Scolytodes grandis (Schedl, 1962)

Jordal, Bjarte H. & Smith, Sarah M., 2020, Scolytodes Ferrari (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) from Ecuador: 40 new species, and a molecular phylogenetic guide to infer species differences, Zootaxa 4813 (1), pp. 1-67 : 60-61

Scolytodes grandis (Schedl, 1962)

( Figs 129, 132, 135 )

Hexacolus grandis Schedl , orig. spelling

Scolytodes glaberrimus Wood, 1972 , syn. nov., replacement name for S. glaber Eggers, 1943 .

Scolytodes glaber Eggers, 1943 , syn. nov. (preoccupied by S. glaber Eichhoff, 1868 )

Material examined. Holotype, male: Bolivia: Cochabamba; holotypus Hexacolus grandis Schedl [ NHMW] . Additional material. Ecuador: Napo province, Cosanga, Yanayacu Station , 2100m, GIS: -00.594, -77.877, Petrov- FIT, #818, 24ii2018, R. Osborn, leg. (2) ; Cosanga, McClarin’s Camp , #854, 4ii2018 (1) ; #682, 20ii2018 (2), #646, 17ii2018, ex Cecropia petiole (1) New material deposited in QCAZ, USNM, ZMBN and MSUC .

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply elevated to near apex. Protibiae without additional mesal tooth. Elytra with few, very fine, setae. Distinguished from the many similar species such as S. piceus and S. chapuisi by the unique glabrous female frons having a pair of contiguous pits near epistoma, and by the 4–6 very short, fine setae on the elytra.

Description female. Length 2.6–3.1 mm, 2.2–2.3 × as long as wide; colour dark brown. Head. Eyes weakly sinuate, separated above by 2.5–2.6 × their width. Frons convex, with a pair of contiguous, round pits just above epistoma. The median area between the smooth epistoma and the pits elevated, forming a slightly triangular tubercle, in some specimens continue as a short keel between pits. Antennal club pilose, without clear sutures. Funiculus 6-segmented. Pronotum reticulate, dull, punctures on posterior three-fourths small, shallow, spaced by 1–3 × their diameter, replaced on anterior fourth by very fine asperities. Vestiture consisting of 6 erect, very long setae (4-0-2). Elytra smooth, shiny; striae regular, not or weakly impressed, punctures small, spaced by 1–2 × their diameter; interstriae 4–5 × wider than striae, punctures slightly smaller, densely placed, strongly confused, more so on posterior half. Vestiture consisting of 4–6 short, erect, fine setae on posterior half of interstriae 3 and 9 (abraded on types).

Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.2 × the width of a coxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.8–0.9 × the width of one procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal tooth 1 longer than 2, with 2–3 additional tiny lateral spines towards tibial base; protibial mucro obtuse. Meso- and metatibiae with 7–9 lateral socketed teeth on distal half. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum, metanepisternum and metasternum simple.

Male. Similar to female, except slightly smaller (2.4–2.8 mm), with paired pits only as light impressions with a single long seta in each. The redescription of the male by Wood (2007) is fairly accurate, but most interstriae have punctures confused on posterior half.

Key ( Wood 2007). This species is not included in the key. Keys to couplet 25 but is not impressed on lower frons (couplet 26), or is S. cecropicolens Wood, 1969 . Differs from all species after couplet 25 by the presence of weak asperities on the pronotum.

Biology and distribution. Previously only known from the type locality in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The four new records from Cosanga in Napo province are new to Ecuador and confirms its occurrence at higher altitudes. Five specimens were taken in a flight intercept trap, and two from a Cecropia petiole .

Comments. Holotypes of S. glaber Eggers and S. grandis are identical with minor difference only in size (2.4 vs 2.8 mm). Both are males from the same locality and share a characteristic pattern of two shallow pits just above epistoma, each with two long setae. Males from two recent collections in Ecuador are identical to the holotypes and the associated female is described for the first time.

Figures

FIGURES 127–135. Dorsal, lateral and frontal views of the female holotype of Scolytodes lapillus (127, 130, 133), and Scolytodes coronatus (128, 131, 134), and a female specimen of Scolytodes grandis (129, 132, 135).