Derelomus caldarai Haran, 2025

Haran, Julien M., Benoit, Laure, Dufaÿ, Mathilde, Procheş, Serban & Kergoat, Gael J., 2025, A monograph of Afrotropical and Mediterranean Derelomus Schoenherr, 1825 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with the descriptions of 14 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 1014, pp. 1-128 : 21-24

Derelomus caldarai Haran sp. nov.

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Fig. 6

Diagnosis

Derelomus caldarai sp. nov. can be distinguished by the combination of elytra with a single transverse band, the presence of scales on the lateral carina of the pronotum, appendiculate claws and a comparatively short penis with a broadly rounded apex not forming a spatula ( Fig. 6D ). This species is closely related to D. schoedli , but in the latter species, the apex of the penis forms a distinct spatula, strongly bisinuate in lateral view ( Fig. 9D ). The two species show a genetic distance of 7.6% for the standard barcode fragment (South African versus Ethiopian specimens, JHAR05867 and JHAR01036 respectively). No robust feature enabling separation of the females of the two species was identified in the course of this study. GenBank accession number for the corresponding DNA barcode: PV698444.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to our colleague Roberto Caldara for his significant contribution to the knowledge of the diversity of many genera in true weevils ( Curculioninae ).

Material examined

Holotype

TANZANIA • ♂; “ Momella, Mt Meru ; Tanganjika ; E Haaf, XII.1959 ” “♂” “Holotype ♂; Derelomus caldarai ; Haran 2025”; TMSA.

Paratypes

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province • 1 ♀; Stellenbosch; 33°57′54″ S, 18°52′34″ E; 15 Aug. 2023; J. Haran coll.; Beating inflorescences of Searsia ( Anacardiaceae ) by night; JHAR05867 ; CBGP.

TANZANIA • 1 ♀; Momella, Mt Meru ; 3°14′20″ S, 36°46′01″ E; Dec. 1959; E. Haaf coll.; TMSA.

Description ( ♂)

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 2.1 mm.

COLOR. Body integument pale brown, club, head and pronotum slightly darker, elytra with a transverse oblique line of dark spots on even interstriae and middle of suture; vestiture of dorsum made of white setiform scales on head and pronotum and minute white setae on elytra, hardly visible.

HEAD. Rostrum as long as pronotum in lateral view, moderately and regularly downcurved; in dorsal view 3 × as long as wide, integument densely punctate, with 5 carinae, covered with short suberect whitish setae oriented transversally; antennae inserted near apical ¼ of length; head capsule coarsely punctate in dorsal view, with suberect whitish scales forming two tufts near eyes oriented toward centre of forehead; eyes convex, exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with first segment 1.5× as long as wide, equal in length to segments 2–3 together, 2 longer than wide, 3–7 transverse.

PRONOTUM. Wider than long (W: L ratio: 1.36), widest near middle of length, 0.72 × as wide there as elytra at humeral angles, lateral carina smooth and regular; sides converging in apical ⅓ of length, apical constriction shallow; integument with large circular punctures, space between punctures dull, narrower than diameter of punctures; scale cover more visible dense along lateral carinae and on each side of median line.

METATHORAX. Metanepisterna with scarce setiform scales.

ELYTRA. Elongate (W: L ratio: 0.68); sides slightly convex, widest near middle of length; humeri raised; apex jointly rounded; striae with punctures as wide as or slightly narrower than interstriae; even interstriae slightly convex; scutellar shield rounded, dark brown, glabrous.

ABDOMEN. Underside covered with subcontiguous recumbent whitish setae. Stridulatory plate with lines of 5 granules, as long as median line; central sclerotized area regularly rounded.

LEGS. Profemora thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, internal slightly bisinuate; claws appendiculate.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W: L ratio: 0.25); sides subparallel in dorsal view, widest beyond middle of length, converging regularly apicad from apical 2/5 of length, apex rounded; in lateral view curvature strong in basal ½ of length, straight in apical ½; width narrowing regularly from middle of length to apex; apex slightly curved upward ( Fig. 6D ).

Sexual dimorphism

Females can be distinguished from males by the rostrum which is slightly longer and less downcurved in lateral view ( Fig. 6C ).

Life history

Adults were collected on Mimosa sp. ( Fabaceae ). The sampling on Searsia sp. ( Anacardiaceae ) is likely accidental. Adults were collected in December in Tanzania and in August in the Republic of South Africa.

Distribution

Republic of South Africa, Tanzania.

Remarks

The apodemes of the single male available were damaged and could not be used in the description. Females of this species cannot be distinguished from those of D. schoedli based on morphology alone. The specimens reported here are those belonging to the holotype series or those for which a DNA barcode could be obtained. The other material is provisionally identified as D. “ schoedli / caldarai ” (see list of depositories in the Remarks section under D. schoedli ) pending further investigation of this species complex.

Figures

Fig. 6. Habitus of Derelomus caldarai Haran sp. nov. A–B, D–E. Holotype, ♂ (Tanzania) (TMSA). C. Paratype, ♀ (JHAR05867-01) (Republic of South Africa) (CBGP). A. Habitus in dorsal view. B–C. Habitus in lateral view. D. Penis in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views. E. Stridulatory plate. Scale bar: A–C =1 mm; D–E not to scale.

Fig. 9. Habitus of Derelomus schoedli Rheinheimer, 2005. A–B, D–E. Holotype, ♂ (Saudi Arabia) (NMB). C. Paratype, ♀ (same locality) (NMB). A. Habitus in dorsal view. B–C. Habitus in lateral view. D. Penis in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views. E. Stridulatory plate. Scale bar: A–C= 1 mm; D–E not to scale.