Amphiscolytus, Yu, Michail, Mandelshtam & Beaver, Roger A., 2003

Yu, Michail, Mandelshtam & Beaver, Roger A., 2003, Amphiscolytus a new genus, and Amphiscolytini a new tribe of Scolytidae (Coleoptera) for Dacryophthorus capensis Schedl, Zootaxa 298, pp. 1-8 : 2-4

Amphiscolytus , gen. nov.

Type species: Amphiscolytus (Dacryophthorus) capensis (Schedl, 1971) .

Etymology. The generic name Amphiscolytus originates from the Greek preposition “amphi” – of mixed origin or nature, and the Latinized Greek word “ Scolytus ” used for the type genus of Scolytidae .

Material. Nineteen currently known specimens of Dacryophthorus capensis were studied. The holotype of Dacryophthorus capensis Schedl, 1971 ( NHMW) (female) is carded and bears the following labels: Cape Prov., Südafrika / Type Dacryophthorus capensis K.E. Schedl (on red paper)/ Holotypus Dacryophthorus capensis Schedl (in Schedl’s handwriting). The specimen from ZLM (male) is carded and bears the following labels: “ RSA: Cape Prov., Bloukrans­Pass, by Vargrivier 33.57 S, 23.38 E, 14­16.X.1994, loc. 19, leg. R. Danielsson.” The specimens from the Transvaal Museum all come from South Africa, and were collected by S. Endrödy­Younga, with one exception collected by him and J. Klimaszewski. S.Afr., T[rans]v[aa]l, Uitsoek, Grootkloof ind[igenous] for[est], 25.15S – 30.33E, intersept [sic] trap, 28d, 28.9.1986 (1 male, 4 females); same except: 6.2.1987 (1 female); E.Transvaal, Berlin F.S., gorge, 25.32S – 30.44E, intersept trap, 31d, 22.9.1986 (3 females); Tvl, Nelshogte, Knuckles rocks for[est], 25.47S – 30.50E, intersept trap, 30d, 25.9.1986 (1 female); same except: 23.10.1986 (2 males); Zululand, Hluhluwe Game Res[erve], 28.05S – 32.04E, intersept trap for., 20.11.1992 (2 males); S. Natal, Weza, impetyene forest, 30.37S – 29.42E, beating in forest, 19.11.1989, Endrödy & Klimaszew[ski] (1 female); Transkei, Port St. Jones, Silaka, 31.33S – 29.30E, beating indig. for., 30.11.1987 (1 male); Transkei, Silaka For. Res., 31.33S – 29.30E, beating mesic forest, 2.12.1988 (1 female).

Two slides prepared from the holotype, the first with an antenna (Dauerpräparat Nr. 2382 Fühler, Coll. Schedl) and the second with a fore tibia (Dauerpräparat Nr. 2389 Vorder Schienen, Coll. Schedl) from NHMW were also examined. A third slide with the second fore tibia of the holotype (Dauerpräparat Nr. 3442, Vorder Schienen, Coll. Schedl) from NHMW was not examined.

Diagnosis. Body of moderate size ( Fig.1 ). Head rather large, without rostrum, easily visible from above. Mandibles simple, without processes. Antennal scape very long, with 5­segmented funicle and large flattened club ( Fig.2 ). Antennal club marked on the outer surface by two strongly procurved sutures indicated by rows of setae and by indistinct grooves. Inner surface of antennal club with three sutures: the basal procurved, the central nearly straight and the apical recurved ( Fig. 2 ). Eyes large, oval, entire, without emargination or constriction.

Pronotum distinctly constricted near anterior margin ( Fig. 1 ). Surface of pronotum uniformly punctured. Scutellum rather large, flat, easily visible from above, flush with elytral surface. Metanotum not fused to postnotum ( Fig. 3 ), scutellar suture running parallel to scutellar groove until about one fifth from its posterior end, then turning quite sharply and running almost parallel to the posterior margin of the metanotum, before turning quite sharply again to meet the posterior margin. Metepisternum divided into upper (covered by elytra) and lower (exposed) halves by a carina running longitudinally from the metepisternal spine, lacking a dorsal groove, with hairlike setae on exposed part.

Anterior margin of elytra straight, not curved, minutely serrate throughout all its length. Apical portion of elytra rather broadly rounded, posterior slope of elytra convex, not excavated. Elytra regularly striate­punctate, interstriae with regular rows of inclined long scales. Mesal surface of elytra at the suture with a simple groove and flange, not a series of nodules and cavities. Costal margin of elytra with a small cavity anteriorly, a flange on the inner surface extending only from the level of the first ventrite posteriorly.

Prothorax without elevated costal ridge from forecoxa to anterior margin of the pronotum. Procoxae narrowly separated, much larger and more strongly protruding than meso­ and meta­coxae. Mesocoxae quite widely separated, metacoxae more narrowly. Metasternum with a median groove in posterior half. First pair of legs with strongly broadened and flattened femora that are twice as wide as the protibia. Second and third pairs of legs with tibia nearly as wide as corresponding femora. Protibia parallel­sided in basal half, slightly tapering apically, with a strongly curved apical process that is absent from meso­ and metatibiae ( Fig. 4 ); denticles present posteriorly and on the lateral margin; meso­ and metatibia gradually widened towards apex, widest in apical fifth, with a series of small, socketed teeth on the lateral margin. All tibiae without a posterior groove for reception of the retracted tarsus. All tarsi 5­segmented with first segment the longest, third segment wide and bilobed, fourth segment very small, between lobes of third segment ( Fig. 4 ).

Abdomen rising slightly to meet apex of elytra, the ventrites without tubercles or processes.

Figures

FIGURES 1 ­ 6. Amphiscolytus capensis (Schedl, 1971): 1 — habitus; 2 — antenna, from outside, and the antennal club from inside; 3 — metatergum; 4 ­ fore leg outline; 5 — vestiture of the pronotum and elytra; 6 — aedeagus, dorsal view. Abbreviations used in 3: is = intersegmental suture, pn = postnotum, sg = scutellar groove, ss = scutoscutellar suture. Scale bar — 0.6 mm (1, 5), 0.2 mm (2, 4), 0.23 mm (3) and 0.13 mm (6).