Lanurgus mattheei Jordal, 2021

Jordal, Bjarte H., 2021, The mainly South African genus Lanurgus revised (Coleoptera, Scolytinae), Zootaxa 5027 (1), pp. 87-106 : 98

Lanurgus mattheei Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:41132139-AE12-4145-9463-181CB7341AA5

( Figs 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 )

Type material. Holotype female: South Africa, West Cape, Knysna, Goudveld , Krisjan-se-Nek , GIS: -33.913, 22.948, 5.xi.2006 #4, ex Ochna arborea, B. Jordal , leg . Allotype male and 10 female paratypes: same data as HT . Holotype and three paratypes in SAMC, three paratype each in ZMUB and NHMW.

Other material (in EtOH): East Cape, Bloukrans, Rugbos Forest Trail [GIS: -33.96, 23.67], B. Jordal, leg., 9.xi.2006 #12, ex Ochna arborea ; Bloukrans, Stinkhoutkloof [GIS: -33.95, 23.63], B. Jordal, leg., 10.xi.2006 #2; West Cape, Knysna, Goudveld, Jubilee creek [GIS: -33.890, 22.964], B. Jordal, leg., 4.xi.2006 #5.

Diagnosis. Female frons from upper level of eyes to epistoma on median two-thirds smooth, impunctate, glabrous, very slightly protuberant. Scutellum with split setae. Short recumbent strial setae in multiple confused rows. Male interstrial setae on declivity about two times as long as setae on elytral disc.

Description, female. Length 1.7–2.0 mm, 2.2–2.4 × as long as wide. Colour dark brown. Frons planoconvex, lightly protuberant, impunctate and glabrous on median two-thirds between epistoma and upper level of eyes, with minute setae elsewhere. Eyes separated above by 2.8–3.0 × their width. Antennal scapus triangular, on its anterior face with dense tuft of setae pointing towards the frons, each setae as long as the height of scapus; funiculus 6- segmented; club setose with two procurved sutures distinctly marked. Pronotum trapezoid, anterior half with sharp asperities which are contiguous on summit and increasingly separated below; posterior half reticulate; vestiture consisting of short bristle-like and longer spatulate setae. Scutellum with bifid setae. Elytra obovate, broadest at posterior third; interstriae with mainly regular rows of mixed short bristle-like and longer spatulate setae, with multiple confused rows on interstriae 9 and 10; strial setae hair-like, recumbent, confused in multiple rows. Legs. Protibiae with 4 or 5 denticles on the apical margin.

Male. Similar to female except frons narrowly transversely impressed above epistoma, more deeply impressed towards lateral margins and marked by lateral carinae, vestiture of short setae above impressed area, less setose in impressed area; antennal scapus short, as long as broad with few setae not longer than scapus; anterior margin of pronotum with six densely set small tubercles

Etymology. Named after Dalene Matthee, a South African writer known for her four Forest Novels, describing life and people living in the forests around the Knysna area. The type locality Krisjan-se-Nek was one of her favourite spots to visit and became a memorial in 2008.

Distribution South Africa. Collected in several sites near Knysna and Bloukrans in eastern part of the West Cape province.

Biology. This species was dissected from 10–40 cm wide trunks and branches of Cape plane (Coldbark), Ochna arborea (Ochnaceae) . Mainly bigamous, but both monogamous and harem polygamous mating systems were observed. After mating with the colonizing male, the female cut transverse tunnels to lay her eggs. Larvae mine along the grain of the wood.

Figures

FIGURES 30–38. Dorsal, lateral and frontal view of Lanurgus mattheei sp. nov. female holotype (30, 33, 36) and male allotype (31, 34, 37), Lanurgus tsitsikammae sp. nov. male holotype (32, 35, 38).