Afrocosmoderes bark beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae): an ancient, but overlooked, species radiation of pygmy borers in Madagascar

Abstract The recently described genus Afrocosmoderes Johnson and Jordal, 2020 forms the sister group to Hypothenemus Westwood, 1836 that includes a range of worldwide tramp species such as the coffee berry borer H. hampei (Ferrari, 1867). Afrocosmoderes differs strongly from Hypothenemus in their distribution, being largely restricted to Madagascar and elsewhere found only in southeastern part of Africa. DNA data from multiple genes indicated an ancient origin in the early Cenozoic era. This is one of the oldest extant groups of bark beetles on Madagascar with a possible geographical origin from the Palearctic. Species in Afrocosmoderes are despite their ancient origin remarkably similar to each other morphologically and DNA data would be advisable in many cases to confirm species identity. Only a few characters, particularly those associated with the male genitalia, are indicative of relationships supported also by molecular data. Ecological features are therefore more promising in grouping species, such as host plant type, with only two possible origins of feeding in lianas. The genus is taxonomically revised with a total of 19 species included, in which 12 are described as new to science: Afrocosmoderes asper, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes brevicostatus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes carinatus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes confertus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes lenifrons, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes longisetus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes longus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes parvus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes plenus, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes saetiger, sp. nov., Afrocosmoderes seriatus, sp. nov., all from Madagascar, and Afrocosmoderes zambesianus, sp. nov. from Tanzania. Afrocosmoderes africanus (Schedl), comb. nov. is transferred from Eidophelus Eichhoff, 1875.