Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5853 No. 4: 23 Jul. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-07-23
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5853.4.9
Page range: 593-600
Abstract views: 328
PDF downloaded: 320

A new species of the genus Hapalogenius Hagedorn with a detailed description of the microsculpture of its squamose vestiture (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Maienfeldstrasse 23/1; 72074 Tübingen; Germany
Coleoptera Scolytinae Hylesinini Eastern Africa taxonomy scale-like setae

Abstract

A new bark beetle species of the morphologically heterogeneous genus Hapalogenius is described from an East African coastal forest in southern Kenya. The new species, Hapalogenius beaveri sp. nov., was examined alongside all valid species of the genus and is briefly compared here with the type species of the genus, Hapalogenius globosus Hagedorn. The two species share several characters that are highly variable within the genus, particularly those of the elytral base and antennal club, indicating that they are closely related. Both species possess a tri-segmented, flattened antennal club covered with four circumferential bands of closely-spaced setae, an invisible scutellum, and an elevated, almost straight elytral base. Hapalogenius beaveri is clearly distinguished from H. globosus by a prominent swollen area, densely covered with scale-like setae, on the third interstriae of the elytral declivity. A female specimen of H. beaveri was examined using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) with special emphasis placed on pronotal and elytral vestiture. This examination revealed three distinct types of microsculpture on the surface of the scale-like setae; denticulated, echinated and scabrous.

