New Records of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) from Cuba with Description of a New Species

Abstract

We present a reassessment of the diversity of bark and ambrosia beetles in Cuba. For the first time in decades, an official Cuban-American binational collaboration allowed us to re-visit all known entomology collections in Cuba, and collect in the field. There are at least 94 species of scolytine beetles in Cuba. We report a new species, Xylosandrus aurinegro Gomez & Hulcr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and 7 new species records, including the first genus record for Dryocoetoides Hopkins and Tricolus Blandford (both Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the island. In terms of species with potential concern to the USA, we corroborate a subspecies of Ips calligraphus Wood & Bright (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that acts as a pine pest in Cuba and is not yet present in North America.