A taxonomic monograph of Nearctic Scolytus Geoffroy (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Abstract

The Nearctic bark beetle genus Scolytus Geoffroy was revised based in part on a molecular and morphological phylogeny. Monophyly of the native species was tested using mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S, CAD, ArgK) genes and 43 morphological characters in parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. Parsimony analyses of molecular and combined datasets provided mixed results while Bayesian analysis recovered most nodes with posterior probabilities >90%. Native hardwood- and conifer-feeding Scolytus species were recovered as paraphyletic. Native Nearctic species were recovered as paraphyletic with hardwood-feeding species sister to Palearctic hardwood-feeding species rather than to native conifer-feeding species. The Nearctic conifer-feeding species were monophyletic. Twenty-five species were recognized. Four new synonyms were discovered: Scolytus praeceps LeConte, 1868 (= Scolytus abietis Blackman, 1934; = Scolytus opacus Blackman, 1934), Scolytus reflexus Blackman, 1934 (= Scolytus virgatus Bright, 1972; = Scolytus wickhami Blackman, 1934). Two species were reinstated: Scolytus fiskei Blackman, 1934 and Scolytus silvaticus Bright, 1972. A diagnosis, description, distribution, host records and images were provided for each species and a key is presented to all species.

New Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) records for Quebec, Canada

“…It occurs in association with common hackberry, Celtis occidentalis , in Quebec, but also with dwarf hackberry, Celtis tenuifolia Nutt. (Smith and Cognato 2014), an endangered species, in southern Ontario (COSEWIC 2003). At 2.2–5.3mm, it is the largest member of the genus known to occur in Quebec.…”

Potential Pest Bark and Ambrosia Beetles from Cuba Not Present in the Continental United States

“…This genus can be distinguished by the single curved process in the outer margin of the protibiae, ascendant second abdominal ventrite, and straight elytral lateral margins (Smith & Cognato 2014;Bright 2019). Species within this genus are phloeophagous and colonize trunks or large branches where transverse parental galleries invade the cambial area (Wood 2007).…”

Ambrosiophilus peregrinusSmith and Cognato, New Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), an Exotic Ambrosia Beetle Discovered in Georgia, USA

“…Specimens were dissected by removing the head and thorax from the abdomen. DNA extractions were performed on the head and thorax using a Qiagen DNeasy blood and tissue kit (Hilden, Germany) following the protocol outlined in Smith and Cognato (2014). After the extraction process, the body parts were rinsed in 70% ethanol, glued onto a mounting board, pinned, labeled, and vouchered in the A. J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection at Michigan State University.…”

“…After the extraction process, the body parts were rinsed in 70% ethanol, glued onto a mounting board, pinned, labeled, and vouchered in the A. J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection at Michigan State University. Purified DNA was used to amplify partial gene regions of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I using scolytinespecific primers, 1495b and rev750 and large ribo-somal gene, 28S, using primers 3665 and 4068 (Smith and Cognato 2014). PCR and sequencing following the protocols of Smith and Cognato (2014).…”

“…Purified DNA was used to amplify partial gene regions of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I using scolytinespecific primers, 1495b and rev750 and large ribo-somal gene, 28S, using primers 3665 and 4068 (Smith and Cognato 2014). PCR and sequencing following the protocols of Smith and Cognato (2014). Sequences were received as chromatograms and the sense and antisense strands were compiled using Sequencher (Ann Arbor, MI) to trim sequences, examine for ambiguities, and create consensus sequences.…”