Eupholus sedlaceki, Riedel, Alexander, 2010

Riedel, Alexander, 2010, Two new species of Eupholus Boisduval (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), with observations on coloured cuticular exudates in weevils, Zootaxa 2338, pp. 23-34 : 30-33

Eupholus sedlaceki sp. n.

( Figs. 2 , 6 , 11–13, 15, 18, 21 , 24, 27 )

Diagnosis. A grey Eupholus species with two broad ochreous elytral bands, the coloration created by extracuticular particles. Closely related to E. euphrosyne but differing by smaller size, more extensive vestiture and sinuate anterior margin of posterior transverse band. Inconspicuous coloration similar to that of Rhinoscapha and marked elytral tubercles as in Gymnopholus , but length of antennal scape (not passing middle of eye) placing it in Eupholus .

Description. Holotype, male ( Fig. 2 ). Length 18.5 mm; pronotum + elytron 14.0 mm. Coloration grey, except elytra with two broad transverse ochreous bands separated by one transverse black band. Head covered with cream-coloured amygdaloid scales except bordering eyes, surface micro-reticulate; between eyes with deep fovea. Vertical diameter of eye 1.27 X horizontal diameter. Rostrum ( Fig. 6 ) 2.06 X longer than wide at base, maximum width in front of antennal insertion, there 1.35 X width at base; dorsum in cross-section almost evenly rounded towards antennal scrobes, covered with cream-coloured amygdaloid scales interspersed with yellowish suberect setae directed mesad, medially with very low, glabrous costa; epistome heart-shaped, sunken ventrad posteriorly but not bordered by distinct ridge; scrobes shortened, ending 1/3 their length from eye; venter with recumbent cream-coloured scales interspersed with long suberect setae, medially with deep furrow, sublaterally bordered by pair of less distinct furrows, anteriorly behind prementum with 6 stiff erect setae, subequal to length of prementum. Antenna: funicle + club 2.63 X longer than scape; scape and funicle sparsely covered with recumbent cream-coloured scales and suberect setae; club elongate, 3.33 X longer than wide. Pronotum 1.07 X wider than long; disc medially deeply broadly impressed, concave, incompletely covered with dense recumbent non-overlapping cream-coloured amygdaloid scales interspersed with sparse suberect setae; scales laterally orientated mesad, medially orientated away from centre of depression except at base where directed apicad; surface minutely colliculate, weakly punctate. Scutellum largely covered by elytra. Thoracic venter densely squamose with amygdaloid to lanceolate, recumbent scales. Elytron 3.20 X longer than wide at humerus, greatest width near middle, there 1.08 X wider than at humerus; humerus with rectangularly projecting callus; interval 5 in apical third angulately projecting, basally continued as ridge to posterior transverse band, interval 7 behind humeral callus continued as a ridge for short distance; vestiture dense except for subglabrous transverse band and basal portion of intervals 1–3, these surfaces dull, microreticulate, with sparse short suberect setae; in basal third and slightly behind middle each with transverse band of dense suberect cream-coloured setae that trap an ochreous substance, lending bands a yellowish-ochreous colour, anterior band situated in front of middle, laterally reaching to interval 8, subglabrous area between bands narrower than a band; anterior margin of posterior band sinuate, at suture extended anteriad, at intervals 2–3 concave; elytral apex densely covered with partly overlapping, subrecumbent cream-coloured amygdaloid scales lending integument a grey colour, interspersed with sparse suberect setae; dorsal surface of ridge on interval 5 subglabrous; striae moderately deeply impressed from base to middle, apically indistinct; epipleural edge with fringe of lanceolate scales. Ala relatively short, length 15 mm. Femora and tibiae densely squamose with recumbent amygdaloid cream-coloured scales interspersed with sparse suberect setae; tarsi with lanceolate recumbent grey scales and interspersed suberect setae. Abdomen densely squamose with amygdaloid to lanceolate, recumbent scales; ventrites 1 and 2 medially weakly concave, 5 apically rounded. Aedeagus ( Fig. 12) with sides weakly converging to apical orifice, then markedly converging to pointed apex with slightly concave sides, in lateral aspect ( Fig. 11) evenly weakly curved; endophallus with compact, symmetrical transfer apparatus ( Fig. 13).

