New species of Scolytodes (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Seven species of Scolytodes (tribe Ctenophorini) are described as new to science: S. coneavus and S. circumsetosus (from Fieus branches, La Selva), S. montanus (Monteverde), S. nudifrons (Las Cruces near San Vito), and S. triangulus (fogging sample, La Selva), all from Costa Rica, and S. ungulatus (Cerro Punta) and S. punetífrons (fromAstronium graveolens, Canal Zone), ooth from Panama. New distributional and host plant data are given for the following species: S. amoenus (Fieus branch, La Selva, and the first record south of Mexico), S. immanis (Cerro de La Muerte), S. impressus (Xylopia branch, Peninsula de Osa), S. ochromae (Ochroma branch, La Selva), S. piceus (fogging sample, La Selva, tbe first low altitude record), and S. swieteniae (fogging sample, La Selva and Braulio Carrillo, the first exact locality data), all from Costa Rica, and S. nanellus (Barr o Colorado Island) from Panama.


The strictly Neotropical genus Scolytodes
Ferrari is one of the most speciose genera of Scolytidae.Including the seven species described herein, there are altogether 189 species hitherto described.However, it is expected that many species still remain unknown to science, particularly in the South American fauna.Hence, a great deal of work remains to approach a complete overview of this genus.In this regard, this account intends to contribute to a prospective revision of the genus.Antennal club small, two obliquely procurved sutures marked by rows of hairlike setae.Funiculus five segmented.
Pronotum 1.10-1.16(1.14) times longer than wide, sides parallel, rather broadly rounded in front; asperities on anterior half forming transversely long costae, row closest to an�rior IIlargin forming an acutely raised, continuous costa reach in g�anterohlteralangles; surface reticulate, with fine, shallow punctures on posterior half, spaced by diameter of a puncture; vestiture consisting of two erect setae close to anterolateral angles.Elytra 1.58-1.61(1.59) times longer than wide, 1.59-1.62(1.60) times longer than pronotum, sides nearly parallel to declivity, rather narr owly rounded behind; striae not impressed, punctures small, shallow, spaced by diameter of a puncture; interstriae two times wider than striae, punctures obscure, half the width of strial punctures, uniseriate, spaced by three times the width of a puncture; interstriae 10 acutely elevated to stemum 3; declivity convex, graduallycurving downwards, strial and lnterstrial punctures obscure.Vestiture consisting of a few erect setae on disc and posterior sides.
Diagnostic features: It is closely related to S. rugicollis (Schedl) and S. paimuceus Wood which also have a costiform anterior row of pronotal asperities.It is distinguished from both species by the smaller size (1.2-1.5 mmvs L6': 1.9 inin) and fllrther from rugicotlis by the lack of a procurved callus in the female frons .and from pannuceus by the smaller, obscurely impressed elytral punctures.From Latin montanus, belonging to a mountain (mountains), referring to the holotype locality in Cordierra Tilarán.

Frons
convex, except broadly, transversely impressed from epistoma to just aboye level of antennal insertion; surface shining; coarse, deep punctures present from vertex to epistoma, punctures slight1y smaller in impressed area; vestiture consisting of sparse, minute, hairlike setae arising from punctures, setae become more abundant in impressed area an d close to epistoma.
Antennal club moderately large, three evident segments marked by two slight1y procurved sutures with rows of long, hairlike setae; basal segments 1 and 2 corneous.FunicuJus six segmented.Pronotum 1.02 times longer than wide, sides subparallel, widest at mid-Iength, narr owly rounded in front; asperities absent, surface reticulate, with coarse, deep punctures spaced by one-third the diameter of a puncture; vestiture consisting of eight erect setae, four close to anterior margin, two mesad from anterolateral angles and one in each basal comer.
