Xyleborinus artelineatus (Beeson)

Rabaglia, Robert J., Beaver, Roger A., Johnson, Andrew J., Schmaedick, Mark A. & Smith, Sarah M., 2020, The bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) of American Samoa, Zootaxa 4808 (1), pp. 171-195 : 182

Xyleborinus artelineatus (Beeson)

Xyleborus artelineatus Beeson, 1929: 239 .

Xyleborinus artelineatus (Beeson) : Beaver 1991: 94.

Xyleborus cinctipennis Schedl, 1980: 186 . syn. nov.

Schedl (1951a) reported this species from Moloata [sic] on Tutuila. Beeson (1929) described it as a new species from Upolu. It occurs in Australia, Fiji and Samoa.

Xyleborus cinctipennis was synonymised with Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) by Wood (1989). X. saxesenii is a Palaearctic species which has been introduced into a number of countries in North and South America, South Africa and Australia. One of us (RAB) has examined the holotypes of Xyleborinus artelineatus (NHML) and Xyleborus cinctipennis (NMW), and compared them with specimens of X. artelineatus collected in Australia, Fiji and Samoa, and with numerous specimens of Xyleborinus saxesenii from Europe, Asia, Australia, New Caledonia, and South Africa. It is clear that Wood was mistaken, and that X. cinctipennis is, in fact, conspecific with X. artelineatus and not X. saxesenii . It is here placed in synonymy with X. artelineatus . Xyleborinus artelineatus can be distinguished from X. saxesenii by the following characters (those of X. artelineatus given first). 1) Elytral declivity distinctly impressed between clearly raised interstriae 3 vs elytral declivity convex or plano-convex, interstriae 3 at most weakly raised, usually not raised; 2) Interstriae 1 without tubercles on face of elytral declivity, a single pair on the upper margin of declivity vs interstriae 1 with a row of 2–4 tubercles on face of declivity in addition to pair on upper margin; 3) interstrial spines on elytral declivity strongly developed, especially on interstriae 3 vs interstrial spines weakly developed; 4) elytral declivity always strongly shining vs elytral declivity usually dull, opaque, occasionally shining. The species are distinct even where both occur at a single locality (Queensland, Australia).

Current survey records: American Samoa: Tutuila Isl.: Aoloau, Auto, Fagaalu, Leone, Malaeimi, Maloata, Masausi, Vatia; Aunu‘u Isl. ; Olosega Isl.: Olosega.