Pseudothysanoes yuccae ( Wood, 1956 )

Atkinson, Thomas H., 2024, New species, new synonymy, taxonomic notes and new records of bark and ambrosia beetles from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae and Scolytinae), Zootaxa 5424 (2), pp. 151-175 : 164

Pseudothysanoes yuccae ( Wood, 1956)

Fig. 2F

Crypocleptes yuccae Wood, 1956: 239

Pseudothysanoes yuccae (Wood) : comb. Wood 1972: 141

Pseudothysanoes yuccavorus Wood, 1971: 23 new synonymy

Wood (1956) described Cryptocleptes yuccae and Pseudothysanoes yuccavorus from dry leaves of Yucca from Puebla and Durango, respectively. I have examined the types of both species and several hundred specimens and have concluded that only one species is present. In Wood’s (1982) key the two species diverge at couplet 31, primarily on the distinctness of visible sutures on the antennal club. So far as I can tell this character is not distinctive for the type series of either putative taxon.

New Records: United States: California *: San Diego Co.: Jacumba , I-8 exit, 32.6386 N, 116.1742 W, 851 m, 11-XI-2015, Yucca schidigera , dry leaves, Atkinson, T.H. ( UAIC, 8; UTIC, 7) ; New Mexico *: Grant Co.: Separ , 32.2029 N, 108.4256 W, 1,364 m, 11-XI-2016, Yucca sp. , dry leaves, Atkinson, T.H. ( UTIC, 7) ; Mexico: Nuevo León *: Hwy 57, 7 mi S. San Roberto Jct. , [24.6965 N, 100.303 W], 1,768 m, 6-VI-1983, Yucca sp. , dry leaves, dead leaves, O’Brien, C.W.; O’Brien, L.B.; Marshall, G.B. ( FSCA, 117) ; San Luís Potosí *: Salinas Hidalgo, 40 km N; [23.1060 N, 101.7920 W], 2,090 m, 14-I-1984, Atkinson, T.H., Yucca filifera , dry leaves ( CEAM, 3)

Biology and Habits: This species breeds in dry leaves of trunk-forming species of Yucca . In addition to hosts newly reported here it has been reported from Y. arizonica , Y. treculeana , and Y. faxoniana (Atkinson & Riley 2013; Atkinson 2019). As the leaves of the host dry out, they persist for years in downwards oriented “skirts” surrounding the main stem. I have collected living beetles in leaves that were probably several years old. Apparently, as long as the leaf remains dry and undegraded, it remains suitable for breeding. I have never seen any indication that living or recently cut leaves that still retain any green color or moisture are suitable. I have looked in leaves of sessile species of Yucca (not forming erect trunk) without success in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Distribution: All known collection sites for this species are from above 800 m in elevation. This suggests that the species is primarily restricted to the Chihuahuan Desert in the U.S. and Mexico and xeric regions in the highlands of Central Mexico. It is also found on elevated slopes and foothills above the Sonoran Desert.

Comments: Some records from western Texas were erroneously reported as Pseudothysanoes frondicolens Wood (Atkinson & Riley 2013) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution maps. Newly reported records are represented by stars, previously reported records by solid circles. (A) Chaetophloeus flourensiae, (B) Chaetophloeus heterodoxus, (C) Chaetophloeus sulcatus, (D) Chramesus mimosa, (E) Phloeotribus scabricollis, (F) Pseudothysanoes yucce.