Scolytodes sparsus 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 : 56-58

Scolytodes sparsus Jordal and Smith , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F5CB0FB3-71C5-4D5F-B4DC-6E76AF363B7F

( Figs 120, 123, 126 )

Type material. Holotype, female: Ecuador: Napo province, Cosanga, Yanayacu station , 2100 m, GIS: -0.594, - 77.877, HG-vapor light, #756, 3iii2018, R. Osborn, leg. The holotype is deposited in QCAZ.

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply carinate to near apex. Protibiae without additional mesal tooth, tooth 1 slightly larger than tooth 2. Elytra with large punctures in irregular rows. Related to S. nitidus (Eggers, 1928) , but distinguished by the larger strial punctures placed in less regular rows, and by the female frons having a smaller impressed area with fine setae.

Description, female. Length 2.4 mm, 2.2 × as long as wide; colour dark brown. Head. Eyes slightly sinuate, separated above by c. 2.5–3 × their width (not fully exposed). Frons convex above, impressed on a semi-circular area from epistoma to just above level of antennal insertion; surface with large, deep punctured above, and much denser and smaller punctures in impressed area, except for a longitudinal impunctate field dividing impressed area in two halves; vestiture consisting of short, fine setae in impressed area. Antennal club pilose, sutures obscure. Funiculus possibly 6-segmented. Pronotum reticulate, dull, punctures spaced by 0.5– 1 × their diameter, reaching anterior margin; anterior half with low asperities or soft wrinkles, laterally forming near contiguous lines; lateral carinae anteriorly turned slightly medially before termination. Glabrous (0-0-0). Elytra shiny, surface slightly rugose; striae more or less regular, not impressed, punctures large, deep, separated by 1–1.5 × their diameter; interstriae 3–4 × broader than striae, punctures almost as large as strial punctures, in part confused. Interstriae 10 sharply raised to near apex. Glabrous. Legs. Procoxae and mesocoxae separated by the width of one procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal teeth 1 larger than 2, with 3–4 additional small spines or transverse rugae towards tibial base; protibial mucro short, blunt, curved laterally. Meso- and metatibiae with 8–9 and 7–8 socketed teeth on distal two-thirds and half, respectively. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum plumose, on metanepisternum simple to trifid, on metasternum long, largely bifid or simple.

Male. Not known.

Key ( Wood 2007). Keys to couplet 33, S. ovalis (Eggers, 1940) , but differs by the larger strial and interstrial punctures. More closely related to Scolytodes nitidus which is erroneously placed in couplet 44; females of that species have no setae reaching upper level of eyes.

Etymology. The Latin name sparsus is a masculine participle, meaning spotted or freckled, referring to irregular placement of large punctures on the elytra.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the high-altitude type locality in Ecuador. A single specimen was collected a mercury-light trap .

Figures

FIGURES 118–126. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of the female holotype of Scolytodes arcuatus (118, 121, 124), Scolytodes validus (119, 122, 125), and Scolytodes sparsus (120, 123, 126).