Biodiversity Data Journal :
Taxonomy & Inventories
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Corresponding author: Wisut Sittichaya (wisut.s@psu.ac.th)
Academic editor: Li Ren
Received: 19 Jun 2024 | Accepted: 12 Jul 2024 | Published: 18 Jul 2024
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Sittichaya W, Smith SM (2024) Anisandrus bolavenensis sp. nov. (Col.: Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Xyleborini), a new ambrosia beetle from Laos. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e130023. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e130023
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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.
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.
The ambrosia beetle genus Anisandrus Ferrari, 1867, is one of the more diverse members of the tribe Xyleborini in Asia and is currently comprised of 40 species of which 33 are distributed in Indochinese Peninsula and China (
Specimens were extracted from a small branch of Symplocos sp. (Symplocaceae) from the Bolaven Plateau, Champasak Province, Laos. The new species was then compared with types specimens or photos of Anisandrus type specimens (in MSUC, NMNH, NHMUK, NHMW, WSTC) photographed by the authors. Type material of the great majority, over 90%, of described Anisandrus have been examined by at least one of the authors. Photographs of type specimens of almost all the remaining described species were also examined by at least one author. Photographs were processed as described in
Abbreviations used for entomological collections
Female. (Fig.
Male. Unknown.
Anisandrus auco Smith, Beaver & Cognato, 2020, A. cryphaloides Smith, Beaver & Cognato, 2020, A. tanaosi Sittichaya, Smith & Beaver, 2023.
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 A. auco by the following characters (A. bolavenensis given first): declivital face flattened from interstriae 1–3, feebly convex near lateral margins from interstriae 4–6 and posterolateral margin near the apex costate vs. declivital face convex and posterolateral margin rounded along its length.
It is distinguished from A. cryphaloides by the following characters (A. bolavenensis given first): pronotum from dorsal view feebly conical anteriorly, declivital summit unarmed and declivital face flattened vs. pronotum from dorsal view strongly protruding, declivital summit armed with a pair of small incurved spines on interstriae 2 and declivital face convex.
It is also distinguished from A. tanaosi by the following characters (A. bolavenensis given first): declivital summit unarmed vs. declivital summit armed with a pair of spinulose granules on interstriae 2.
Bolavenensis, in reference to the collection locality of the holotype, Bolaven Plateau, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Noun in apposition.
Laos (Champasak Province).
The holotype was collected from a newly fallen (leaves still green) small branch of Symplocos sp. (Symplocaceae).
3.4–4.5 mm long (mean = 3.92 mm; n = 5); 1.95–2.53× as long as wide. Body medium size, stout, brown to black in colour, appendages paler; densely covered with fine, long, erect dark brown hair-like setae. Pronotum from dorsal view round (type 1), base with mesonotal mycangial tuft the length of the scutellum; elytral disc convex; lateral side parallel to apical ¼ then rounded to apex; declivity rounded, summit unarmed, posterolateral margins rounded.
Bhutan, Cambodia, China (Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan), India (Meghalaya, West Bengal), Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan,Thailand, Vietnam, New to Laos (Hua Phan).
4.3–4.9 mm long (mean = 4.5 mm; n = 5); 1.88–1.96× as long as wide. Body large size, robust and stout, brown to black in colour, appendages paler; densely covered with fine, moderately long, erect, dark brown hair-like setae. Pronotum from dorsal view round (type 1) anterior margin armed with 5 serrations, the middle pair is prominent; pronotal base with mesonotal mycangial tuft the length of the scutellum; elytra short, disc convex; lateral side parallel to apical 1/3 then broadly rounded to apex; declivity obliquely truncate, unarmed, declivital striae not impressed and posterolateral margins obliquely truncate armed with small tubercles.
China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi), India (Nicobar Is, West Bengal), Indonesia (Bali, Batoe Is, Java, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatra), Laos, East and West Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam (Smith et al. 2020). New to Laos (Hua Phan, Phongsaly, Xieng Khouang).
Key to Anisandrus species present in Laos (females only) |
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1 | Interstriae 2 without spines or granules on upper margin of elytral declivity. | 2 |
– | Interstriae 2 with spines, spinulose granules or blunt tubercles on upper margin of elytral declivity; sparsely hairy species. | 4 |
2 | Median pair of asperities on anterior margin of pronotum distinctly larger than outer pair, larger, 3.4‒4.9 mm long. | 3 |
– | Median pair of asperities on anterior margin of pronotum not distinctly larger than outer pair(s), smaller, 2.4 mm long. | A. bolavenensis sp. nov. |
3 | Larger, stouter species, 4.3‒4.9 mm long, 1.9‒2.0× longer than wide; declivital striae not impressed. | A. ursulus (Eggers) |
– | Smaller, more elongate species, 3.4‒4.5 mm long, 2.1‒2.5× longer than wide; declivital striae impressed. | A. hirtus (Hagedorn) |
4 | Posterolateral margins of elytra rounded; larger, 5.8–5.9 mm. | A. niger (Sampson) |
– | Posterolateral margins of elytra costate or carinate; smaller, 3.3‒3.7 mm. | A. cristatus (Hagedorn) |
The ambrosia beetle genus Anisandrus diversified in mountainous areas of Southeast Asia, particularly in the Indochinese Peninsula (
Synoptic list and habitat types of the Anisandrus fauna of Laos PDR. References are to records of the species in Laos PDR.
Species |
Laos provincial distribution |
Habitat |
Reference |
Anisandrus bolavenensis sp. nov. |
Champasak |
Bolaven Plateau, low montane forest, 1150 m |
This publication |
Anisandrus cristatus (Hagedorn, 1908) |
Hua Phan |
Phou Pan (Mt.), 1300 –1900 m |
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Anisandrus hirtus (Hagedorn, 1904) |
Phongsaly |
Phu Phan Mt, ~ 1750 m |
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Anisandrus niger (Sampson, 1912) |
Hua Phan |
Phou Pan (Mt.), 1300–1900 m |
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Anisandrus ursulus (Eggers, 1923) |
Dudomxai, Hua Phan Luang Phrabang, Xieng Khouang |
Phu Phan Mt., ~ 1750 m, Phou Sane Mt., 1420 m |
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We are most grateful to Matthias Borer and Isabelle Zürcher (NHB), Maxwell Barclay, Michael Geiser (NHMUK), Heinrich Schönmann†, Harry Schilhammer (NHMW) and Lourdes Chamorro (NMNH) for access to specimens. Thank you to Roger A. Beaver for providing country records and distributions of Anisandrus in Laos.
WS: Research concept, insect survey and collecting, specimen’s identification, prepared original draft, review and editing the MS. SMS: review and editing the MS.