Microperus alpha (Beeson, 1923)

Smith, Sarah M., Beaver, Roger A. & Cognato, Anthony I., 2020, A monograph of the Xyleborini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) of the Indochinese Peninsula (except Malaysia) and China, ZooKeys 983, pp. 1-442 : 1

Microperus alpha (Beeson, 1923) Fig. 66A, B, I

Xyleborus bicolor Blandford, var. α Sampson, 1923: 289.

Xyleborus alpha Beeson, 1929: 239.

Coptodryas alpha (Beeson): Wood and Bright 1992: 823.

Microperus alpha (Beeson): Hulcr 2010: 111.

Type material.

Holotype (NHMUK).

New records.

China: S Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, 23 km NW Jinghong, vic. Na Ban village (NNNR), 22°10'N, 100°39'E, 700-1000 m, v-vii.2009, L. Meng (RABC, 1); Xishuangbanna tropical botanical garden, 17.vii.2014, C. Bateman, ex unknown wood (UFFE, 1); as previous except: Mengyang, 12.v.1962 (NMNH, 1). India: Arunachal Pradesh, Etalin vicinity, 28°36'56"N, 95°53'21"E, 700 m, 12-25.v.2012, L. Dembický (ZFMK, 2); as previous except: Bhalukpong, 27°00'48"N, 92°39'08"E, 150 m, 1-8.v.2012, L. Dembický (ZFMK, 1). Laos: Kham Mouan, Ban Khoun Ngeun, 18°07'N, 104°29'E, ~ 200 m, 24-29.iv.2001, P. Pacholátko (NHMB, 2). Louangphrabang, Ban Song Cha (5 km W), 20°33-4'N, 102°14'E, 1200 m, 1-16.iv.1999, V. Kubáň (RABC, 1). Oudomxai, Oudomxai, 17 km NE, 20°45'N, 102°09'E, ~ 1100 m, 1-9.v.2002, V. Kubáň (NHMB, 1). Vientiane, Ban Van Eue, 15-31.v.1965, native collector, ex light trap (BPBM, 1). Vietnam: Thua Thien-Hue, Bach Ma N.P., 16.22897, 107.85349, 415 m, 15.ii.2017, VN57, A.I. Cognato, T.A. Hoang, ex 5 cm diameter branch; twig (MSUC, 4).

Diagnosis.

1.7-1.8 mm long (mean = 1.74 mm; n = 5); 2.43-2.83 × as long as wide. This species is distinguished by the elytral disc flat with short, steep declivity; declivital posterolateral margin carinate; declivity with sparse minor denticles, less abundant than strial punctures, and denticles uniform in size.

Similar species.

Microperus recidens .

Distribution.

Bangladesh, China (Guizhou, Yunnan*), India (Arunachal Pradesh*, Assam, West Bengal), Laos*, West Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

Host plants.

Polyphagous ( Maiti and Saha 2004).

Figures

Figure 66. Dorsal, lateral and declivital view of Microperus alpha, 1.7 - 1.8 mm (A, B, I), M. chrysophylli paratype, 2.6 - 2.7 mm (C, D, J), M. corporaali, 2.55 - 2.9 mm (E, F, K), and M. cruralis holotype, 3.0 - 3.1 mm (G, H, L).