Phloeophagus japonicus Inoue, 2025

Phloeophagus japonicus Inoue , sp. nov.

[New Japanese name: Hire-futo-kikui-zômushi]

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( Figs 1–10 View FIGURES 1–3 View FIGURES 4–10 )

Diagnosis. Phloeophagus japonicus can be distinguished from the other Palaearctic and Nearctic congeners by having the apical part of the elytral lateral margins moderately explanate. Phloeophagus japonicus can be distinguished from the other Japanese species, P. orientalis , also by the following character states: rostrum shorter, 1.6–1.8 times as long as its basal width; dorsal surface of prothorax with punctures larger, with interspaces between punctures narrower than diameter of each puncture; elytra shorter, 1.7–1.8 times as long as its width, 1.9–2.2 times as long as pronotum, with punctures of striae larger; femora not pedunculate.

Description. Measurements (n = 8; in mm): BL 2.98–3.56; RWB 0.31–0.36; RL 0.50–0.61; PW 0.93–1.09; PL 0.97–1.17; EW 1.17–1.40; EL 1.99–2.36.

Body ( Figs 1–3 View FIGURES 1–3 ) rather fusiform, convex, black, rather shagreened; antennae, apex of tibiae, and tarsi dark brown.

Head. Postocular constriction weak, obsolete on dorsum; distance between eyes and postocular constriction much shorter than diameter of eye; eyes moderately convex; median fovea of forehead shallow; dorsal surface reticulate, without distinct setae; punctures small and sparse on vertex, medium-sized and moderately dense on forehead. Rostrum 1.6–1.8 times as long as its basal width, subparallel-sided from base to apex; apical part weakly curved ventrally in lateral view; surface weakly reticulate; punctures small, moderately dense; epistome weakly prominent at right side, with several setae; dorsum without median sulcus; scrobe with anterior part slightly visible in dorsal view, not angulate at middle in lateral view; posterior part of scrobe not diverged, directed obliquely toward lower side of rostrum, with upper margin almost touching eye.

Antennae weakly curved, clavate; scape slightly shorter than funicle, reaching middle of eye; funicle seven segmented; first segment longer than wide; club oval, as long as combination of fourth to seventh funicular segments.

Prothorax 1.0–1.1 times as long as wide, widest just behind middle, moderately arcuate; anterior margin truncate, narrower than posterior margin; subapical constriction weak, obsolete on dorsum; dorsal surface weakly reticulate, smooth along midline; punctures on disc medium-sized, absent along post-medial part of midline; interspaces between punctures narrower than diameter of each puncture; punctures on collar smaller than those on disc; prosternal process much narrower than front coxa. Scutellum linguiform. Mesoventrite weakly depressed below level of metaventrite; mesoventral process linguiform, about two thirds width of mesocoxal cavity. Metaventrite almost as long as abdominal sternite III; median sulcus distinct; metacoxal cavity widely separated.

Elytra 1.7–1.8 times as long as wide, 1.9–2.2 times as long as and 1.2–1.3 times as wide as pronotum, subparallel-sided; apical part of lateral margins moderately explanate; apices conjointly rounded; intervals weakly convex; surface of each interval smooth, without setae, with irregular row of minute punctures; ninth intervals connecting seven and third intervals, not reaching suture; striae with a row of medium-sized punctures; sixth to ninth striae not reaching base. Hind wings developed.

Legs. Femora not pedunculate; front tibiae not sinuate on inner and outer margins, with dorsal side covered with setae apically; subapical fringe of front tibiae present; apex of front tibiae with large uncus on outer angle and small mucro on inner angle; inner setose fringe of front tibiae weakly angulate; third tarsal segments moderately emarginate, slightly wider than second segments.

Abdomen. Sternites III to VII not concave; suture between sternites III and IV distinct.

Male terminalia ( Figs 4–7 View FIGURES 4–10 ). Tergite VII without stridulatory plectra. Sternite VIII divided, with apical membranous area weakly sclerotized, densely covered with setae; spiculum gastrale asymmetrically curved, bifid at base, expanded and flattened at apex. Aedeagus with body 1.8 times as long as wide, subparallel-sided from base to subapical part, rapidly and arcuately convergent apically, rounded at apex without projection, moderately curved entirely in lateral view, bearing a few short setae on apical margin, with weakly sclerotized triangular plate on dorso-basal margin; endophallus with a pair of sclerites on subbasal part; apodemes 2.3 times as long as aedeagal body; tegmen ring-shaped, symmetrical; manubrium long.

