Scolytoplatypus rugosus Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, Deep phylogenetic divergence between Scolytoplatypus and Remansus, a new genus of Scolytoplatypodini from Madagascar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), ZooKeys 352, pp. 9-33 : 15-18

Scolytoplatypus rugosus Jordal sp. n. Figs 20-25

Type material.

Holotype, male: "Madagascar: Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Centre ValBio [-21.25, 47.42], alt. 950m, ex Harungana madagascariensis , 2012: 29ix-13, B. Jordal" / “ZMBN/ENT-Scol-2” Allotype, female: same label as holotype. Paratypes: Madagascar: Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Vato trail [-21.29, 47.42] alt. 1100m ex Ocotea branch. 2012: 3x-2, B.Jordal leg, 2♀♀; same data but collecting code 5x-7, 1♂, 1♀. Madagascar: Morondava distr, Miandrivazo 246km W Antsirabe, D. Hauck lgt, 5.i.2002, 1♂. The holotype and five paratypes ("ZMBN/ENT-Scol-3 - ZMBN/ENT-Scol-7") are deposited in the University Museum of Bergen (ZMBN), one paratype in Miloš Knížek collection, Prague.

Diagnosis.

Male.Protibiae strongly curved and asymmetrical, scutellum narrowly triangular and sunken between elytra, pronotum with a lateral spine in each posterior corner.

Female. With mycangial pore on pronotum; declivity identical to male; frons and protibiae typical dimorphic as for the genus.

This species is closely related to Scolytoplatypus fasciatus in south-eastern parts of Africa, but differs from that speciesby the lack of interstrial granules on declivity, by the more deeply impressed male frons, and by the uniform dark mature body colour. It differs further from all other African and Malagasy species by the transverse crest along the upper margin of the male frons. It is readily distinguished from males of the closely related Malagasy species Scolytoplatypus hova and Scolytoplatypus permirus by the much less impressed striae on posterior third of the elytral disk. From the African species Scolytoplatypus opacicollis Eggers, Scolytoplatypus obtectus Schedl and Scolytoplatypus fasciatus , it is distinguished by the extended flange of the female elytral apex, and the stouter body plan (1.7-1.8 versus 2.0-2.1 times longer than wide).

Molecular data.

DNA barcodes in Table 1.

Description.

Male.Length 2.3-2.7 mm, 1.7 –1.8× longer than wide; colour dark reddish brown to black.

Head. Eyes separated above by 4.2 × their width. Frons concave from vertex to epistoma between inner eye margins, marked above by a distinct transverse crest at median third; impressed area weakly reticulated, with small shallow punctures separated by 1 –2× their diameter, except smooth and shiny on a median triangular area on lower third. Vestiture consisting of short fine setae along the upper rim of concave area, and minute setae in punctures in concave area.

Pronotum 0.75 × as long as wide, sides subparallel, surface finely reticulated with shallow punctures spaced by 1 –2× their diameter; pronotal vestiture consisting of fine short setae arising from punctures, a few longer setae scattered close to anterior margin.

Elytra 1.0 –1.1× longer than wide, 1.5 –1.6× longer than pronotum; sides almost straight, broadly rounded behind, with an extended apical flange between suture and interstriae 5; striae impressed only on declivity, strial and interstrial punctures on disk confused, spaced by 1 –1.5× their diameter; interstriae on declivity slightly raised, shrivelled, punctures asymmetric and confluent, surface strongly reticulate, mesh-like. Interstriae 10 weakly elevated to level of ventrite I. Vestiture consisting of minute setae in punctures only slightly longer than diameter of a puncture.

Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.6 × the width of one coxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.7 × the width of one procoxae. Protibiae strongly asymmetrical, with one large laterally curved distal spine, one medium lateral spine and some 6-7 additional lateral small spiny granules.

Ventral vestiture. Metanepisternum with short, bifid setae.

Female. Similar to male in most respect, including the declivity, but differ by the convex frons and more widely separated eyes (4.5 × their width), pronotum laterally constricted on posterior third, with mycangial pore on anterior third (0.35), by the broad protibiae with spines and granules on its posterior face, and by the broader prosternum being 0.8 as wide as one procoxa.

Etymology.

The Latin masculine adjective rugosus means ‘wrinkled’ or ‘shrivelled’, referring to the surface of declivity with wrinkled interstriae, confluent asymmetrical punctures and strongly reticulate cuticle.

Distribution and biology.

Only known from the southern range of the Ranomafana National Park. The collections from Harungana ( Hypericaceae ) and Ocotea ( Lauraceae ) indicate a broad host plant range typical for the genus. Branches between 2-5 cm in diameter were colonized, where male and female joined in monogamous pairs, with the male guarding the entrance when the female excavated the egg tunnels.