Xylosandrus subsimiliformis

Taxonomic history

Xyleborus subsimiliformis Eggers, 1939a: 11.

Xylosandrus subsimiliformis (Eggers): Wood and Bright, 1992: 800. 

Diagnosis

2.45−3.0 mm long (mean = 2.6 mm; n = 5); 1.96−2.14 times as long as wide. This species can be distinguished by its large size; elytralelytral:
'pertaining to the elytra
discdisc:
the flat central upper surface of any body part (e.g. pronotum and elytra)
flat, longer than declivitydeclivity:
downward slope of either the pronotum or elytra
; declivitaldeclivital:
pertaining to the elytral declivity
face steep, abruptly separated from discdisc:
the flat central upper surface of any body part (e.g. pronotum and elytra)
; elytraelytron:
' the two sclerotized forewings of beetles that protect and cover the flight wings
appearing obliquely truncateobliquely truncate:
'nearly truncate but rounded not flat in lateral view
; posterolateralposterolateral:
'relating to end of the side part/portion
margins of elytraelytron:
' the two sclerotized forewings of beetles that protect and cover the flight wings
carinate to interstriaeinterstria:
'longitudinal spaces along the elytra between the striae, which is not as<br /> impressed and bear smaller punctures.
7; declivitaldeclivital:
pertaining to the elytral declivity
face with four apparent granulategranulate:
'pertaining to a coarse, grainy surface texture'
striae (striae 5 short, converging with striaestria:
punctures in rows, which may or may not be impressed to make grooves
4 forming a loop); declivitaldeclivital:
pertaining to the elytral declivity
face convexconvex:
appearing rounded
; declivitaldeclivital:
pertaining to the elytral declivity
striae and interstriaeinterstria:
'longitudinal spaces along the elytra between the striae, which is not as<br /> impressed and bear smaller punctures.
setose, setaeseta:
small hair-like or scale-like structure
recumbentrecumbent:
'pertaining to setae that are flat against the cuticle
, very fine, hair-like, equal to the width of an interstriainterstria:
'longitudinal spaces along the elytra between the striae, which is not as<br /> impressed and bear smaller punctures.
; interstriaeinterstria:
'longitudinal spaces along the elytra between the striae, which is not as<br /> impressed and bear smaller punctures.
granulategranulate:
'pertaining to a coarse, grainy surface texture'
, granulesgranule:
'a small rounded protuberance, like grains of sand
multiseriate, confusedconfused:
of markings, having indefinite outlines or running together as lines or spots without definite pattern; usually referring to punctures
; strial granulesgranule:
'a small rounded protuberance, like grains of sand
two times larger than those of interstriae; pronotumpronotum:
'the dorsal surface of the thorax
longer than wide, from dorsaldorsal:
'of or relating to the upper surface; opposite of ventral
view conical frontally (type 6) and laterallateral:
'pertaining to the side
view taller (type 2), summitsummit:
highest point, used for pronotum and elytra, denotes the peak between pronotal frontal slope and disc, and between elytral disc and declivity
at basalbase:
point or edge closest to the body; opposite of apex
quarter, basalbase:
point or edge closest to the body; opposite of apex
quarter shagreenedshagreened:
covered with a closely-set roughness, like shark skin'
, dull, densely punctatepunctate:
'set with fine impressed points, appearing as pin pricks
; and broad, dense mycangial tuftmycangial tuft:
'tuft of setae that denotes the mycangia exterior opening
on the pronotalpronotal:
'pertaining to the pronotum
basebase:
point or edge closest to the body; opposite of apex
.

May be confused with

Xylosandrus beesoni, X. brevis, X. diversepilosus, X. jaintianus, and X. subsimilis

Distribution

 China (Guizhou, Yunnan), Myanmar, Vietnam

Host plants

unknown (Smith et al. 2020bSmith et al. 2020b:
Smith SM, Beaver RA, and Cognato AI. 2020b. A monograph of the Xyleborini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) of the Indochinese Peninsula (except Malaysia) and China. ZooKeys 983: 1-442. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.983.52630)

Remarks

This species was collected in great abundance by SMS and AIC in Lao Cai province, Vietnam. In nearly all collecting events the species was found in small branches (1−4 cm) in diameter that were dry and often exposed to full sun, an unusual feeding habit, as most other xyleborines are unable to thrive under these conditions.

DNA data

Sequences available for COI and CAD.

COI: OP617756; OP617757

CAD: OP607185; OP607186