Corresponding author: Bjarte H. Jordal (
Academic editor: M. Alonso-Zarazaga
Recent flight intercept trapping in Gabon provided four female specimens of a new species of
Jordal BH (2018) The smallest known species of Afrotropical
Species in the tribe
An undescribed species with several unusual and intermediate features was recently collected in Gabon. DNA data clearly associate this species with the Afrotropical clade, and phylogenetic analyses indicate a rather isolated position of the species.
Samples were collected by flight intercept traps baited with vittatol and ipsenol lures in the Ipassa National Park, Gabon. Specimens were compared to types and co-types of most Afrotropical species in the Natural History Museum of Vienna, and some superficially similar Asian species.
DNA was extracted from a specimen using the Qiagen DNEasy kit. Amplification of four gene fragments (COI, EF1α, CAD, 28S) was made by PCR, using primers and cycling conditions described previously (
Holotype, female: Gabon: Ivindo National Park, Ipassa, 6 km W. Makokou. GIS:
Typical female
Habitus, head and elytral declivity of
Not known.
Phylogenetic analysis based on four genes resulted in a fully resolved tree topology (Fig.
Tree topology (excluding outgroups) resulting from all Bayesian analyses (PSRF = 1.0, sd = 0.003) and the parsimony analysis (L = 3503, CI = 0.48, RI = 0.54), of four gene fragments.
The Latin name
Only known from the type locality in Gabon. All specimens were collected in black flight intercept traps baited with vittatol (3) or ipsenol (1) lures.
1 | Antennal club as long as the eye, hind corners of pronotum rounded, setae on metanepisternum simple, not divided, female size 1.6-1.7 mm long |
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– | Antennal club at most 0.7 × as long as the eye, hind corners of pronotum acutely pointed laterally, setae on metanepisternum bifid, trifid or plumose, female size >2.3 mm long |
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2 | Scutellum flush with elytra | |
– | Scutellum depressed, narrowly elongated | 3 |
3 | Profemur with a dorsal spine near its distal end | |
– | Profemur smooth, without dorsal spine |
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4 | Sutural apex of elytra emarginated, notched | |
– | Apex of elytra evenly rounded |
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5 | Vestiture on declivity consisting of white scale-like setae |
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– | Declivity glabrous or with very fine setae |
It is interesting that recent field collections have revealed scolytoplatypodine taxa which are unique by having an isolated phylogenetic position. The genus
I would like to thank Richard Mally for collecting specimens on the international field expedition to Ipassa National Park in Gabon. Roger Beaver kindly commented on the status of the new species.