and S. ficivorus Wood, 1967 , by the subquadrate pronotum, acuminate elytral apex, and the protruding wreath of long frontal setae in the female.

Description female. Length 1.5–1.6 mm, 2.3–2.5 × as long as wide; mature colour brown. Head. Eyes weakly sinuate, separated above by 2.2–2.3 × their width. Frons flattened, with a small shining and impunctate area on middle third, surrounded by in a circle by dense punctures and short setae, and a an outer semicircular fringe of much longer, protruding setae along margin from upper level of eyes to level of antennal insertion. Antennal club pilose, with two slightly procurved sutures weakly indicated. Funiculus 5-segmented. Pronotum finely reticulated, dull, posterior two-thirds with tiny, shallow punctures spaced by 3–4 × their diameter; anterior third with broad transverse asperities. Glabrous, except small semi-erect setae along the anterior margin (0-0-0). Elytra smooth, shiny; striae regular, not impressed, punctures shallow, small, spaced by 1–2 × their diameter; interstriae 4–5 × wider than striae, punctures slightly smaller and slightly more widely separated, in rows, except denser and confused on declivity; interstriae 10 elevated to level of metacoxae. Glabrous, except minute interstrial setae on declivity. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.4 × the width of one procoxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.8 × the width of a procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal tooth 1 and 2 subequal, lateral edge rounded with 2–3 tiny, transverse rugae towards tibial base; an additional tiny, mesal tooth present near tarsal insertion; protibial mucro thin and short. Mesotibiae with 8 lateral socketed teeth on distal half, metatibiae with 6 teeth on distal one-third. Ventral vestiture. Setae on metanepisternum simple or bifid, mesanepisternum and metasternum simple.

Male. Similar to female except smaller (1.4 mm); frons convex, largely smooth with scant setae, reticulate; eyes more widely separated above (2.5–2.6 × their width).

Key ( Wood 2007). Keys to couplet 89, S. pilifrons , but has only one pair of elytral setae and otherwise differs as outlined in the diagnosis.

Etymology. The Latin name teres is a gender neutral nominative adjective, meaning smooth and polished, referring to the glossy and elegant habitus of the largely glabrous elytra.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the type locality in Ecuador. It was taken from the bole of a Coussapoa tree ( Urticaceae , Cecropieae) together with S. animus , breeding under bark.

Figures

FIGURES 46–54. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of the female holotype of Scolytodes teres (46, 49, 52), Scolytodes animus (47, 50, 53), and Scolytodes pseudoanimus (48, 51, 54).