Dolurgocleptes malgassicus Schedl

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2009, The Madagascan genus Dolurgocleptes Schedl (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae): description of a new species and transfer to the tribe Polygraphini, Zootaxa 2014, pp. 41-50 : 43-44

Dolurgocleptes malgassicus Schedl

( Figs. 1 D–F, 3B, D, F, 4B, 5C).

Dolurgocleptes malgassicus Schedl, 1965:62 . Wood, 1986:73.

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from the newly described species, D. punctifer , by its shiny pronotum and elytra, impressed lower frons with sparse punctures, 6-segmented funicle, wide protibiae, hair-like interstrial setae and parallel sutural margins of the proventricular apical plate. COI sequence: EU191847 ; EF- 1ɑ sequence: EU191879 .

Redescription. Length: 1.8–2.2 mm, 2.5 times longer than wide. Head: Frons distinctly impressed below upper level of eyes, sparsely punctate, punctures generally spaced by more than three times their diameter, vestiture consisting of sparse, short, hair-like setae mainly along epistomal margin. Eyes completely divided at level of antennal insertion, separated above by 1.9 times their length, upper halves flat to slightly protuberant. Antennal club flat, without sutures; funiculus 6-segmented; scapus about 0.7 times as long as club and funiculus combined, with few setae. Pronotum as long as wide, sides straight, diverging slightly anteriad towards broadest portion at anterior third, slightly constricted at anterior fourth; pronotal disk shiny, variably punctate, punctures generally separated by twice their diameter, covered with sparse, hair-like setae. Elytra 1.6 times longer than wide, 1.7 times longer than pronotum. Sides subparallel and slightly diverging posteriad towards posterior third, narrowly rounded behind, declivity convex. Base of elytra straight, without a fine rim or crenulations; striae not impressed, strial punctures arranged in rows, irregularly separated by about twice their diameter, not much larger and deeper than those of interstriae, interstrial punctures arranged in irregular rows, separated by their diameter; interstria 10 extended to posterior one-sixth; vestiture consisting of a transverse row of long, hair-like setae along basal margin, minute hair-like strial setae, uniseriate rows of interstrial long, hair-like setae becoming broader and spatulate on declivity and interspersed with shorter hair-like setae. Legs. Mesocoxae narrowly separated by width of scapus; metacoxae separated by half-length of one coxa. Protibia broad, on outer lateral edge with two widely separated, socketed teeth on distal third, at inner angle a small mucro pointing posteriad. Mesotibia with five small, socketed teeth on lateral and distal end, metatibia with three larger and two smaller, closely set socketed teeth. Proventriculus with median suture open, its margins parallel and dark. Terminalia. Aedeagus about 3.2 times longer than wide, narrowly rounded at apex and indented by a furrow, distinction between apophyses and aedeagal body weak. Terminal plates absent. Tegmen weakly sclerotised, open dorsally, manubrium weakly indicated. Spiculum gastrale slightly shorter than aedeagus, evenly curved, without a fork.

Material examined. Types. Holotype: " Madagascar, Est det Sambava, Marojejy, Andasy II, alt. 1.550m, V-59, P. Soga" [Institut Scientifique de Madagascar]. Paratype (1): same label as holotype [NHM Vienna]. Other material. Madagascar: Antsiranana, Parc Nacional de Marojejy, 25.7 km 32º NNE Andapa, 10.3 km 314º NW Manantenina, el. 1575m, 21 November 2003, 14º26’42’’S 049º44’30’’E, California Acad. of Sciences, coll: B.L. Fischer, yellow pan trap, montane rainforest, BLF9242 (n=3), BLF9243 (n=2); Antsiranana, Parc Nacional de Marojejy, Antranohofa, 26.6 km 31º NNE Andapa, 10.7 km 318º NW Manantenina, el. 1325m, 18 November 2003, 14º26’36’’S 049º44’36’’E, California Acad. of Sciences, coll: B.L. Fischer, yellow pan trap, montane rainforest, BLF9080 (n=5), BLF9081 (n=1); Antsiranana, Parc Nacional de Marojejy, Antranohofa, BLF 9800 (n=2). 10 specimens in CAS, 2 specimens in BHJ collection, 2 specimens in AJ Cook Arthropod Collection, Michigan State University.

Biology and distribution. The specimens were collected at median altitudes in the north-eastern mountains of Madagascar. The collection of several teneral adults by litter sifting may indicate an association with highly decomposed wood or seeds on the forest floor. Larvae and pupae unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal, frontal and lateral views of Dolurgocleptes punctifer sp. n. (A – C) and D. malgassicus Schedl (D – F).