Scolytodes inusitatus Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, New species and records of Scolytodes (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from South America, Zootaxa 3721 (6), pp. 529-551 : 540-541

Scolytodes inusitatus Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DF21422C-5E7F-4B59-B595-8C7CFCD3955D ( Figs 28, 31, 34 )

Type material. Holotype: " Ecuador: Pichincha Prov. El Pahuma Orchid Reserve, S00º01.497’ W78º37.942’, 1900–2200 m, 28V–2.VI.2011, S.M. Smith". Paratypes: same label as holotype (6). Holotype and two paratypes in QCAZ, two paratypes in USNM, two in ZMBN.

Diagnosis. Pronotum smooth with large punctures; interstriae 10 elevated to level of ventrite I; protibiae without an additional socketed mesal tooth. A unique species recognised by the characteristic narrowly rounded anterior and posterior ends of the body, and by the long declivity running from base of elytra to apex in one gentle curve.

Description, male and female. Length 1.4–1.7 mm, 2.1–2.2 times longer than wide; colour brown. Head. Eyes separated above by 1.8–1.9 times their width. Frons broadly convex, lightly impressed below level of antennal insertion, more strongly impressed on epistoma and epistomal lobe; surface finely reticulate, subshining, punctured from vertex to epistoma, each spaced by 1–2 times their diameter, near contiguous near eye margin. Vestiture of scant fine setae near antennal insertion, inner eye margins and vertex, almost glabrous in centre towards epistomal lobe, except a pair of erect setae on epistoma. Antennal club pilose, sutures very weakly indicated, procurved. Funiculus 6-segmented. Pronotum 1.05 times longer than wide, widest at base, sides incurved from base to anterior half, narrowly rounded in front; surface smooth, shiny, with deep large punctures from base to anterior margin spaced by their diameter, punctures closer near anterior margin. Vestiture consisting of scattered very fine recumbent setae, two erect setae along anterior margin (2–0–0). Elytra 1.3–1.4 times longer than wide, 1.5–1.6 times longer than pronotum; sides gently curved on basal half, broadest at anterior third, narrowly (almost acuminately) rounded behind; striae not or very weakly impressed, punctures in rows, large, deep, appears somewhat elongate due to insertion of setae at anterior edge of puncture, their bottom greyish white, each spaced by 0.5–1.0 times their diameter; interstriae as wide as striae close to base and apex, about twice as wide at mid-length, punctures tiny, less than one-third the size of strial punctures, in rows, irregularly spaced. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated to level of ventrite I. Vestiture consisting of fine recumbent strial and interstrial setae, on disc as long as the distance between setae in a row, on declivity longer, as long as the width of interstriae, 3–4 erect setae of variable length and thickness present on odd-numbered interstriae. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.7 times the width of a coxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.85 times the width of a procoxa. Protibiae narrow, teeth 1 and 2 of equal size pointed posteriorly, 3–4 tiny granules along lateral edge towards base; mucro obtuse. Mesotibiae armed by 3–4 lateral socketed teeth on distal third and 1–2 smaller socketed distal teeth. Metatibiae armed by 4 lateral socketed teeth on distal third. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mes- and metanepisternum long, bifid.

Key. Couplet 26, but poor match through the next couplets because of the many unique features of this species.

Etymology. From Latin inusitatus , meaning ‘unusual’, referring to the unique habitus expressed by an acuminate elytra and narrowly rounded pronotum, and the uncommon pattern of setae and strial punctures.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the high altitude type locality in Ecuador. It was collected by small window traps

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 36. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Scolytodes inusitatus (28, 31, 34), S. grossepunctatus (29, 32, 35), S. conpunctus (30, 33, 36).