Female terminalia ( Figs 8–10 View FIGURES 4–10 ). Tergite VII without stridulatory plectra; sternite VIII with many setae on posterior margin; spiculum ventrale bifurcate at base; gonocoxites well developed; styli distinct. Spermatheca falciform; apical part moderately curved, acutely narrowed toward apex; collum and ramus close, not prominent.

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 4–7 View FIGURES 4–10 ): male ( KUM), “ Mt. Ôarashi-yama / Hakusan-C. Ishikawa . / 8.VI.2018 [JAP]. / H. Kawase leg.” (typed on white card); “HOLOTYPE / Phloeophagus / japonicus / des. S. Inoue, 2024” (typed on red card) . Paratypes: Japan: Hokkaido: 1 unsexed, Kamiashoro, Ashoro-chô , 21.VII.1999, I. Matoba leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, nr. Mt. Rausu, Iwaobetsu , 21.VII.1997, Y. Asano leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Maruyama, Sapporo , 21.VII.1998, M. Suzuki leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Hokkaido University Campus, Sapporo-shi , 21.VII.1999, Shôji Inoue leg. ( KUM); Honshu: Aomori Pref.: 1 unsexed, Kôsei-rindo, Nishimeyamura , Nakatsugarugun , 4.VII.1992, T. Ozaki leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, same localiy, 21.VII.1992, T. Ozaki leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Kôsei-rindo, Ajigasawa-machi , 21.VIII.1993, T. Ozaki leg. ( KUM); 2 unsexed, Shiraiwa, Ozaki, Hiraka-machi , 29.VI.2002, T. Ozaki leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Yunomata, Oohata-machi, Shimokita Pen ., 26.VII.1956, T. Ozaki leg. ( KUM); 5 unsexed, Fuyubesawa, Kodomari, Nakadomari-machi , 24.V.1997, T. Sato leg. ( KUM); Oirase-gawa, Fukauramachi , 3.VII.1988, S. Yamauchi leg. ( AOPM); 1 unsexed, Ozaki , 14.IV.1940, collector unknown ( AOPM); 1 unsexed, Ozaki-yama , 6.IV, 1940, collector unknown ( AOPM); Akita Pref.: 1 unsexed, Monzen, Oga-shi , from dead tree of Zelkova serrata , 14.VI.2014, M. Narita leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Hottai-no-taki, Yurihonjo-shi , 4.VII.2012, I. Matoba leg. ( KUM); Miyagi Pref.: 1♂, 3♀, Hatasaka, Taiwa-chô , 19.VII.2019, T. Ozaki leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Futakuchi-rindo, Akiu, Sendai-shi , 8.VIII.2012, M. Kodama leg. ( KUM) ; Ishikawa Pref.: 1 unsexed, Ozô, HakusanC. , 15.VI.2018, H. Kawase leg. ( KUM); 3 unsexed, Ôarashi-yama, Shiramine, Hakusan-shi , 30.V.2021, H. Kawase leg. ( KUM); Wakayama Pref.: 1 unsexed, Katsuragi-san , 23.VII.2021, I. Matoba leg. ( KUM); Tottori Pref.: 1 unsexed, Mt. Daisen , 3.VIII.1974, T. Kinoshita leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Mt. Daisen , 27–28.VII.1976, Y. Notsu leg. ( KUM); Okayama Pref.: 2 unsexed, Tatsumi-tôge, Kamisaibara, Kagamino-chô , 15.VII.2012, O. Yamaji leg. ( KUM); Kyushu: Ôita Pref.: 1 unsexed, Hôei-rindo, Ogata-machi , 22.VIII.2009, T. Hada leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Oike, Shônai-machi, Yufu-shi , 7.VI.2012, H. Hatano leg. ( KUM); 3 unsexed, Kurotake, Shônai-machi, Yufu-shi , 21.VII.2013, T. Hada leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, Oike, Kurotake, Yufu-shi , 17.VI.2021, S. Imada leg. ( KUM) .

Distribution. Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu.

Biological note. An adult was collected from a dead tree of Zelkova serrata ( Ulmaceae ) in Akita Prefecture, Honshu.

Etymology. The scientific name reflects the fact that this species is currently known only from Japan.