Xyleborinus similans ( Eggers, 1940 )

Nel, Wilma J., Duong, Tuan A., Fell, Shawn, Herron, Darryl A., Paap, Trudy, Wingfield, Michael J., Beer, Wilhelm De, Hulcr, Jiri & Johnson, Andrew J., 2025, A checklist of South African bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae), Zootaxa 5648 (1), pp. 1-101 : 73

181. Xyleborinus similans ( Eggers, 1940) ( Fig. 41 )

Xyleborus similans Eggers, 1940

= Xyleborus sclerocaryae Schedl, 1962d

Hosts: Polyphagous

Distribution in South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga

New Records : Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 29°36'S, 30°23'E, March 1981, Leg. G. Tribe, Det. F.G. Browne [ SANC]. Lothion, Transvaal [now Mpumalanga], South Africa, 16 October 1959, Leg. J.H. Grobler, Holotype Xyleborus sclerocaryae Schedl, 1962 Det. K.E. Schedl, Ac. X. 618 [ SANC].

Notes: Xyleborinus similans is a species of ambrosia beetle known from scattered countries in Africa.Although little research has been done on X. similans , it has a wide host range and has been reported to infest at least 17 different plant hosts from nine families ( Wood & Bright 1992). There has been a long history of this species under its synonym of X. sclerocaryae being confused with X. saxesenii that has yet to be resolved [B.H. Jordal communication].

Figures

FIGURE 41. Lateral and dorsal views of Xyleborinus similans, from Tzaneen, Limpopo, SouthAfrica, specimen ID = WNB102, det. from photo B. H. Jordal. Scale = 1mm.