Pseudomicracis atra Jordal, 2022

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2022, The strongly dimorphic bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Madagascar-an integrated taxonomic revision, Zootaxa 5125 (3), pp. 325-343 : 336-337

Pseudomicracis atra Jordal , sp. nov.

( Figs 30, 32, 35 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:88EE5F59-DB41-46C7-BAE5-933E87F034FF

Type material. Holotype, male: Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Valo [-21.31, 47.43] alt. 1100 m, ex Cryptocarya twig, 6.x.2012, B. Jordal, leg. Paratypes, males (4): same data as holotype. Holotype and two paratypes deposited in ZMUB, two paratypes in NHMW .

Diagnosis. Anterior half of pronotum sharply asperate, in males with distinctly raised teeth along its anterior margin; color black; interstrial setae mainly on declivity, densely placed in uniseriate rows.

Description, male. Length 1.2–1.3 mm, 2.6–2.7 × as long as wide; colour black. Frons convex, with an obscure transverse tubercle just above epistoma, surface strongly reticulate, with scant, short setae. Antennal scapus short and round, with few setae shorter than club; antennal club with two nearly angularly procurved sutures, basal segment less than one-third the length of the club. Pronotum sharply asperate on anterior half, anterior margin with 4–6 distinct teeth; posterior half finely granulate and strongly reticulate, with scant hair-like setae. Elytral interstriae smooth, with spatulate erect setae in rows mainly on declivity; striae obscure, strial setae very fine, recumbent, slightly raised on declivity. Protibiae with one lateral and two apical denticles.

Etymology. The Latin nominative adjective atra , meaning (dull) black, refers to the dark colour of this species.

Distribution and biology. Madagascar. Only known from the type locality, collected from a thin twig of Cryptocarya (Lauraceae) , 1 cm in diameter.

Remarks. Only males were collected which seems unusual for micracidine beetles, but is most likely an incidental event.

Figures

FIGURES 29–35. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Pseudomicracis lauricola female holotype (29, 31, 33), and male allotype (34); Pseudomicracis atra male holotype (30, 32, 35).