Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Curculionidae

Gymnetron auliense Reitter, 1907

Gymnetron melinum var. auliense Reitter, 1907: 30.

Gymnetron auliense: Caldara 2008: 38.

Description.

Adult (Figures 3-4): Sides of pronotum covered with dense, imbricate, broad scales; elytral integument reddish and black, rarely completely black, interstriae covered with recumbent to suberect seta-like scales arranged in two-three rows; rostrum moderately robust, scarcely sexually dimorphic, in lateral view moderately curved, weakly narrowed at apical third (Caldara 2008).

Egg: unknown.

Mature larva: measurements (mm): body length: 2.40-2.50 (n = 4), width: 1.20-1.45 (n = 4); capsule length (in dorsal view): 0.50-0.55 (n = 3), width: 0.46-0.50 (n = 3). It differs from Gymnetron miyoshii by: Mouthparts: epipharynx (Figure 23) with two pairs of sensilla, all epipharyngeal setae distinctly slender. Thorax (Figure 25): pronotum with four pns, dorsopleurum with four dpls. Spiracle bicameral, air-tube equal or shorter than diameter of circular peritreme. Abdomen: with seven spiracles, size similar, all anterolateral and unicameral, each with single annulated air-tube, shorter to diameter of circular peritreme.

Pupa: Measurements (mm): length: 2.80 (n = 1); width: 1.00 (n = 1).

Mesonotum with three pairs of msns on scutellum; Pro-, meso- and metafemora of legs apically bearing one slightly outcurved fes, apex with grey circular pigmented area.

Specimen examined.

CHINA: Xinjiang: Kaerjiaocun, Jimunai (47°13.03'N; 86°24.12'E, 1224m), 3-VII- 2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (6).

Biological notes.

After collecting specimens of Veronica oxycarpa Boiss. on 3-VII- 2014, for rearing in the laboratory, 5 larvae were obtained on 9-VII-2014 and 1 pupa on 12-VII-2014.

Remarks.

This species has been recorded from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This species is a new record for China.