A new genus of ambrosia beetle from Melanesia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae Scolytinae: Xyleborini)
Author
Beaver, R. A.
0000-0003-1932-3208
161 / 2 Mu 5, Soi Wat Pranon, T. Donkaew, A. Maerim, Chiangmai 50180, Thailand. rogerbeaver 6 @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 1932 - 3208
rogerbeaver6@gmail.com
Author
Petrov, A. V.
0000-0001-9448-7179
Institute of Forest Science RAS, Sovetskaya st. 21, Uspenskoe, Moscow Region 143030, Russia. hylesinus @ list. ru; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 9448 - 7179
hylesinus@list.ru
Author
Sittichaya, W.
Agricultural Innovation and Management Division, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla,
text
Zootaxa
2021
2021-03-24
4949
1
163
172
journal article
7495
10.11646/zootaxa.4949.1.9
fc6b80f2-eed9-4f48-bdab-6f56ef007bf0
1175-5326
4636084
4A8E4749-DCAB-4A6B-A5D0-0812DE0EDF6E
Melanesicus deformatus
(Browne)
comb. n.
(
Figs 9‒10
)
Xyleborus deformatus
Browne 1974: 70
.
Taxonomy.
The senior author has examined the
holotype
and
paratypes
(
NHML
) and specimens in
RAB
. The species is easily distinguished by the strong, saddle-shaped impression of the elytral disc just before the declivity
.
Distribution
. The species is endemic to
Fiji
, where it occurs only in the higher altitude rain forest (
Roberts 1977
).
FIGURES 9‒10.
Melanesicus deformatus
(Browne)
female. 9. Dorsal view; 10. Lateral view.
Biology.
Roberts (1977)
described the biology of the species, including the gallery system, development, brood sizes, and notes associated species of
Scolytinae
and Platypodinae, as well as nest parasites (
Cyphagogus fijianus
Kleine
) (
Coleoptera
:
Brentidae
). He recorded the species most frequently from
Dysoxylum
spp. (
Meliaceae
), but also from single host trees in three other families (
Roberts 1977
). RAB collected the species only from
Dysoxylum
sp., and it appears to have a strong host preference for this genus. In contrast to
M. partitus
(see below), the adults emerge around dusk, and are strongly attracted to light (
Roberts 1977
).