Phyxelis, , Bright and Bouchard, 2008

Anderson, Robert S., 2018, A Revision of the Weevil Genus Phyxelis Schönherr 1843 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Entiminae; Tropiphorini) in North America, Insect Systematics and Diversity (AIFB) 2 (5), No. 2, pp. 1-11 : 8

Phyxelis sus Anderson, New Species Figs. 7–8 , 10, 13–14

(Zoobank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:20BD621C-059E-

492F-99C4-A17675455C2B)

Diagnosis

Head with rostrum with the apex broad, about as wide as head, flattened ventroapically with the sides extended laterally (creating a distinctly ‘pig-nosed’ appearance) (Fig. 10); elytra with suberect to erect scales broad, those on elytral declivity about 5 times as long as wide, those on declivity along suture towards elytral apex of same length and of same spacing as elsewhere on elytra ( Fig. 8 ); maximum width of elytra not much wider than maximum width of pronotum ( Fig. 7 ); elytral declivity in lateral view gradually descended ( Fig. 8 ).

Description

Male: Body length 3.1–3.6 mm, width 1.7–1.9 mm; in dorsal view 1.82–2.00 times longer than the greatest width which is at about midlength of elytra; dorsal outline in lateral view flattened to slightly convex. General color dark brown, surface generally covered with encrusted dirt. Vestiture composed of pale brown, finely ramose, erect scales (although these scales over great parts of surface appear to trap adherent fine dirt and debris and are individually obscured), with rather long, slightly recurved, broad dark brown or blackish setae-like scales, scales about as long as width of an elytral interval, broad, those on elytral declivity about 5 times as long as wide, apex of each scale truncate to broadly rounded. Rostrum flat to very slightly transversely impressed between eyes but dorsal surface of rostrum on same place as area between eyes. Rostrum slightly longer than width at base, lateral margins strongly divergent to apex, apex about as wide as width of head. View into mouthparts with sides of rostrum with inturned area very wide, with numerous scales visible, lateral portions of rostral apex strongly expanded laterally. Mandibles somewhat recessed into buccal cavity, each with two elongate setae. Pronotum very short, subcylindrical, much wider than long with the greatest width near base; dorsal surface roughly but very finely sculptured, heavily encrusted with dirt obscuring surface texture, with scattered erect, broad brownish setae-like scales; posterior margin broadly rounded, slightly wider than anterior margin. Elytra in dorsal view rather globose, length 1.23–1.35 times the greatest width; anterior margin broadly rounded; humeral region of elytra about same width as posterior margin of pronotum; lateral margins very slightly divergent until slightly before midlength, thereafter convergent to rounded apex; in lateral view with dorsal outline slightly convex; posterior declivity gradually descending; intervals largely covered with pale brown finely ramose scales, but surface details generally obscured by adherent dirt among scales; surface also with regularly distributed rather long, slightly recurved, broad dark brown setae-like scales; all elytral intervals more or less uniform in height and width. Venter with ramose scales similar to dorsum, also trapping adherent dirt; ventrites 1 and 2 on same plane as ventrites 3 and 4, ventrite 2 about as long as 1 (laterally), ventrites 3 and 4 shorter, subequal in length, together almost as long as ventrite 2; ventrite 5 concave at middle, length longer than 3 and 4 combined. Male genitalia with aedeagus strongly arcuate in basal one-half in lateral view, apex somewhat spatulate, evenly rounded, body of aedeagus short, shorter than length apodemes; internal sac with distinct rounded apical sclerite complex composed of dorsal ball-like structure and ventral pair of hook-like sclerites. Female. Not known.

Figures

Figs. 3–8. Phyxelis species. 3–4. P.rigidus. 3. Dorsal habitus. 4. Lateral habitus. 5–6. P.carltoni. 5. Dorsal habitus. 6. Lateral habitus.7–8. P.sus. 7.Dorsal habitus. 8. Lateral habitus.