Scolytodes projectus Jordal and Smith, 2020

Jordal, Bjarte H. & Smith, Sarah M., 2020, Scolytodes Ferrari (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) from Ecuador: 40 new species, and a molecular phylogenetic guide to infer species differences, Zootaxa 4813 (1), pp. 1-67 : 22

Scolytodes projectus Jordal and Smith , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:91B4E727-A3F6-44D1-AF09-0C911A36E5DD

( Figs 19, 22, 25 )

Type material. Holotype, female: Ecuador: Napo province, road to Cosanga , 2100m, GIS: -0.594, -77.877, ex Cecropia petiole, #645, 17ii2018, R. Osborn, leg. Allotype: same data as HT. Paratypes: same data as HT (1); Napo province, Cosanga, McClarin’s camp, 2100m, GIS: -0.594, -77.877, ex Cecropia petiole, #646, 17ii2018 (1). Holotype and allotype in QCAZ, 1 paratype in USNM, 1 in MSUC.

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated to near apex, interstriae 9 elevated on posterior half. Protibiae without additional mesal tooth. Distinguished from the closely related S. lugubris Jordal & Smith (described below) and S. speculofrons Jordal, 2018 by the projected setae in the female frons. This species (and the next two) are distinguished from S. chapuisi and related species by the strongly confused interstrial punctures on the elytra.

Description female. Length 2.6–3.0 mm, 2.3–2.4 × as long as wide; colour dark brown. Head. Eyes entire, separated above by 2.8–3.2 × their width. Frons slightly concave between eyes from level of antennal insertion to vertex, smooth, slightly elevated, impunctate area on median third from epistoma to just above level of antennal insertion; surface densely punctured in impressed area. Vestiture consisting of projecting setae along the margin from level of antennal insertion to vertex, those at vertex twice as long as those along the lateral margin. Antennal club pilose, without sutures. Funiculus 6-segmented. Pronotum reticulated, dull, with tiny, shallow punctures spaced by 1–2 × their diameter, reaching anterior margin. Vestiture consisting of 6 erect, very long setae (4-0-2). Elytra smooth, shiny; striae regular, not impressed, punctures small, shallow, spaced by about 2 × their diameter; interstriae 5–6 × wider than striae, punctures nearly as large, strongly confused; interstriae 10 sharply elevated to near apex. Glabrous. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.2–0.3 × the width of one procoxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.8 × the width of a procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal tooth 1 subequal to 2, with 3–4 additional smaller spines laterally towards tibial base; protibial mucro obtuse. Meso- and metatibiae long and narrow, with 6–7 lateral socketed teeth on distal third. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum, metanepisternum and metasternum simple.

Male. Similar to female, except slightly smaller (2.5 mm), frons glabrous except scattered single setae, lightly impressed above epistoma, with a low, faint, longitudinal keel.

Key ( Wood 2007). Keys to couplet 55 and 56, near S. chapuisi , but has strongly confused interstrial punctures, projecting setae in the female frons, and much larger size.

Etymology. The Latin name projectus is a nominative masculine participle of projicio, meaning projecting, referring to the erect, projecting long setae in the female frons.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the high altitude type locality in Ecuador. It was collected from Cecropia petioles .

Figures

FIGURES 19–27. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of the female holotype of Scolytodes projectus (19, 22, 25), Scolytodes lubricus (20, 23, 26), and Scolytodes inordinatus (21, 24, 27).