Selected female paratype ( Fig. 4 ). Same as holotype except: Length 19.5 mm, pronotum + elytron 16.0 mm. Rostrum 1.75 X longer than wide at base; maximum width 1.19 X that at base. Funicle + club 2.24 X longer than scape. Pronotum 1.15 X wider than long. Scutellum partly covered by elytra, sparsely setose. Elytron 3.21 X longer than wide at humerus; there 1.15 X wider than at humerus; shape subovate, sides more distinctly rounded. Ventrites 1–2 more distinctly convex, 5 subtriangular. Sternite VIII as in fig. 24. Tergite VIII ( Fig. 27 ) apically broadly rounded. Hemisternite ( Fig. 21 ) 1.9 X longer than high, apical half trapezoid, apically subtruncate; stylus 2 X longer than wide, subapically with cluster of moderately long stiff setae pointing laterad. Vagina ( Fig. 15, 18 ) with inconspicuous submedian pair of sclerites ca. twice as long as wide. Ductus spermathecae thin, isodiametric, inserted at junction of bursa copulatrix and oviduct; terminal portion of bursa dorsally anterior of this junction. Spermatheca ( Figs. 31 ) with gland ca. 2 X longer than body.

Intraspecific variation. Length of males 16.0– 18.5 mm (n=3, =17.3 ± 1.3), of females 19.5–22.0 mm (n=5, =20.4 ± 1.0); pronotum + elytron of males 13.0– 14.5 mm (n=3, =13.8 ± 0.8), pronotum + elytron 16.0–17.0 mm (n=5, =16.3 ± 0.4). Coloration of dorsal surface grey or more or less extensive areas black if scaling abraded; transverse elytral bands ochreous or rarely brighter yellow. Rostrum 1.71–2.06 X longer than wide at base (n=8, =1.86 ± 0.11); maximum width 1.19–1.35 X that at base (n=8, =1.26 ± 0.05). Funicle + club 2.44–2.63 X longer than scape in males (n=3, =2.50 ± 0.11), 2.24–2.46 X in females (n=4, =2.35 ± 0.09). Pronotum 1.07–1.15 X wider than long in females (n=8, =1.10 ± 0.03). Scutellum almost fully covered by elytra as in holotype, or more or less exposed. Elytron 3.20–3.42 X longer than wide at humerus in males (n=3, =3.32 ± 0.11), 3.11–3.21 X in females (n=5, =3.17 ± 0.04); greatest width 1.08–1.13 X wider than at humerus in males (n=3, =1.10 ± 0.03), 1.09–1.15 X in females (n=5, =1.13 ± 0.02). Subapical swelling of interval 5 more or less distinct, usually dentiform, but almost missing in male form Kunai Creek. Subglabrous area between two yellow bands usually narrower a band, but rarely subequal; anterior margin of posterior band sinuate as in holotype or rarely weakly convex across elytral suture.

Material examined. Holotype, male: PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Morobe Prov., Wau, leg. J. Sedlacek, II.1974 ( SMNK) [pinned through right elytron; genitalia in glycerol in microvial attached to pin; left ala cut at base, on cardboard attached to pin; right antenna broken and glued in place]. Paratypes: PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Morobe Prov.: 1 female (selected female paratype), Wau, V.1990 ( TPCJ); 1 female, Wau, IV.1990 ( TPCJ); 1 female, Wau, Kunai Creek, 1500 m, 28–30.V.1963, leg. P. Shanahan ( BPBM); 1 female, Wau, Mt. Kaindi, 1500–1800 m, 12–14.VI.1963, leg. P. Shanahan ( BPBM); 1 female, Wau, 1200–1300 m, IX.1965, leg. J. Sedlacek ( BPBM); 1 male, Mt. Kaindi, Nami Cr., 1600 m, 14.VI.1974, leg. Hart & Yamaguchi ( BPBM); 1 male, Wau, Kunai Cr., 1500 m, 28–30.V.1963, leg. P. Shanahan ( BPBM).

Distribution. Only known from the area of Wau in Morobe Province ( Papua New Guinea).

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the collector, the late Joe Sedlacek. He sold me the type specimen years ago before I went on my first own field trip to New Guinea. His achievements as a collector of insects in New Guinea are outstanding.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Habitus of Eupholus spp.: (1) E. mimicus, holotype (2) E. sedlaceki, holotype; (3) E. euphrosyne, female (Aseki); (4) E. sedlaceki, female (Wau).

FIGURES 5 – 7. Head and rostrum of Eupholus spp.: (5) E. euphrosyne; (6) E. sedlaceki; (7) E. mimicus.

FIGURES 14 – 22. Female genitalia of Eupholus spp., upper row: overview in ventral aspect; middle row: vagina, bursa copulatrix and base of hemisternites in ventral aspect; lower row: left hemisternite. (14, 17, 20) E. euphrosyne; (15, 18, 21) E. sedlaceki; (16, 19, 22) E. mimicus.

FIGURES 23 – 31. Female genitalia of Eupholus spp.: (23 – 25) sternite VIII; (26 – 28) tergite VIII; (29 – 31) spermatheca. (23, 26, 30) E. euphrosyne; (24, 27, 31) E. sedlaceki; (25, 28, 29) E. mimicus.