Scolytocis howdeni Lopes-Andrade, 2008

Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano, 2008, An essay on the tribe Xylographellini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Ciidae), Zootaxa 1832 (1), pp. 1-110 : 21-22

Scolytocis howdeni Lopes-Andrade sp. nov. ( Figs 39–41 , 58 , 64B , 67B , 72 , 80 )

Etymology The species is named after Henry F. Howden, who collected six specimens of the type series.

Diagnosis

The species belongs to the danielssoni species-group, and so it is distinguishable from the other Scolytocis species by the biconcave prosternum with a narrow longitudinal carina at midline, the rugose border along the posterior pronotal margin and the comparatively large tibiae. It differs from the other species in the group mainly by the close pronotal punctation, with punctures separated by a distance of one puncture width or less.

Description

Holotype. ( Figs 39–41 ) Measurements in mm: TL 2.00; PL 0.79; PW 0.89; EL 1.21; EW 0.95; GD 0.89. Ratios: PL/PW 0.88; EL/EW 1.28; EL/PL 1.53; GD/EW 0.94; TL/EW 2.11. Body dark brown, head and pronotum slightly darker than elytra; basal antennomeres, mouthparts and tarsi yellowish brown; dorsal and ventral surfaces almost entirely glabrous. Head with dorsum coarsely punctate; punctures irregular, with interstice finely microreticulate. Each antenna ( Fig. 64B , paratype) with nine antennomeres (FL 0.098mm; CL 0.160mm; CL/FL 1.64); length of the antennomeres (in mm) as follows: 0.118; 0.055; 0.053; 0.015; 0.015; 0.015; 0.050; 0.045; 0.065. Eyes with greatest width 1.33X the basal width of scutellum. Pronotum coarsely punctate; punctures irregular, limits distinct, usually separate by a distance of one puncture width or less, but not coalescent; interstice between punctures finely microreticulate; anterolateral margins straight; posterolateral angles broadly rounded; posterior margin with a conspicuous rugose border along it. Scutellum rugose, basal width 0.13X the EW. Elytra with punctation slightly coarser, denser and more irregular than that of pronotum; interstice between punctures smooth; elytral apex truncate, with a small concavity when seen from above; cuticular globules absent. Each hindwing ( Fig. 58 ) with apical area bearing one vague, incomplete pigmented line near the anterior margin. Prosternum biconcave, with a narrow longitudinal carina at midline; surface microreticulate to striated. Metaventrite glabrous, surface microreticulate to striated; discrimen indistinct; either side bearing large obsolescent punctures. Abdominal ventrites glabrous; surface microreticulate. Each metatibia ( Fig. 67B ) near 3.0X as long as broad; outer apical and outer lateral edges forming an obtuse angle that is broadly rounded; outer edge with spines (around 20) regularly distributed and more close to each other at apical third (outer apical edge), then getting sparser. Male genitalia (in a paratype). ( Fig. 72 ) Apex of tegmen (sclerotized apical half) subtriangular, base membranous; median lobe membranous, elongate, near 1.2X longer than tegmen.

Type series

Holotype. (CNCI) Mexico: / 3 mi. N.W. San Cristobal L.C., Chis. Mex. V. 29 1969 H.F. Howden / Scolytocis howdeni Lopes-Andrade HOLOTYPUS [printed on red paper]/. Paratypes. Mexico: 4 specimens (2 CNCI, 2 LAPC), same data as holotype; 1 specimen (ANIC) / 6.4mi. S. Tenango de Doria Hidalgo MEX. July 24, 1969 / S. & J. Peck Collectors / Ganoderma sp. / J. F. Lawrence Lot [printed] 3079 [handwritten]/. All the paratypes with an additional label / Scolytocis howdeni Lopes-Andrade PARATYPUS [printed on yellow paper]/

Variation

Measurements in mm (n = 6, including the holotype): TL 1.84–2.00 (1.92 ± 0.07); PL 0.68–0.79 (0.70 ± 0.04); PW 0.79–0.89 (0.85 ± 0.04); EL 1.16–1.26 (1.20 ± 0.04); EW 0.84–0.95 (0.92 ± 0.04); GD 0.84–0.89 (0.86 ± 0.03). Ratios: PL/PW 0.76–0.88 (0.83 ± 0.04); EL/EW 1.22–1.38 (1.31 ± 0.06); EL/PL 1.53–1.85 (1.72 ± 0.11); GD/EW 0.89–1.00 (0.93 ± 0.04); TL/EW 1.94–2.19 (2.09 ± 0.08).

Distribution Known from Chiapas and Hidalgo, Mexico ( Fig. 80 ).

Host fungi Ganoderma sp. (Ganodermataceae) .

Comments

It resembles Scol. indecisus sp. nov. in the coarse and dense punctation of elytra and pronotum, but is easily distinguished by the features mentioned in the diagnosis.

Figures

FIGURE 80. Distribution map of the continental Northern Neotropical species of Scolytocis Blair, showing the known distributions of Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. (stars), Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (double circles), Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. (fulfilled square), Scol. howdeni sp. nov. (open squares), Scol. indecisus sp. nov. (plus symbols), Scol. lawrencei sp. nov. (fulfilled triangles), Scol. panamensis sp. nov. (open circle).

FIGURES 39–41. Scolytocis howdeni sp. nov. 39. Dorsal view. 40. Lateral view. 41. Ventral view.

FIGURES 57–59. Hindwings of Northern Neotropical Scolytocis Blair. 57. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. 58. Scol. howdeni sp. nov. 59. Scol. indecisus sp. nov.

FIGURES 63–65. Antennae of the Northern Neotropical Scolytocis Blair. 63. Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. (A), Scol. cariborum sp. nov. (B), Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (C). 64. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. (A), Scol. howdeni sp. nov. (B), Scol. indecisus sp. nov. (C). 65. Scol. kiskeyensis sp. nov. (A), Scol. lawrencei sp. nov. (B), Scol. panamensis sp. nov. (C). First antennomere not shown in Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (63C, asterisk).

FIGURES 66–68. Metatibiae of the Northern Neotropical Scolytocis Blair. 66. Scol. bouchardi sp. nov. (A), Scol. cariborum sp. nov. (B), Scol. danielssoni sp. nov. (C). 67. Scol. difficillimus sp. nov. (A), Scol. howdeni sp. nov. (B), Scol. indecisus sp. nov. (C). 68. Scol. kiskeyensis sp. nov. (A), Scol. lawrencei sp. nov. (B), Scol. panamensis sp. nov. (C).

FIGURES 72–73. Male genitalia of Scolytocis Blair showing the Y-shaped ninth segment (ix), tegmen (teg) and penis (pen). 72. Scol. howdeni sp. nov. 73. Scol. indecisus sp. nov. The dashed line indicates the membranous basal portion of tegmen. Note that the apical portion of tegmen is extremely sclerotized.