Saturday, July 27, 2024

[Entomology • 2024] Anisandrus bolavenensis • A New Species of ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) from Laos


Anisandrus bolavenensis 
 Sittichaya & Smith, 2024

 
Abstract
Background: The ambrosia beetle genus Anisandrus Ferrari, 1867, is a member of the bark and ambrosia beetle subfamily Scolytinae, Tribe Xyleborini. Currently, it is comprised of 40 species of which four species were recorded in Laos.

New information: A new species, Anisandrus bolavenensis sp. nov. is described from the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos. With the inclusion of the species described and recorded here, the diversity of Anisandrus is increased to 41 species, of which five occur in Laos. New distribution records, a synoptic list and a key to the Anisandrus of Laos PDR are presented.

Anisandrus bolavenensis sp. nov. holotype female
A dorsal view; B lateral view; C postero-lateral view; D pronotum; E frons; F antenna; G pro- and mesotibiae.

Anisandrus bolavenensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: 
2.4 mm long (n = 1); 1.71× as long as wide. Small and stout species. Pronotal anterior margin slightly angularly projecting, median pair of asperities on anterior margin not prominent; elytral disc broadly convex, strongly shiny, without a saddle-like impression, declivity appears more obliquely sloped as compared to many other Anisandrus species, declivital summit unarmed, declivity flat from interstriae 1–3, declivity unarmed, densely covered with interstrial setae, setae very long, 3–4× as long as interstrial width; striae distinctly impressed; strial punctures shallow, 2× larger than those of disc, striae with fine recumbent, hair-like setae, setae 2–2.5× as long as diameter of punctures, setae pointing inward to declivital medial suture.

This species is similar to A. auco, A. cryphaloides and A. tanaosi. It can be distinguished from ...


Etymology: Bolavenensis, in reference to the collection locality of the holotype, Bolaven Plateau, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Noun in apposition.

Biology: The holotype was collected from a newly fallen (leaves still green) small branch of Symplocos sp. (Symplocaceae).


Wisut Sittichaya and Sarah M. Smith. 2024. Anisandrus bolavenensis sp. nov. (Col.: Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Xyleborini), A New ambrosia Beetle from Laos. Biodiversity Data Journal. 12: e130023. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e130023