Elytra 1.33 times longer than wide, 1.58 times longer than pronotum; sides diverging slightly on basal two-thirds; acuIriinately rounded behind; most striae moderately but distinctly impressed, punctures small, deep, spaced by less than diameter of a puncture; interstriae three times wider than striae, punctures half the width of strial punctures, uniseriate, spaced by five times their diameter; interstriae 10 strongly, acutely elevated to level of metacoxae, continuing as a less elevated line to stemum 5; declivity steep, convex; almost flat on central half, strial and interstriál punctures as on disc, except c1oser, • striae slightly more impressed.Vestiture consisting of interstrial rows of erect bris t les, and much shorter strial and interstrial hairlike setae, • mostly in rows; vestiture most abundant on oeclivity; Protibiae with lateral teeth 1• and 2 subequally sized, five smaller lateral teeth decreasing in size proximally; an additional small tooth present on posterior face c10se to terminal mucro.Intercoxal process of prostemum as wide as procoxa.Metatibiae with six socketed lateral teeth on distal fourth.

Female unknown.
Diagnostic features: This is an unique species of Ctenophorini, with a clearly exposed socketed lateral tooth 20n protibiae, with the basal two-thirds embedded in cutic1e (Fig. 26).Lateral teeth 1 and 2 appear to be unsocketed in all other Ctenophorini speCies, but cuticle hides the socketed tooth embedded in each of them.The neW finding presented here is consistent with the hypothesis that lateral teeth 1 and 2 of protibiae in Ctenophorini, are of socketed origin (Jordal 1998).The very narrow form of ely t ral apex (Fig. 10) is another feature not recognized earlier in this genus or tribe.Despite these aberrancies, this species defi nitely belongs to the Scolytodes.Etymology: From Latin nudi, naked, and frons forehead; referring to the convex, shining, almost glabrous female frons.
Frons convex, shining and glabrous from vertex to just aboye level of antennal insertion, then obliquely impressed on median two-thirds to epistoma, a longitudinal, slightly elevated, obtuse carina present on median one-fifth of impressed area, deep, coarse punctures present along lateral margins of carina, epistoma not elevated; vestiture consisting oí a few hairlike setae arising from punctures and epistoma.
Antennal club on posterior face with two oblique sutures indicated by rows of setae, basal half subcomeous; funiculus five segmented.
Pronotum 1.02-1.04(1.03) times 10nger than wide, sides weakly arcuate, feebly converging on anterior third, broadly rounded in front; surface shining, subreticulate, strongly reticulate on basal one-third, punctures small, shallow, spaced by three times their diameter; vestiture consisting of two erect, long setae near ante r ior margin, one slightly mesad of each lateral margin and one in.eachbasal comer.Elytra 1.66 ti mes longer than wide, 1.80 times longer than pronotum; sides parallel on basal two-thirds, narrowly rounded behind; striae 1 wealcly, others not impressed, punctures fine, shallow, spaced by twice their diameter; interstriae three times wider than striae, shining, punctures not evident; interstriae 10 acutely elevated to level of metacoxae; declivity convex, rather steep, punctures smaller and less impressed than on disco Vestiture consisting of a total of 25 to 30 erect, long setae on odd-numbered interstriae.
Protibiae with lateral teeth 1 and 2 equally sized, other lateral teeth gradually decreasing in size proximally, a small additional tooth present on posterior face, close to lateral tooth 2. Intercoxal process of prosternum 0.70 times as wide as a procoxa.Metatibiae with six lateral socketed teeth on distal third.

Male unknown.
Diagnostic features: Examination of genitalia revealed spermatheca and that tergite 7 was the terminal tergite; hence, the otherwise male-looking individuals• were females.Females of Scolytodes are normallY obviously omamented in the frons, but exceptions in a few species exist (Jordal 1998, this paper).The general outline, the protibiae and elytral omamentation suggest a close relationship to species in the acares group (sensu Jordal 1998); the convex, nearly glabrousfemale frons and the placement of a pair of dorso lateral, erect pronotal setae of this species, however, distinguish it from all other species in the group.The absence of males (aedeageal characters) prevents a fmn conclusion on the relationship, but ilis closer to the acares group than to e. g. S. irazuensis Wood.Etymology: From Latin punct, puncture, and frons, forehead; referring to the densely punctured impressed area of the female frons.
Frons slightly, concavely impressed from upper level of eyes to epistoma, impressed area narrowing from just aboye level of.antennal insertion to epistoma; surface of impressed area densely marked by small, shallow punctures; vestiture consisting of long, golden, subplumose setae along margin of impressed area, tips of longest setae reaching epistomal lobe, impressed area appears minutely pubescent from dorsal aspecto Antennal club small, with two slightly procurved sutures marked by rows of hairlike setae; a transverse septum reaching centre at level of suture 1. Funiculus six segmented.
