Scolytodes monticola Jordal 2018, sp. nov.

Scolytodes monticola Jordal, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 724AE2DC-50BA-4E43-A7C1-425F37963923

(Figs 19, 22, 25)

Type material. Holotype, male: Ecuador, Pich./ Napo, Quito-Baeza Pass, 4000m, 00°18’36’’S, 78°11’53’’W, 6.XI.1999 -232b, R. Anderson, elfin forest. Note: HT was broken and glued by the author. HT deposited in FSCA.

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 short; protibiae with tooth 2 socketed and exposed, a large additional mesal tooth present. Closely related to S. setosicauda except smaller in size, declivity not sulcate, and all setae hair-like.

Description male. Length 2.1 mm, 2.4 × longer than wide; colour brown. Head. Eyes entire, separated above by 3.4 × their width. Frons convex, reticulate, densely and deeply punctured, particularly close to epistoma. Antennal club apically and laterally setose, suture 1 and 2 strongly procurved, each marked by few long setae, segment 1 and 2 corneous. Funiculus 6-segmented. Pronotum densely punctured on posterior third, replaced anteriorly by low transverse asperities; anterior margin forming a weak elevated rim of asperities. Vestiture consisting of fine recumbent setae, without longer erect setae (0–0–0). Elytra shiny, slightly rugose, striae not impressed, punctures deep, separated in irregular rows by 1¯2 × their diameter; interstriae approximately 1.5¯2 × wider than striae, punctures slightly smaller and more widely spaced than of those in striae. Vestiture consisting of rows of long, erect, fine interstrial setae and slightly shorter semi-recumbent interstrial setae, which on sutural interstriae on declivity are more densely placed and confused. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.4 × and mesocoxae 0.7 × the width of one procoxa. Protibiae slightly broader towards apex, distal teeth 1 and 2 large, of equal length, tooth 2 with socketed denticle exposed, 4¯5 additional small teeth along the edge towards base; protibial mucro long and curved laterally. Meso- and metatibiae with 7 lateral socketed teeth on distal half. Ventral vestiture. Setae on metasternum and metanepisternum simple.

Female. Not known.

Key (Wood 2007). Same as for S. setosicauda.

Etymology. The name monticola is a Latin noun (masculine and feminine), meaning mountaineer or mountain dwelling, referring to the high altitude elfin forest habitat around 4000 m a.s.l.

Biology and distribution. This species is only known from the type locality in high altitude elfin forest in Ecuador.