References

  1. Alonso-Zarazaga, M.A. & Lyal, C.H.C. (2009) A catalogue of family and genus group names in Scolytinae and Platypodinae with nomenclatural remarks (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Zootaxa, 2258, 1–134. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2258.1.1
  2. Beaver, R.A. (2010) Taxonomic notes on the Afrotropical genera Hapalogenius Hagedorn, Hylesinopsis Eggers, and Rhopalopselion Hagedorn (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae). ZooKeys, 56, 157–170. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.56.523
  3. Eggers, H. (1919) 60 neue Borkenkäfer (Ipidae) aus Afrika, nebst zehn neue Gattungen, zwei Abarten. Entomologische Blätter, 15, 229–243.
  4. Eggers, H. (1922) Neue Borkenkäfer (Ipidae) aus Afrika (Nachtrag I). Entomologische Blätter, 18, 163–174.
  5. Eggers, H. (1924) Neue Borkenkäfer (Ipidae) aus Afrika (Nachtrag II). Entomologische Blätter, 20, 99–111.
  6. Eggers, H. (1927) Neue Borkenkäfer (Ipidae, Col.) aus Africa (Nachtrag III). Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 15, 172–199.
  7. Eggers, H. (1933) Neue Borkenkäfer (Col., Scolytidae) aus Afrika (Nachtrag V). Stylops, 2, 16–23.
  8. Eggers, H. (1943) Neue Borkenkäfer (Ipidae) aus Afrika. Entomologische Blätter, 39, 70–76.
  9. Farrell, B.D., Sequeira, A.S., O´Meara, B.C., Normark, B.B., Chung, J.H. & Jordal, B.H. (2001) The evolution of agriculture in beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae). Evolution, 55, 2011–2027. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2001.tb01318.x
  10. Ferreira, J., Condamine, F.L., Pajot, L., Perris, D. & Jordal, B.H. (2026) Gondwanan origin of bark and ambrosia beetles and their rapid worldwide diversification during the Cretaceous. Journal of Biogeography, 53, e70179. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.70179
  11. Gerstaecker, K.E.A. (1855) Hylesinus pusillus, n. sp. 1855 Monatsbericht Berliner Akad., 639. 1857 Auszug aus dem Monatsbericht der königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1957.
  12. Habel, J.C., Koc, E., Gerstmeier, R., Gruppe, A., Seibold, S. & Ulrich, W. (2021) Insect diversity across an afro-tropical forest biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Insect Conservation, 25, 221–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-021-00293-z
  13. Hagedorn, M. (1912) Neue Borkenkäfergattungen und Arten aus Afrika. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1912, 351–356.
  14. Hulcr, J. & Cognato, A.I. (2013) Xyleborini of New Guinea a Taxonomic Monograph (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Thomas Say Publications in Entomology. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, Maryland, 176 pp. https://doi.org/10.4182/WNHY6280
  15. Hulcr, J., Atkinson, T.H., Cognato, A.I., Jordal, B.H. & McKenna, D.D. (2015) Morphology, Taxonomy, and Phylogenetics of Bark Beetles. In: Vega, F.E. & Hofstetter, R.W. (Eds.), Bark Beetles, Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species. Elsevier, London, pp. 41–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-417156-5.00002-2
  16. Johnson, A.J., Atkinson, T.H., Beaver, R.A., Cognato, A.I., Jordal, B.H., Knížek, M., Mandelshtam, M.Y., Rabaglia, R.J., Smith, S.M. & Hulcr, J. (2026) A comprehensive taxonomic checklist of bark and ambrosia beetle species (Curculionidae, Scolytinae). ZooKeys, 1271, 1–258. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1271.168928
  17. Johnson, A.J., McKenna, D.D., Jordal, B.H., Cognato, A.I., Smith, S.M., Lemmon, E.M. & Hulcr, J. (2018) Phylogenomics clarifies repeated evolutionary origins of inbreeding and fungus farming in bark beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 127, 229–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.028
  18. Jordal, B.H. (2022) Sexual dimorphism and phylogenetic position of Chilodendron (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) – a long isolated lineage endemic to Madagascar. European Journal of Entomology, 119, 152–158. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2022.017
  19. Jordal, B.H. (2025) Glochiphorus Strohmeyer (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) – a monotypic genus endemic to Madagascar. Zootaxa, 5584 (3), 447–450. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5584.3.11
  20. Jordal, B.H. & Cognato, A.I. (2012) Molecular phylogeny of bark and ambrosia beetles reveals multiple origins of fungus farming during periods of global warming. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 12, 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-133
  21. Klausnitzer, B. (1980) Bemerkungen über die Beschuppung der Elytren verschiedener Coleoptera. Entomologische Abhandlungen, 43 (3), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783112653227-005
  22. Kirkendall, L.R., Biedermann, P.H.W. & Jordal, B.H. (2015) Evolution and Diversity of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles. In: Vega, F.E. & Hofstetter, R.W. (Eds.), Bark Beetles, Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species. Elsevier, London, pp. 85–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-417156-5.00003-4
  23. Machingambi, N.M., Roux, J., Dreyer, L.L. & Roets, F. (2014) Bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), their phoretic mites (Acari) and associated Geosmithia species (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) from Virgilia trees in South Africa. Fungal Biology, 118, 427–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2014.03.006
  24. Pistone, D., Gohli, J. & Jordal, B.H. (2018) Molecular phylogeny of bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) based on 18 molecular markers. Systematic Entomology, 43, 387–406. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12281
  25. Schedl, K.E. (1950) Fauna aethiopica II. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 43, 203–210.
  26. Schedl, K.E. (1951) Fauna aethiopica VII. Bark and ambrosia beetles from Dahomey and Togo collected by Mr. A. Villiers. Bulletin de l’Institut français d’Afrique noire, 13, 1103–1106.
  27. Schedl, K.E. (1952) Scolytoidea Congolais IV. Bulletin Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, 28, 1–12.
  28. Schedl, K.E. (1954) Scolytoidea from the Gold Coast. I. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 50 (1–2), 45–88.
  29. Schedl, K.E. (1957a) Some new bark- and timber beetles from East Africa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 10, 865–883. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222935708656091
  30. Schedl, K.E. (1957b) Scolytoidea nouveaux du Congo Belge II. Annales du Musee Royal du Congo Belge, 56, 1–162.
  31. Schedl, K.E. (1959) Some new Scolytidae from British East Africa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1, 705–710.
  32. Schedl, K.E. (1960) Scolytidae und Platypodidae Afrikas. Band I. Familie Scolytidae (Fortsetzung). Revista de Entomologia Moçambique, 3, 75–154.
  33. Schedl, K.E. (1961) Scolytidae und Platypodidae Afrikas. Band I. Familie Scolytidae (Fortsetzung). Revista de Entomologia Moçambique, 4, 335–742.
  34. Schedl, K.E. (1963) Zur Synonymie der Borkenkäfer IX. Entomologische Abhandlungen und Berichte aus dem Staatlichen Museum für Tierkunde in Dresden, 28 (6), 257–268.
  35. Schedl, K.E. (1965) New bark and timber beetles forwarded by the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology. Novos Taxa Entomologicus (Suplemento a Resista Entomologica de Mocambique), 38, 1–15.
  36. Schedl, K.E. (1967) The scientific results of the Hungarian Soil Zoological Expedition to the Brazzaville-Congo, 21. Die Arten der Familien Scolytidae und Platypodidae (Coleoptera). Opuscula Zoologica, 7, 207–232.
  37. Schedl, K.E. (1971) Neue Scolytidae und Platypodidae aus Afrika. Opuscula Zoologica, 119, 1–18.
  38. Wood, S.L. (1978) A reclassification of the subfamilies and tribes of Scolytidae (Coleoptera). Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.), 14, 95–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/21686351.1978.12278677
  39. Wood, S.L. (1986) A reclassification of the genera of Scolytidae (Coleoptera). Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs, 10, 1–126.
  40. Wood, S.L. & Bright, D.E. (1992) A catalog of Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera), Part 2: Taxonomic index. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs, 13, 1–1553.

How to Cite

Gebhardt, H. (2026) A new species of the genus Hapalogenius Hagedorn with a detailed description of the microsculpture of its squamose vestiture (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Zootaxa, 5853 (4), 593–600. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5853.4.9