Phloeoditica curta (Eggers, 1925)

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 : 143-145

Phloeoditica curta (Eggers, 1925) Figs 1a4a5a6a7a

Kissophagus curtus Eggers 1925: 155

Phloeoditica curtus (Eggers); Schedl 1962: 189

Type material examined.

Lectotype: Burma with the following label data - "Kissophagus curtus n.sp. cotype, Eggers det 1924 / Mus. Pragense, Tenasserim, coll. Helfer / Cotype/ Dauerpräparat nr 2696 Fuehler, coll. Schedl" (NHMW) - current designation. Other material examined: Bangladesh, Khulna, Sunderbaans, Katka, ex Pongamia pinnata , 27 Feb. 1997, L. R. Kirkendall, leg (6 specimens, NHCB); Vietnam, with the following label: "Hoa-Binh (Tonkin) (A. de Cooman). Coll. J. Clermont" (1 specimen, NHMW). The locality in Hoa-Binh is located west of Hanoi in Vietnam, and not the island of Tonkin as incorrectly inferred by Wood and Bright (1992). Tonkin was the old colonial name of Vietnam.

Diagnosis:

Interstriae broad and strongly elevated, with about three irregular rows of rounded scales and one median row of longer bristles separated on average by their length. Apex of metatibiae truncated and slightly excavated, surrounded by 4-5 proximally pointing small spines and a larger inner mucro. It is readily distinguished from Phloeoditica elegans by the rounded scales on the interstriae. DNA sequences in Genbank: COI, GQ470889; EF1a, AF308402.

Description:

Length 2.1-2.5 mm, 1.9-2.1 times longer than wide. Colour dark brown, with yellow setae. Head. Frons slightly convex, transversely impressed above epistoma, a weaker and more narrow impressed area in central area, sometimes with a narrow and shallow median longitudinal groove towards upper level of eyes. Frons finely pubescent, setae coarse and slightly longer in impressed area, a few longer setae along epistomal margin. Eyes three times longer (dorso-ventrally) than wide, separated above by 2.2 times their width. Antennal club large, one oblique suture indicated by weak septum and a second false suture indicated by setae. Funiculus 5-segmented, scapus about three quarter length of funiculus and club combined. Pronotum 0.85 times as long as wide, constricted on anterior fourth, anterior margin and notum smooth, shiny, punctures separated by half their diameter; short bristle-like setae from each puncture. Elytra 1.4-1.5 times longer than wide, 1.9-2.0 times longer than pronotum, sides parallel on anterior two-thirds, apex subacuminate due to elevated interstriae 1 and 3. Base of elytra moderately procurved and elevated by a complete row of crenulations. Striae deeply impressed, punctures large, subquadrate, separated by half the length of a puncture and formed by transverse ridges. Interstriae as wide as striae, strongly elevated, interstriae 2 and 4 less elevated on declivity, punctures obscure, small granules of variable size mainly on declivity. Interstriae 10 not elevated, reaches level of metacoxae. Vestiture consisting of 2-3 irregular interstrial rows of densely placed rounded scales and one central row of longer bristles, each separated on average by their length. Hind wing with weakly pigmented veins, stigmal patch without apical tubercles or setae, six short setae along costal margin of stigma, cluster of five longer and softer costal setae at junction between R and SC-C. Sclerolepidia present along entire margin of metepisternum, small and hair-like; metepisternum with densely placed plumose scales. Legs. Procoxae separated by two-thirds the width of one coxa. Precoxal ridges very short, sharp. Mesocoxae separated by the width of one procoxa, mesocoxal process slightly proclinate. Metacoxae broadly separated. Protibiae armed by a long inner uncus curved towards outer margin and three socketed teeth embedded in cuticle along the outer lateral margin, the lower two close together and of similar size (type) or the inner tooth shorter (Bangladesh series). Mesotibiae armed by 4 lateral, socketed teeth. Metatibiae armed by 2 small lateral socketed teeth close to apex and 4-5 additional small apical spines along the outer and inner apical margin forming a semi-closed corbel-like structure. Proventriculus with apical plate about one-third as long as proventriculus, without median suture, with about 7 transverse and blunt ridges; femoral teeth small, irregularly placed; closing teeth few, long and soft; mastigatory brush rather weakly developed. Aedeagus about 5 times longer than wide, narrowly rounded at apex; apophyses about 2.5 times longer than aedeagal body (not clearly demarcated); a pair of short and narrow terminal plates present at apex; long inflated internal sac reaching half way between the apophyses, lightly sclerotised at apex. Tegmen a closed simple ring. Spiculum gastrale robust and L-shaped, with a tiny knob at posterior angle, about 0.8 as long as aedeagus. Female rectum with loop.

Comments.

The type locality in Tenasserim is most likely in the province Tanintharyi of Myanmar (Burma). A designation of a lectotype is necessary because syntypes are mixed with specimens from different localities. The series examined from Bangladesh differ marginally from the type series collected in Myanmar and Vietnam by the smaller inner tooth at the protibial apex.