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Ash Bark Beetle Hylesinus varius


I found this on the outside of a pheremone lure trap that was set with a lure for the micro-moth Lampronia capitella (Currant Shoot Borer). I found it difficult to see the antennae clearly enough to accurately count the funiculus segments but although I could only make out six it clearly wasn't Kissophagus (2.9mm long, more rounded elytral scales, etc.) so presumably it must have had seven. Once I'd got to Hylesinus I wasn't quite sure how to interpret the elytral pattern - it clearly showed a pattern on its left elytron but this was very restricted on the right elytron. The hind margin of the pronotum seemed to have a basomedial projection, but I wasn't completely sure if this was part of the pronotum - it seemed to emerge from underneath, with a straight edge above. I can't figure out what it is if it isn't part of the pronotum, but looking at high res photos of varius online they all seem to show this, so whatever it is I assume it isn't the bluntly angular basomedial projection referred to in Duff's key (and this was later confirmed when I examined a Hylesinus crenatus on which the pronotal basomedial projection was obviously part of the pronotum). The fact that the elytral scales were broad and, especially on one side, variegated, rules out crenatus and toranio, and the shape of the antennal club made it varius rather than wachtli.

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Ash Bark Beetle Hylesinus varius showing elytral scales, antennae (both), pronotum and pronotum mid-base, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 19th April 2021