Scolytodes lapillus 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 : 58

Scolytodes lapillus Jordal and Smith , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA1272A7-3E32-426C-94B6-505D3EA1E84B

( Figs 127, 130, 133 )

Type material. Holotype, female: Ecuador: Orellana Prov, Tiputini biodiversity station, GIS: -0.637°, -76.150°, ex bark on tree branch, 27. July 2012, J. Hulcr, leg. Allotype male: same data as holotype. Paratype: same data as holotype (1 male) . Holotype and allotype deposited in QCAZ , one paratype in MSUC .

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply raised to near apex. Protibiae with a tiny additional mesal spine near tarsal insertion. Pronotum strongly asperate on anterior half. Most closely related to S. rufus Jordal, 2018 and S. retifer Wood, 1983 , but is distinguished from both species by the more impressed striae and the longer and thicker interstrial setae, and further from S. retifer by stronger asperities on pronotum, and further from S. rufus by the longer interstriae 10.

Description, female. Length 2.0 mm, 2.4 × as long as wide; colour light brown, presumably much darker on older specimens. Head. Eyes lightly emarginated, separated above by 2.7–3.1 × their width. Frons flattened from vertex between eyes to epistoma, except lightly elevated and impunctate area on median two-thirds from epistoma to just below upper level of eyes, densely punctured elsewhere; vestiture consisting of a fringe of rather short setae from vertex along the margin of the impressed area to epistoma, pointing orad. Antennal club thick, asymmetrically attached to funiculus, pilose, setae short, a faint V-shaped septum barely visible. Funiculus possibly 6-segmented. Pronotum reticulate, dull, punctures small, shallow, spaced by 1–3 × their diameter, punctures not reaching anterior margin, replaced on anterior half by rough, sharp asperities; anterior part of lateral carinae curved towards upper anterior margin, anterior row of asperities forming a low rim. Vestiture consisting mainly of 8 long, erect setae (4-2- 2). Elytra shiny, smooth; striae regular, 1 and 2, sometimes 3 and 4 lightly impressed, more strongly so on declivity, punctures small, deep, separated by 1–2 × their diameter; interstriae 3–4 × broader than striae, punctures slightly smaller, more widely separated in irregular rows. Interstriae 10 weakly raised to apex. Vestiture consisting of 16–20 long, erect, almost spatulate, setae on posterior part of interstriae 3, 5, 7 and 9. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.3–0.4 × the width of one procoxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.7–0.8 × the width of a procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal teeth 1 similar to 2, with 3 additional transverse rugae towards tibial base; an additional mesal tooth or spine present on posterior face near base of tooth 2; protibial mucro short, thin, weakly curved posteriorly. Meso- and metatibiae with 7 or 6–7 socketed teeth on distal half. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum trifid, on metanepisternum and metasternum mainly simple.

Male. Similar to female except frons convex, transversely impressed just above epistoma, surface strongly reticulate, dull, with deep punctures; vestiture consisting scant, short setae.

Key ( Wood 2007). Depending on the judgement of the additional spine on protibia (possibly not a proper additional tooth), one may arrive at couplet 58b, S. bicolor (Eggers) , but differs by having erect interstrial setae, smaller elytral punctures and larger asperities on the pronotum, and by the different female frons. If one recognizes the spine as an additional tooth, one may reach couplet 93, S. retifer , but differs by stronger asperities on the pronotum, by the less plumose setae in the female frons, and by the impressed striae.

Etymology. The Latin name lapillus is a masculine noun, meaning precious stone (such as a gem or jewel), referring to the large, shiny and lightly elevated central field in the female frons.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the lowland type locality in Ecuador. It was taken from bark of a tree branch .

Figures

FIGURES 127–135. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of the female holotype of Scolytodes lapillus (127, 130, 133), and Scolytodes coronatus (128, 131, 134), and a female specimen of Scolytodes grandis (129, 132, 135).