Microditica uniseriata Jordal

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2010, Revision of the genus Phloeoditica Schedl - with description of two new genera and two new species in Phloeosinini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), ZooKeys 56, pp. 141-156 : 153-154

Microditica uniseriata Jordal sp. n. Figs 34f5e6b7b, d

Type material.

Holotype: Thailand, Railay Beach - Krabi, 8.014N; 98.840E, 21 Nov. 1999 K. Harkestad, leg. (NHCB). Paratypes: Same locality as holotype (8 specimens, NHCB).

Diagnosis.

Very small body size; frons convex and shining in both sexes; large club with two deep grooves; protibiae with large inner uncus directed laterad; base of elytra with a single row of crenulations between scutellum and interstriae 5; uniseriate rows of interstrial spatulate bristles. DNA sequences in Genbank: COI, GQ470890; EF1a, GQ470891)

Description.

Length 0.85-0.95 mm, 2.0-2.1 times longer than wide. Colour light brown. Head. Frons convex, shiny, sparsely dotted by small shallow punctures separated by 2-4 times their diameter. Vestiture consisting of sparse minute hair-like setae, a few longer setae close to epistoma. Eyes 2.5 times longer (dorso-ventrally) than wide, separated above by 2.4 times their width. Antennal club large, two segments clearly marked by deep grooves, almost articulated; funiculus 5-segmented; scapus about 0.7 times as long as funiculus and club combined. Pronotum 0.95 times as long as wide, broadly rounded anteriorly, constriction on anterior fourth vaguely indicated. Disk smooth, shiny, with small and shallow punctures variably separated by 1-3 times their diameter. Vestiture consisting of scant minute hair-like setae and two median pairs and two anterior pairs of longer setae. Elytra 1.2 times longer than wide, 1.6 times longer than pronotum. Sides subparallel on anterior half, apex rounded. Base of elytra straight, with a single row of raised crenulations between scutellum and interstriae 5. Striae lightly impressed, punctures large, deep, separated by half their diameter. Interstriae smooth, punctures obscure, with a single row of small granules mainly on declivity and associated with the base of setae. Interstriae 10 not elevated, reaching level of metacoxae. Vestiture consisting of interstrial rows of erect spatulate bristles, each separated on average by their length. Sclerolepidia present along entire metepisternal suture, sparse metepisternal scale-like setae. Legs. Procoxae separated by width of 1 coxa; precoxal ridges very short but distinct. Mesocoxae 1.2 times wider than one procoxa; mesocoxal process vertical. Metacoxae broadly separated. Protibiae with two lateral unsocketed teeth, a third tooth just mesal to the second tooth, then gently curved to meet a large and laterally curved inner uncus. Mesotibiae and metatibiae each armed by 4 lateral socketed teeth. Proventriculus simple, apical plate short, about one-quarter of total length, with 3-4 transverse blunt ridges or rugae; femoral teeth weakly developed at base of 4-5 closing teeth. Mastigatory brushes not developed. Aedeagus weakly sclerotised, about 6-7 times longer than wide, apophyses very thin, longer than aedeagal body; tegmen a simple ring. Spiculum gastrale slightly shorter than aedeagus, weakly forked in the caudal end.

Etymology.

The specific epithet uniseriata refers to the uniseriate rows of interstrial bristles.

Comments.

Microditica uniseriata has been collected only from the type locality and was taken from the bark of an unknown dead shrub together with Hypothenemus birmanus (Eichhoff).