Scolytodes frontocarinatus Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, New species and records of Scolytodes (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from South America, Zootaxa 3721 (6), pp. 529-551 : 537

Scolytodes frontocarinatus Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8A658BC1-EEA6-485E-98CB-7D9DF64AC608 ( Figs 19, 22, 25 )

Type material. Holotype, female: “ Peru, Madre de Dios, Los Amigos Biological station, S12º 34'09'' W70º06'0'' ex Cecropia leafstalk, Hulcr & Smith, leg. 26 Apr 2008 ”. Paratypes: same data as holotype (3). Holotype and one paratype are deposited in MUSM – Lima. Other paratypes in USNM (1) and ZMBN (1).

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated far beyond level of metacoxae, protibiae without an additional mesal tooth. Belongs to the S. cecropiavorus group of species, but distinguished from all those species by the lack of erect pronotal setae and the broadly diverged female frontal carinae.

Description female. Length 1.9–2.0 mm, 2.2–2.3 times longer than wide; colour brown. Head. Eyes separated above by 2 times their width. Frons flattened between eyes from upper level of eyes to epistoma, with a pair of low curved carinae diverging from epistoma to midway between level of antennae and upper level of eyes; flat area densely punctured outside carinae in a u -shaped ring, central area shiny, impunctate except about 10 small punctures between carinae. Vestiture consisting of a semi-ring of scant protruding setae with tips curved towards the centre, length of longest setae shorter than scapus, additional tiny setae from punctures between carinae. Antennal club pilose, with a small partial oblique septum but no sutures. Funiculus apparently 5-segmented. Pronotum as long as wide, widest at base, sides curved, broadly rounded in front; surface smooth, reticulate and dull, with shallow punctures spaced by 1–2 times their diameter. Glabrous (0–0–0). Elytra 1.4 times longer than wide, 1.5 times longer than pronotum; sides straight, broadest at posterior three-quarters, relatively narrowly rounded behind; striae not impressed, punctures shallow, spaced by 2 times their diameter; interstriae 3 times wider than striae, punctures moderately confused, two-thirds the size of those in striae; surface smooth, with a weak mosaic pattern of angular cell-shaped lines around each puncture. Interstriae 10 elevated to near apex. Generally glabrous, microscopic setae present in strial and interstrial punctures. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.6–0.7 times the width of a coxa. Mesocoxae separated almost by the width of one procoxa. Protibiae narrow, lateral teeth 1 and 2 of equal size, pointing posterolaterally, with 3–4 small additional spines towards tibial base; mucro short and straight. Meso- and metatibiae with 6–7 lateral socketed teeth on distal half. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum trifid, on metanepisternum bifid.

Male. Not known.

Key. Couplet 18, S. cecropiavorus Wood , but the female frons has short carinae that are curved and widely separated, and much shorter setae.

Etymology. From Latin fronto, meaning ‘forehead’, and carinatus, meaning ‘shaped like a keel’, referring to the pair of diverging carinae in the female frons.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the type locality. It was collected from a Cecropia leaf petiole together with S. solarius .

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 27. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Scolytodes frontocarinatus (19, 22, 25), S. sus (20, 23, 26), S. obovatus (21, 24, 27).