Scolytodes

Type species

Scolytodes laevigatus Ferrari

Adapted from Wood 1982, p. 466-509

Diagnosis

Scolytodes may be distinguished from the similar genus Pycnarthrum Eichhoff by the hair-like setaehair-like setae:
setae that are thin and similar to a hair
vestiture and the smaller eye.

Description

Species in this genus range from 0.9 to 3.5 mm in length and are approximately 1.9 to 2.9 times as long as wide. Their color ranges from yellowish brown to black. The pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
is usually as long as wide with lateral margins elevated in a raised line. The scutellumscutellum:
a shield-like bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects
is small and flush 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 convex and unarmedunarmed:
having no granules, teeth, tubercles, spines, or other protective structures
, with a hair-like vestiturevestiture:
a surface covering of scales or setae on the body, wing, or other appendage
. The fronsfrons:
the upper anterior portion of the head capsule
is sexually dimorphicdimorphic:
a structure that occurs in two different forms, such as color, shape, or size
; the female’s is usually ornamentedornamented:
having markings or structures on the esclerotized regions of the integument, such as setae, tubercles, or granules
by circular tufts of hair. The anterior margin of the compound eye is entire and is not subcontiguoussubcontiguous:
pertaining to adjacent structures, margins, or surfaces that are in contact but are not united or fused
below. The scapescape:
the first and basal segment of the insect's antennae
is longer than the 6-segmented funiclefunicle:
the antennal segments located between the scape and the club in some Coleoptera
. 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 usually obovateobovate:
inversely egg shaped (ovate), with the narrow end basal
to ovateovate:
egg shaped, with the narrow end apically
(but it is oval on the occurring S. schwarzi), has from none to three suturessutures:
a seam or seam-like line of contact between two sclerites or hardened body parts immovably connected
which are straight to procurvedprocurved:
pertaining to structure (antennae, setae) which is basally perpendicular to the body and whose apical part is curved anteriorly
, the first being partially septateseptate:
having a septum or septa
. The procoxaeprocoxae:
extra segment occasionally preceding coxa (hip joint) of the first or anterior pair of legs of arthropods
are separated.

Distribution

This genus is limited to the tropics; it occurs in south Florida and from Mexico to Argentina

World fauna

Number of species: 175, Native species: 1, Introduced species: 0

Hosts

Alnus, Cecropia, Cedrela, Clusia, Drimys, Ficus, Miconia, Ochroma, Oreopanax, Phoebe, Plumeria, Sapium, Swietenia, Vismia