Pseudomicracis madagascariensis ( Schedl, 1961 )

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 : 331

Pseudomicracis madagascariensis ( Schedl, 1961)

( Figs 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18 )

Micracis madagascariensis Schedl, 1961: 139 , orig. spelling

Pseudomicracis madagascariensis ( Schedl, 1961) , combination by Wood 1984

Type material. Holotype, female: Madagascar, Perinet , 15.xi.1952, Dr K.E. Schedl, leg. [ MNHN] . Allotype, male, and paratypes: same data as HT [ MNHN, NHMW] .

Diagnosis. Length 1.1–1.3 mm; color dark reddish brown to black; eyes separated above by 2.9–3.1 × their width; female frons concave, with a broad projecting tuft of setae along the dorsal margin of impression; scapus with dense tuft of plumose setae longer than the club; elytral disc and declivity lightly rugose (females) to distinctly granulated (males).

Distribution and biology. Madagascar. Previously only known from the type locality where it was dissected from 4–5 cm thick branches of an unknown host plant ( Schedl 1977). Two females per male made longitudinal egg tunnels, presumably in opposite directions.

New records. Madagascar: Sambava distr. , Marojejy National Park, 700 m alt., vittatol baited FIT, 27. Oct. 2019, B. Jordal, leg. [8 specimens, ZMUB] .

Remarks. Specimens from the type series in Andasibe (Perinet; Figs 14, 17 ) are lighter in colour than those reported here from Marojejy ( Figs 15, 18 ). Colour generally darkens just before the stage of flight as this is part of the final maturation process.

Figures

FIGURES 11–19. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Pseudomicracis madagascariensis male allotype (11, 14, 17) and female from Marojejy (12, 15, 18); Pseudomicracis difficilis female (13, 16, 19).