Protibiae with lateral teeth 1 and 2 subequally sized, other lateral teeth much smaller.Metatibiae with five socketed lateral teeth on distal third.Etymology: From Latin tri, tbree, and angulus, havíng a comer, referring to the triangular shaped tuft of setae in the female frons.
Frons slightly impressed from aboye upper level of eyes to epistoma, lateral margins of impressed area slightly raised, subparallel, slightly diverging towards upper level of eyes; surface of impressed area densely punctured at median two-thirds, minute setae arising from most punctures; vestiture consisting of a triangular tuft of long, golden, subplumose setae, broadly arising at vertex, then gradually converging toward the tip at level of antennal insertion.
Antennal club with two strongly, aeuminatelyprocurved sutures marked by rows of hairlike setae, terminal segment setose.Funieulus six segmented.
Protibiae with a strong lateral tooth 1 extending beyond tooth 2, other lateral teeth obseurely indicated.Intercoxal process of prosternum 0.30-0.40times as wide as a procoxa.Metatibiae with six socketed lateral teeth on distal third.Etymology: From Latin ungula, hoof or claw, referring to the hoof formed pair of calli in the female frons.
Description femate: Length 1 ;(i2 mm, 2.46 times longer than• wide (n= 1). .;�olour black; Frons rather deeply, narrowly impressed from upper level of eyes to epistoma, a pair of shining, hoof-formed calli close to lateral margins on longitudinal central half; surface shining, punctures in impressed area coarse, deep, close; vestiture consisting of scant, hairlike setae along margin of impressed area and on epistoma, minute setae present between calli.
Antennal club with two slightly procurved sutures marked by rows, of hairlike setae.Funiculus five segmented.
Pronotum 1.04 tilIles IOllger than wide, sides subparallel, wealdy.arcuate, widest at mid-Iength, rather broadly rounded in front; asperities obscurely present on anterior fourth; surface reticulate, with moderately coarse, deep punctures spaced by twice their diameter, slightly shallower punctures reaching anterior margin; vestiture consisting of six erect setae, four along anterior margin and one in each basal comer, minute, obscure setae arise from punctures.
Elytra 1.63 times longer than wide, 1.84 times longer than pronotum; sides straight and parallel on basal two-thirds, narrowly rounded behind; striae not impressed, pairs of 10ngitudinally, sUDc()nfluerit, smallpüiictures, shallow but sharply defined, pairs of punctures spaced by length of a pair; interstriae four times wider than striae, shining, punctures as in striae but single, uniseriate, spaced by four times their diameter; interstriae 10 acutely elevated to level of metacoxae; declivity moderately steep, convex, punctures as on disco Vestiture consisting of rows of erect, long setae on interstriae 3 and 7, setae spaced within rows by liule more than length of setae; minute, obscure, hairlike setae in strial and interstrial rows.
Protibiae with lateral teeth 1 and 2 equally sized, four smaller lateral teeth decreasing in si� proximally; an additional small tooth present on posterior face slightly mesad of a tine between lateral teeth 1 and 2. Intercoxal process of prostemum 0.25 times as wide.as procoxa.Metatibiae with six socketed lateral teeth on distal fourth.

Male unknown.
Diagnostic features: This species is closely related to S. irazuensis, from which it is distinguished by the narrowly and les s impressed female frons, and the lack of erect setae on interstriae 1 and 5.     (Blackman 1943, Wood 1982).The records of specimens six and seven presented here, suggest that the distribution might be confined to the Atlantic slope and lowland of Costa Rica.8. Scolytodes unipunctatus (Blandford): Kirkendall and Wood (in press) recorded this species for the first time since the Guatemalan type series by Blandford (1897) were collected, and was then the first record for Costa Rica (San José: Zurqui de moravia, 1300 m).Additional specimens were coBected from the same locality by Kirkendall (pers.comm.) in 1997, from Cecropia trunks.This is the 29th species of Scolytodes collected from this host planto Figs 1-10.Outline sketches of Seo/y/odes spp.; left, lateral view; right, dorsal view.Scale línes indicate 1 mm.1-2, S. punctifrons; 3-4, S. concavus; 5-6, S. ungulatus; 7-8, S. circumsetosus; 9-10, S. montanus.
