Squamapion vicinum

Giusto, Carlo, 2018, Squamapion alpinum n. sp. from Austria (Coleoptera, Apionidae), Zootaxa 4407 (3), pp. 401-414 : 411

Key to European species related to Squamapion vicinum

1 Vestiture conspicuous, composed of long piliform scales; on elytral interstriae arranged in multiple rows, particularly confused at base of interstriae 2–4; meso- and metanepisterna and mesepimera almost completely concealed by vestiture. Oligophagous on Mentha . Distribution: France (Corse) , Italy (Sardinia and Sicily)....... S. consors consors (Desbrochers des Loges, 1875)

- Vestiture inconspicuous to evident, composed of piliform scales; on elytral interstriae arranged in a single row and, only at base of interstriae 2–4, more numerous, forming short multiple rows; meso- and metanepisterna and mesepimera never almost completely concealed by vestiture........................................................................ 2

2 Elytral humeral calli well developed, prominent. Prothorax clearly narrower than elytra and apically constricted to form a sort of neck ( Figs 3, 4 ); ebw/pw ± 1.37........................................................................ 3

- Elytral humeral calli developed, but weakly prominent. Prothorax narrower than elytra, apically constricted, but not forming a sort of neck ( Figs 1, 2, 5, 6 ); ebw/pw Ĺ 1.37................................................................ 5

3 Body larger, length—on the average— 1.96 mm (♂) or 2.05 mm (♀). Vestiture incospicuous, composed of short hair-like scales. Protibiae long and, especially in female, visibly outcurved. Oligophagous on Mentha . Distribution: European-Asiatic species. Widespread from East Siberia to almost whole Europe and North Africa................ S. vicinum (Kirby, 1808)

- Body smaller, less than 1.82 mm (♂) or 1.86 mm (♀) in length. Vestiture clearly visible, composed of piliform scales. Protibiae short and straight...................................................................................... 4

4 Rows of scales on elytral striae and intervals very similar, particularly in males. Prothorax, in dorsal view, subrectangular with moderately rounded sides; prescutellar fovea minute. Host plant unknown, probably associated with Thymus (Wanat, pers. comm.). Distribution: Poland, Austria, Ukraine....................................... S. mroczkowskii Wanat, 1997

- Rows of scales on elytral intervals more evident than those on elytral striae, particularly in males. Prothorax, in dorsal view, subtrapezoidal with rounded sides; prescutellar fovea well developed. Monophagous on Origanum vulgare . Distribution: Spain, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria........... S. origani (Planet, 1918)

5 Body length, on the average, 1.72 mm (♂) or 1.81 mm (♀). Vestiture composed of fine, almost hair-like scales; on elytral intervals hardly touching each other. Mesorostral dilatation rounded ( Figs 7–10 ). Elytral maximum width in the middle ( Figs 1, 2 ). Monophagous on Clinopodium alpinum . Distribution: Austria..................................... S. alpinum n. sp.

- Body length, on the average, 1.47 mm (♂) or 1.52 mm (♀). Vestiture composed of long, piliform and subtly lanceolate scales, on elytral intervals mostly touching each other or even slighty overlapping. Mesorostral dilatation weakly dentiform ( Figs 15– 18 ). Elytral maximum width in the basal third ( Figs 5, 6 ). Oligophagous on Thymus . Distribution: European-Asiatic species. Widespread from Mongolia to whole Europe and North Africa............................. S. atomarium (Kirby, 1808)

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. habitus. 1–2: Squamapion alpinum, 1: ♂ holotype, 2: ♀ paratype, both from Virgental: Marin.—3–4: Squamapion vicinum, 3: ♂, from Mödling, 4: ♀, from Stronach.—5–6: Squamapion atomarium, 5: ♂, 6: ♀, both from Hodonín: env.Pánov. Scale bar:1 mm.

FIGURES 7–18. head and rostrum in dorsal and lateral view.7–10: Squamapion alpinum, 7–8: ♂ holotype, 9–10: ♀ paratype, both from Virgental: Marin.—11–14: Squamapion vicinum, 11–12: ♂, from Mödling, 13–14: ♀, from Stronach.—15–18: Squamapion atomarium, 15–16: ♂, 17–18: ♀, both from Hodonín:env. Pánov.Scale bar: 0.5 mm.