Pseudoxylechinus setosus (Eggers, 1939) Eggers, 1939

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 : 146-147

Pseudoxylechinus setosus (Eggers, 1939) comb. n. Figs 1c, d4c

Kissophagus setosus Eggers 1939: 3

Phloeoditica setosa (Eggers); Schedl 1962: 188

Type material examined.

Holotype: Burma with the following label data - "N. E. Burma, Kambaiti, 7000ft., 1.5.1934, R. Malaise/ Typus [red paper]/ Kissophagus setosus n. sp. Type Eggers det 1938 / 301 65"(NHRS). Other material examined: 1 specimen with the same data as holotype, status of specimen not specified (NHMW).

Diagnosis.

Distinguished from all genera in Phloeosinini by the strongly concave frons and further from Phloeoditica and Microditica genus nov. by the visible large and dome shaped scutellum, and by the gradually rounded lateral margin of the protibia having socketed teeth. It is distinguished from other Pseudoxylechinus species except Pseudoxylechinus indicus Wood by the strongly concave frons and hair-like ground vestiture, and further from Pseudoxylechinus indicus by the more obtusely rounded lower lateral margin of the impressed frons, by the broader pronotum, and by the broader interstriae.

Description:

Length 2.7 mm, 2.1 times longer than wide. Colour dark brown with yellow setae. Head. Frons deeply concave between eyes from epistoma to upper level of eyes, upper half of impressed area reticulate with minute granules, shi ning below. Vestiture consisting of moderately long coarse setae over impressed area, slightly longer setae along lateral margin, sparse, minute setae above eyes. Eyes three times longer (dorso-ventrally) than wide, separated above by 3 times their width. Antennal club flattened, with one septate suture; funiculus possibly 6-segmented. Pronotum 0.8 times as long as wide, constricted on anterior third, anterior margin and notum lightly rugose, reticulate, punctures shallow, confluent; vestiture consisting of dense hair-like setae interspersed by a smaller number of longer and coarser bristles. Elytra 1.5 times longer than wide, 2.1 times longer than pronotum, sides subparallel on anterior two-thirds, rounded behind. Base of elytra procurved and elevated by a complete row of crenulations. Striae weakly impressed, punctures small, shallow, separated on average by less than their diameter. Interstriae three times wider than striae, weakly elevated, feebly granulated, punctures obscure. Interstria 10 not elevated, short, reaching beginning of metepisternum. Vestiture consisting of 4-5 irregular interstrial rows of hair-like setae (ground vestiture) and one central row of longer bristles each separated on average by their length. Sclerolepidia present along entire margin of metepisternum as small plumose scales; metepisternum with densely placed plumose scales. Legs. Procoxae separated by about half the width of one coxa (covered in glue). Precoxal ridges very short, sharp. Protibiae armed by six socketed teeth along the lateral and apical margin, the uppermost teeth half way and the remaining five close to the apical margin, inner uncus distinctly curved caudally. Mesotibiae armed by 4 lateral, socketed teeth. Metatibiae armed by 3 small lateral socketed teeth close to apex.

Comments.

The holotype has lost both antennae and only a badly preserved microscope slide of the non-type specimen was available, indicating most likely a 6-segmented funicle. However, the similarity in other characters to the species of Pseudoxylechinus Wood and Huang (1986) is striking and the species undoubtedly belongs here. Some authors have noted that Pseudoxylechinus may be a synonym of the recently resurrected genus Longulus Krivolutskaya, but the two genera remained separate in the absence of sufficient type material ( Mandelshtam et al. 2007). Most species of Pseudoxylechinus are nevertheless distinguished from Longulus by having a distinctly impressed lower male frons, particularly so in Pseudoxylechinus indicus and Pseudoxylechinus setosus (see Wood 1986).

The distribution of the genus ranges from Japan in the east, via Yunnan and Tibet to Darjeeling in the west ( Wood 1986). Consequently Pseudoxylechinus setosus fits well within this geographical pattern.