with fine, shallow punctures on posterior half, spaced by twice diameter of a puncture, slightly smaller punctures present on posterior side of asperities reaching anterior margin; vestiture consisting of two to four long erect setae near anterior margin, two lateral setae slightly displaced mesad and one seta in each basal comer.Elytra l.20-1.36(1.28) times longer than wide, 1.48-1.62(1.52) longer than pronotum; sides almost straight and parallel on basal two-thirds, rather narrowly rounded behind; striae not impressed, punctures small, shallow, spaced by less than diameter of a puncture; interstriae two times wider than striae, punctures two-third width of strial punctures, mostly uniseriate; interstriae 10 acutely elevated to sternum 3; declivity rather steep, convex; strial and interstrial punctures as on disco Vestíture consisting of interstrial rows of spatulate bristles, mostly on declivity, bristles as long as distance between rows, slightly closer to one another within a row; minute hairlike setae in rows on striae and interstriae.Protibiae with lateral teeth 1 and 2 subequally sized, other teeth much smaller.Intercoxal process of prostemum 0.60-0.67(0.64) times as wide as procoxa.Metatibiae with five socketed lateral teeth on distal third.Description male: (n=5) similar to female except frons convex, with a weak transverse impression just aboye epistoma, surface reticulate, dull, a few shallow punctures obscurely present, frontal vestiture confined to sparse short hairlike setae on lower frons and epistoma.Diagnostic fcatures: The combinations of characters: pronotal asperities on anterior half along with pronotal punctures reaching anterior margín and protibiae without an additional tooth on posterior face along with an interstriae 10 acutely raised to sternum 3, and further, a very unique female frons, results in a very uncertain classification of this species.It is probably not closely allied to any known species.Scolytodes circumsetosus n. sp.(Figs 7, 8, 13, 24,2 9, 30) Holotype female: COSTA RICA, Heredia province: La Selva biol.sta., Puerto Viejo, 50 m, 14 Sept. 1994 (K. H. Thunes), ex.Ficus branch [INBio].Allotype male: same data as holotype.Paratypes: same data as holotype, 299, 4 d'd' [INBio}, 19, Id' [SLWC).EtymoJogy: From Latin circum, around, and Latin setosus, hairy, referring to the circ1e of setae in the female frons.Description female: Length 1.39-1.45mm (n=4), 2.47-2.53(2.50) times longer than wide.Colour yellow.Frons slightly flattened on a circular area occupying median three-fourths, surface of flattened area densely, coarsely punctured, except in a longitudinal, slightly elevated, median fifth area; vestiture made up by a circle of protruding, subplumose setae arising from circular margin of flattened area, a few hairlike setae close to epistoma.

DISTRIBUTION
AND HOSr PLANT Due to the paucity of knowledge about most species' biology and distribution, sorne new records on host tree and distribution are given below.
Wood (1982)es immanisWood (Fig. 17): Costa Rica, San José: Hwy.#2 at Cerro de la Muerte, 3200 m, 13 Apr.1985(H.Goulet -L.Masner) 19 [CNCI].This is the third specímen collected, from the same mountain area as the two types were collected(Wood 1982), confirming the Costa Rican high altitude distribution of this species.3.Scolytodes impressusWood: Costa Rica, Puntarenas: Boscosa, 6 km SW Rincon, Peno Osa, 100 m, 23 Apr.1994 (L.Kirkendall and D. Quintero), ex: under bark of Xylopia sp. 13 a9 [MIUCR].This second record is the first known host tree record (fam.Annonaceae) of this species and the first record from western Costa Rica.The type series was collected from the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica.It should be noted that females of this species are morphologically similar to males and have a convex, almost glabrous frons.The type series byWood (1982)includes females as well as males, the latter was the only sex described.Sexes can only be distinguished by the terminal tergites or genitalia as in the close relative S. pacificus Jordal (see Jordal 1998).