Genetic and taxonomic assessment of the widespread Afrotropical ambrosia beetle Xyleborus principalis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the widespread Afrotropical ambrosia beetle Xyleborus principalis Eichhoff, 1878 is reviewed based on morphological and molecular data. The species is both morphologically and genetically variable but without any structure corresponding to geography, or between genes and morphology. Examination of type material and other specimens collected across Africa and Madagascar documented the existence of a single species. New synonymies are proposed for Xyleborus principalis (=X. alluaudi Schaufuss, 1897, =X. camerunus Hagedorn, 1910, =X. consobrinus Eggers, 1932, =X. discrepans Schedl, 1950, =X. annectens Schedl, 1957, =X. peramploides Schedl, 1957).