The strongly dimorphic bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Madagascar-an integrated taxonomic revision
Author
Jordal, Bjarte H.
text
Zootaxa
2022
2022-04-11
5125
3
325
343
journal article
56069
10.11646/zootaxa.5125.3.5
da274829-479f-4ea1-8f2e-1e598de786b8
1175-5326
6443876
4645A035-17E6-488C-8F10-DA66E146487D
Pseudomicracis pilosa
Jordal
,
sp. nov.
(
Figs 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28
)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:
EFAC357A-ADC9-4412-9F02-6094C6144517
Type material.
Holotype
, female:
Madagascar
,
Fianarantsoa
,
Ranomafana
,
Centre ValBio
[-21.25, 47.42] alt.
950 m
, ex
Ocotea
branch,
30.ix.2012
,
B. Jordal
, leg.
Paratypes
: same data as holotype (2)
;
same data as holotype except ex
Cryptocarya
branch (3)
;
same data as holotype except
3.x.2012
(
allotype
male and
3 paratypes
)
.
Holotype
,
allotype
and
four paratypes
deposited in
ZMUB
,
four paratypes
in
NHMW
.
Diagnosis.
Basal segment of antennal club about one-quarter the length of club; strial setae white, comparatively broad, about one-third as wide as interstrial setae, in part confused within rows; pronotal setae similar to strial setae, densely placed.
Description, female. Length
1.2–1.6 mm
, 2.7–3.0 × as long as wide; colour brown to very dark brown.
Frons
flattened, shiny, impunctate, vestiture consisting of very short, fine setae mainly along the lateral and upper part of frons, Antennal scapus broadly triangular, nearly spike-like dorsally, with broad tuft of setae slightly longer than length of club; antennal club with two procurved sutures, basal segment short, about one-quarter the length of club. Eyes large, separated above by 1.3–1.7 × their width.
Pronotum
asperate on anterior half, vestiture of white coarse setae.
Elytral
interstriae smooth, with uniseriate rows of narrowly spatulate or bristle-like setae, strial punctures small, setae white, comparatively broad, in part confused.
Protibiae
with one lateral and two apical denticles along outer margin.
FIGURES 11–19.
Dorsal, lateral and front view of
Pseudomicracis madagascariensis
male allotype (11, 14, 17) and female from Marojejy (12, 15, 18);
Pseudomicracis difficilis
female (13, 16, 19).
FIGURES 20–28.
Dorsal, lateral and front view of
Pseudomicracis vitrioculata
male holotype (20, 23, 26);
Pseudomicracis pilosa
male allotype (21, 24, 27), and female holotype (22, 25, 28).
Male
similar to female except scapus rounded with few setae, anterior margin of pronotum with 4–6 raised teeth, interstrial setae almost as broad as long, truncated.
Etymology.
The Latin feminine nominative adjective
pilosa
, meaning hairy, refers to the densely set rows of setae from elytral base to apex, the relatively thick and visible strial setae, and the dense setae of the pronotum.
Distribution and biology.
Madagascar
. Only known from three nearby locations in Ranomafana. It was collected from thin branches of
Ocotea
and
Cryptocarya
(both in
Lauraceae
). Each male was joined by exactly
two females
(n=5), where females made longitudinal egg tunnels in the bark (not the phloem).
Remarks.
This species appears to be much more setose than most other species in the genus, except those in the
Saurotocis
group. It shares with
P. vitrioculata
the relatively large eyes but is distinguished from that species particularly by the short basal segment of the antennal club, and its generally setose appearance.