Remansus sahondrae Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, Deep phylogenetic divergence between Scolytoplatypus and Remansus, a new genus of Scolytoplatypodini from Madagascar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), ZooKeys 352, pp. 9-33 : 20-22

Remansus sahondrae Jordal sp. n. Figs 32-35

Type material.

Holotype, female: "Madagascar: Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Vato trail [-21.29, 47.42] alt. 1100m ex Eugenia branch. 2012: 2x-9, Sahondra Rahanitriniaina" / “ZMBN/ENT-Scol-8” Paratype, female: same data as holotype except museum label “ZMBN/ENT-Scol-9”. The holotype and paratype are deposited in the University Museum of Bergen (ZMBN).

Diagnosis.

Female.Pronotum with mycangium only one-quarter distance from anterior margin, posterior corners rounded, posterior margin straight; scutellum flat at the same level as elytra. It is closely related to Scolytoplatypus mutabilis , but distinguished from that species by the visible striae, larger elytral punctures, the coarse, short setae on the declivity, and by the much smaller body size.

Molecular data.

DNA barcodes in Table 1.

Description.

Female.Length 2.2-2.3 mm, 1.9 –2.0× longer than wide; colour black.

Head. Eyes separated above by 4.6 × their width. Frons broadly flattened from vertex to epistoma, surface strongly reticulated, with large punctures spaced by their diameter, except smooth and impunctate on a triangular area on central lower third, a short median longitudinal keel dividing triangular area. Vestiture consisting of a few scattered fine setae.

Pronotum 0.8 × as long as wide, sides almost straight, barely constricted on posterior third, surface reticulate with minute shallow punctures spaced on average by their diameter; center of median mycangial pore positioned from anterior margin about 0.24 × the pronotal length; pronotal vestiture consisting of sparse fine short setae, with somewhat longer setae on anterior half.

Elytra 1.1 × longer than wide, 1.6 × longer than pronotum; striae not impressed, punctures in irregular rows, spaced within a row on disc by 2 –3× their diameter, closer together towards declivital summit, almost subconfluent; interstrial punctures similar to those in striae, irregularly placed, confused. Interstriae 10 elevated to level of ventrite I. Declivity with small granules, strial punctures 2‒3 × larger than on disk, oblong or asymmetric, subconfluent; vestiture on declivity consisting of stiff, short, curved setae, with a patch of longer setae on each side of suture close to apex; a subapical rim runs from the suture to about interstria 8.

Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.5 × the width of one coxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.6 × the width of one procoxa. Protibiae broad, with one distal laterally curved spine, and many additional small spines or granules on its posterior side.

Ventral vestiture. Metanepisternum with long bifid setae.

Male: unknown.

Etymology.

Named after Sahondra Rahanitriniaina, our helpful Malagasy collegue who collected the type specimens and many other scolytine beetles during our joint field trip to Ranamafana National Park.

Distribution and biology.

Only known from the type locality in the Ranomafana National Park. Two females were taken from a fallen branch of Eugenia ( Myrtaceae ).