Cactopinus woodi Atkinson

H. Atkinson, Thomas, 2010, New species and records of Cactopinus Schwarz with a key to species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), ZooKeys 56, pp. 17-33 : 19

Cactopinus woodi Atkinson sp. n. Figs 1-4

Description.

This species is named in honor of Steve Wood, especially appropriate considering the large number of species in this genus that he described. It is easily recognized by its widely separated, short epistomal horns and by the large, uniform granules associated with all interstrial and strial punctures on the disc to its base and on the declivity, except for striae and interstriae 1 and 2.

Male. Color black. Length 1.4-1.6 mm, width 0.6-0.7 mm, length/width 2.3. Epistomal horns short, length 2 –3× basal diameter, widely separated by distance greater than length; without any associated setae. Frons weakly concave from epistoma to upper level of eyes; concavity without raised margin dorsally or laterally; surface of concavity smooth, impunctate; setae sparse, short, most abundant on periphery of concavity. Antenna subcircular, sutures slightly procurved. Pronotum with asperities concentrated near middle; summit at posterior margin, not strongly pronounced; some asperities on postero-lateral areas; area of greatest concentration of asperities not sharply demarcated laterally. Striae deeply punctured; all punctures associated with rounded granules to base of elytra; granules occupying entire space between adjacent punctures. Interstriae 1.5 × as wide as striae; setae uniseriate, each associated with a rounded granule to base. Granules on striae and interstriae similar in size. Declivity steep, rounded posteriorly, strongly sulcate. Striae 1 and 2 impressed; granules absent; punctures smaller than on disc; granules also absent from associated interstriae. Interstriae 3 narrowly elevated, forming a distinct crest; its granules larger than on disc. All other declivital striae and interstriae similar to those of disc. Lateral elevations highest in middle, projecting beyond apex of elytra in lateral view.

Female. Frons flattened, surface sparsely punctured, setose in central area. Other characters identical to those of males.

Materials examined.

HOLOTYPE (male): "MEXICO: Baja California, Isla San Esteban, 6-V-1985, THA-289, Stenocereus gummosus , T.H. Atkinson // Holotype Cactopinus woodi , T.H. Atkinson 2009". ALLOTYPE (female): same data as holotype. The holotype and allotype are deposited in the U.S. National Museum. PARATYPES: Same data as holotype and allotype (60) distributed as follows: USNM-10; TAMU-16; FSCA-10; CAS-10; CEAM-10; MEXICO: Baja California, Isla San Lorenzo, 6-V-1985, THA-285, Stenocereus gummosus , T.H. Atkinson (TAMU-9); MEXICO: Sonora, Isla Tiburón, 14-V-1985, THA-301, Stenocereus thurberi , T.H. Atkinson (TAMU-2); U.S.: Arizona, Pima Co., 1 mi N Organ Pipe Cactus Natl. Mon., Hwy 85, 13-II-2008, 32.204 N, 112.754 W, Stenocereus thurberi , T.H. Atkinson (TAMU-13).

Notes.

This species has been collected in the dried ribs of its host cacti. As is the case with most other cactus-breeding species, successful breeding occurs in portions of stems that have dried out to a hard, yellowish color, without the black discoloration associated with decay. This situation most commonly occurs in erect, dead stems still attached to the host. In pieces that fall to the ground the upper surface is apparently too hot from direct exposure to the sun and the lower surface seems likely to decay from contact with the soil. Galleries are initiated at the areoles, clumps of spines that are found along the ridges of the ribs.