Scolytodes sagittarius Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2013, New species and records of Scolytodes (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from South America, Zootaxa 3721 (6), pp. 529-551 : 548-549

Scolytodes sagittarius Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8604E8D0-179C-4D66-94E7-715DED11B196 ( Figs 49–51 )

Type material. Holotype, sex?: " 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 (3). Holotype and one paratype in QCAZ, one paratype in USNM, one in ZMBN.

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 short, protibiae with an additional mesal socketed tooth, pronotum asperate on anterior half. Very closely related to S. libidus Wood and S. gennaeus Wood , which have pilose elytra, granulated asperities on pronotum, and a median broad carina in the frons, but is distinguished from both these species by the oblique crest on epistoma and the larger frontal punctures, and further from S. libidus by its larger size.

Description, sex? Length 2.3–2.4 mm, 2.1–2.2 times longer than wide; colour black. Head. Eyes separated above by 3.0–3.1 times their width. Frons broadly convex, with a median line increasingly elevated from vertex to epistoma, lower third forms an obtuse carinae; epistoma angular forming an elevated crest from the epistomal lobe to just above the antennal insertion; surface of frons strongly reticulate, dull, except shiny on epistoma; stridulatory file on vertex; carina impunctate, in other places punctures deep, close, especially in slightly impressed area near carina and epistoma, each spaced on average by 0.5–1 times their diameter, more spaced closer to vertex by 1–2 times their diameter. Vestiture inconspicuous, consisting of fine scattered short setae on each side of the median carina. Antennal club pilose, two sutures weakly indicated, strongly procurved; segment 1 subcorneous. Funiculus probably 6-segmented. Pronotum 1.05–1.1 times longer than wide, sides curved, widest at mid-length, weak constriction near front, broadly rounded; surface strongly reticulate, dull, deeply punctured on basal half, each spaced by 0.5–1 times their diameter, replaced by granule-like asperities on anterior half, each asperity with seta at posterior base, appearing subvulcanate, anterior margin with 14–16 low, blunt serrations. Vestiture consisting of very fine, semirecumbent setae evenly distributed, about as long as strial setae; erect bristle-like setae present but difficult to discern from other setae ('4–2–2'). Elytra 1.2–1.3 times longer than wide, 1.2–1.3 times longer than pronotum; sides straight on basal half, broadly rounded behind; striae not impressed, punctures in rows on disc, decreasing in size and completely confused with those of interstriae on declivity, spaced on disc by 1–1.5 times their diameter; interstriae on disc two times wider than striae, punctures half the size of those in striae, in rows on basal third of disc, increasingly confused posteriorly to apex. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated to just before metacoxae. Vestiture consisting of very fine, long strial and interstrial setae, those on interstriae almost twice as long and more erect than those in striae. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.5 times the width of a coxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.9 times the width of a procoxa. Protibiae narrow, teeth 1 and 2 of equal size, pointing posterolaterally, tooth 2 socketed and exposed from surrounding cuticle; five additional tiny lateral spines between tooth 2 and tibial base; a large additional inner socketed tooth present between teeth 1 and 2, about two-thirds the size of major teeth. Mesotibiae armed by 8 lateral socketed teeth on distal two-thirds. Metatibiae with 8–9 lateral socketed teeth on distal half. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum few, simple or bifid; on metanepisternum simple.

Keys. Goes to couplet 112, S. gennaeus Wood , but is slightly stouter, has no shiny spots at margin of pronotal punctures, and surface on declivity is not shagreened.

Etymology. From Latin sagittarius , here used in the adjective form meaning 'armed with arrows'. The name refers to the arrow-shaped feature of the frons, made by a median longitudinal carina and the sharply elevated oblique crest from the epistomal lobe to just above the antennal insertion.

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

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 51. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Scolytodes fulvus (46 – 48) and S. sagittarius (49 – 51).