Brachysomus (Brachysomus) slovacicus Košťál, 1991

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2022, A review of the genus Brachysomus Schoenherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), Zootaxa 5193 (1), pp. 1-165 : 33-34

Brachysomus (Brachysomus) slovacicus Košťál, 1991

Fig. 81, 82 , 144 , 189 , 235B

Brachysomus slovacicus Košťál, 1991a: 108 . Type locality: Slovakia: Jihoslovenský Kras.

Redescription. Measurements: Body length 1.90–2.10 mm, width 1.15–2.25 mm. Vestiture: Elytral interstriae evenly covered with thin, hair-like, C-shaped, light scales, and slender, erect, obtuse setae; length of setae almost equals interstriael width. Colouration: Body light-brown, appendages slightly lighter.

Head: Characters of rostrum and antennae almost as in B. dispar .

Thorax: Pronotum transverse, [PL/PW = 0.64–0.70 (0.68)], weakly convex at disc and sides, not constricted.

Elytra: Characters of elytra as in B. dispar . Legs: Characters of legs as in B. dispar .

Abdomen: Male 5th ventrite slightly convex, truncate. Male genitalia:Aedeagus slightly and evenly sclerotized; median lobe as long as apodemes, parallel-sided along most length, sharply narrowed only along apical 1/4. Endophallus evenly covered with fine spicules. Ventral membranes triangular, transparent. Parameres as long as width of tegmenal ring; posterior margin of basal piece straight. Spermatheca: ramus and collum connate at base, collum 2x longer than ramus.

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to B. dispar , differing from it, and from B. subnudus in longer, thin, erect setae (length of setae equals width of interstriae) and thin C-shaped pale scales on elytral interstiae. In B. dispar with elongate spatulate setae, their width almost equals the width of scales; length of scales 0.5x of width of interstriae.

Distribution. Slovakia, Hungary.

Bionomics. In Slovakia this species inhabits leaf litter in oak forests with Quercus pubescens ( Benedikt, 2001) .

Remarks. Brachysomus slovacicus was previously considered as endemic to Slovakia ( Košťál, 1991 a, Benedikt, 2001). In my opinion it is difficult to presume the existence of endemic species in a small territory such as the Low Tatra mountains within the limits of the borders of one country. This point of view is corroborated by a new record of B. slovacicus from Hungary. Discovering this species in other parts of the Carpathians is also very possible.

Material examined. SLOVAKIA: 1♂, 1♀, Slovakia s.e., Jihoslovenský Kras, 7588, jeskynĕ Domica env., 27.v.1998 J. Fremuth leg. (BRc). HUNGARY (new record): 1♀, Hung[aria] bor[eale], Sátor hgs., Nagymilic 12.vii.1960, bükkösben rostálva [beech forest, sifted], Endrődi-Younga leg.’ (HNHM).

Figures

FIGURE 189. Brachysomus slovacicus: A: body; B: aedeagus, dorsal and lateral view; C: tegmen; D: spermatheca; E: tergite VIII.

FIGURE 235. Occurrence map of Brachysomus: A: B. echinatus; B: Brachysomus s. str.

FIGURES 79–86. Brachysomus, details: 79, 80: B. rokosensis. 81, 82: B. slovacicus. 83, 84: B. hispidus. 85, 86: B. lituratus.

FIGURES 142–147. Brachysomus, dorsal habitus: 142: B. subnudus, male. 143: idem, female. 144: B. slovacicus, male 145: B. rokosensis, male. 146: B. hispidus, male. 147: B. hispidus, female.