Cnestus

Type species

Cnestus magnus Sampson

Adapted from Huclr 2007, Dole 2010

Diagnosis

Cnestus can be distinguished from Xylosandrus Samson by the subcontiguoussubcontiguous:
pertaining to adjacent structures, margins, or surfaces that are in contact but are not united or fused
procoxaeprocoxae:
extra segment occasionally preceding coxa (hip joint) of the first or anterior pair of legs of arthropods
and by the more broad declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
which covers most of the elytraelytra:
the two external and hardened or sclerotized forewings of adult Coleoptera, often appearing leather-like in texture
. The elytraelytra:
the two external and hardened or sclerotized forewings of adult Coleoptera, often appearing leather-like in texture
are only slightly longer than the pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
.

Description

The occurring exotic species ranges from 2.6 to 3.9 mm in length and is approximately 1.7 times as long as wide. Its color is black. The pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
is clearly wider than long with the anterior margin armedarmed:
having a sclerotized surface structure, giving a rough texture; may serve as defense
. It presents a thick tuft of setaesetae:
a hollow, often slender and hair-like cuticular projection
just anterior of the pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
, over its mycangia. The scutellumscutellum:
a shield-like bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects
is large, and flushed with the elytraelytra:
the two external and hardened or sclerotized forewings of adult Coleoptera, often appearing leather-like in texture
. The declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
is unarmedunarmed:
having no granules, teeth, tubercles, spines, or other protective structures
and proportionally very large and convex, starting at approximately the second third of the elytraelytra:
the two external and hardened or sclerotized forewings of adult Coleoptera, often appearing leather-like in texture
; the ventrolateral margin is raised in a line from the apex to interstriaeinterstriae:
longitudinally arranged lines, often flat or raised, often having setae, and located between the striae on the elytron
seven. The vestiturevestiture:
a surface covering of scales or setae on the body, wing, or other appendage
consists of erect and hair-like setaehair-like setae:
setae that are thin and similar to a hair
. The anterior margin of the compound eye is emarginateemarginate:
notched or indented
. The scapescape:
the first and basal segment of the insect's antennae
is longer than the 4-segmented funiclefunicle:
the antennal segments located between the scape and the club in some Coleoptera
, but it can appear as 5-segmented. The clubclub:
the apical segment of the insect antennae that is enlarged or thickened such that it is anatomically differentiated from the preceding segments
is obliquely truncateobliquely truncate:
pertaining to a structure abruptly and concavely cut
with the basalbasal:
situated at the base or inner edge and proximal to the main body
area recurvedrecurved:
bent backward or downward as a smiley face
, and the suturessutures:
a seam or seam-like line of contact between two sclerites or hardened body parts immovably connected
are not evident. The procoxaeprocoxae:
extra segment occasionally preceding coxa (hip joint) of the first or anterior pair of legs of arthropods
are widely separated.

Distribution

Introduced into the southeastern to south central US

World fauna

Number of species: 22, Native species: 0, Introduced species: 1

Established exotic species

Cnestus mutilatus has been introduced to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas.

Hosts

Acer, Carya, Cornus, Fagus, Liriodendron, Melia, Ostrya, Pinus, Prunus, Quercus, Ulmus, Vitus