Three new species of Scolytoplatypus Schaufuss from China, and notes on the movement and functions of the prosternal processes (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Abstract

Three new species from China (Yunnan), Scolytoplatypus costatus Gebhardt & Beaver, S. geminus Gebhardt & Beaver and S. peniculatus Gebhardt & Beaver, are described and compared with related species of the genus. The male prosternum of Asian Scolytoplatypus species shows species-specific characters, and frequently bears a pair of processes on or close to the anterior margin. We comment here for the first time on the movement of the processes and their likely functions, and survey their occurrence in Asian species of Scolytoplatypus.