Hemicolpus maragatensis Sanz-Veiga, Savaris & Leivas, 2023

Sanz-Veiga, Priscila A., Savaris, Marcoandre, Leivas, Fernando W. T., Medeiros, Alexandre Da Silva & Amorim, Felipe W., 2023, A new seed-feeding species of Hemicolpus Heller, 1895 from south Brazil and redescription of Hemicolpus abdominalis Hustache, 1938 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), Zootaxa 5227 (3), pp. 301-327 : 305-313

Hemicolpus maragatensis Sanz-Veiga, Savaris & Leivas , sp. nov.

Figs. 2–30

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EF8F8288-2CE2-4DC6-8F65-67F5DD6AD55A

Hemicolpus abdominalis: Hespenheide 2018: 123 [specimen illustrated in Fig. 3 ].

Diagnosis. This species differs from all species of Hemicolpus in having general reddish-brown vestiture and reddish integument color ( Figs. 2–4 ). In addition, from other species of Hemicolpus , except H. abdominalis , it differs in having a strongly excavated mesoventral canal ( Fig. 5 ), and a pair of tubercles on the second abdominal tergite ( Fig. 19 ). It differs from H. abdominalis , the most morphologically similar species, by the triangular glabrous patch extending over almost half the area of the mesanepisternum ( Fig. 6 ); metafemur longitudinally carinate ( Fig. 7a ); minute premucro oriented almost at 90°; prominent inner flange of the tibial apex longer than wide ( Fig. 7b ); and by the absence of a preapical constriction on the penis ( Fig. 23 ).

Description. Body very robust and oval, widest at elytral humeri, 4.0– 4.6 mm long in males, and 3.9–4.6 mm long in females. Body integument strongly to moderately punctate, reddish to reddish-brown, with antenna and tarsi brownish. The pronotum is covered mainly by slender pale-brown or reddish-brown scales, with few pale scales; the elytra with pale scales interspaced with pale-brown ones. Scales semierect and recumbent on pronotum, sparser and semierect on elytra ( Figs. 2, 3 ), moderately dense and mostly recumbent ventrally ( Figs. 19, 20 ).

Head. Width 0.87–1.05, globose, vertex finely punctate, covered with small pale-brown scales. Eyes emarginate dorsally, acuminate ventrally, separated by one or two rows of slender pale-brown scales at closest point near middle ( Fig. 6 ). Rostrum. Length 1.08–1.25 mm in males and 1.11–1.28 mm in females, subcylindrical, ventrally flat, slightly wider at base, weakly arcuate at basal third near antennal insertion, and very slightly curved toward apex, with weak lateral constriction in middle, with small shallow punctures, and feebly carinate at basal half along dorsal midline ( Figs. 15, 17 ). Female rostrum almost straight along apical ⅔, slightly slender, and smoother than male ( Figs. 16, 18 ). Scrobe well defined, dorsally delimited by carina, which extends toward rostrum base. Basal third dorsally covered with pale and pale-brown scales, inconspicuous pale scales toward apex in males ( Fig. 17 ). In females, primarily glabrous along apical ⅔ ( Fig. 18 ), glabrous along dorsal midline and ventrally. Antenna inserted at basal third of rostrum in both sexes ( Figs. 15, 16 ); scape short and clavate 1.4 times as long as antennal segment I, segment II 0.8 times as long as I, and 1.5 times as long as III, IV 0.8 times III, and 1.3 times segment V, the VI and VII subequal and slightly smaller than V; club elongate, oval, twice longer than wide, subequal in length to first segment.

Prothorax. Pronotum 1.21–1.46 mm long and 1.71–1.84 mm wide in males, 1.30–1.48 mm long and 1.61–1.84 mm wide in females; wider than long, widest posteriorly ( Fig. 3 ). Dorsally convex ( Fig. 2 ), sides slightly round, gradually converging anteriad, anterior margin round, with weak anterior constriction, posterior margin bisinuate with midline lobe extending toward scutellum ( Fig. 3 ). Integument with broad punctures, carinate along dorsal midline. Dorsally, mostly covered with slender, semierect, pale-brown or reddish-brown and few pale scales partially exposing integument, on sides dorsally oriented recumbent scales ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Prosternal canal with posterior margin of basisternum projecting over anterior margin of sternellum, covered with flat yellowish scales ( Fig. 5a ).

Mesothorax. Mesonotum with few punctures covered with setae at anterolateral margin; mesoscutummesoscutellum transition with broad punctures covered with pectinate scales; axillary cord round slightly angular ( Fig. 10 ); scutellar shield oval, covered with erect pale scales. Elytra, in males, 2.63–2.95 mm long, 2.33–2.62 mm wide at anterior extremity, 1.36–1.43 times as wide, and 1.86–2.17 times as long as pronotum; in females, 2.45–2.84 mm long, 2.27–2.54 mm wide at anterior extremity, 1.35–1.42 times as wide and 1.88–2.00 times as long as pronotum; wider at anterior third, with sides very slightly rounded, gradually converging from middle toward posterior extremity, truncate at posterior margin. Humeral callus round and prominent, covered with semierect palebrown scales. Disc almost flat in anterior half, then slightly arcuate, slightly depressed behind scutellar shield, and along elytral suture, with elytral declivity behind prominence of interstria 5 ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Striae and interstriae width subequal, interstriae 9 and 10 slightly wider at basal half, striae with deep rectangular punctures, interstria with shallow punctures, interstria 5 with faint prominence near elytral declivity. Sparsely covered with semierect, pale, and brown scales, prominence on interstria 5 with tuft of erect, long, brown or dark-brown scales, each interstria with one very slender pale scale, pale scales densely arranged along posterior ¼ of elytral suture, with posterior margin densely covered by pale-brown or reddish-brown scales ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Ventrally, elytra apex with transversal stripe of microtrichia ( Fig. 8 ); left elytron mesal flange abruptly produced from base to apex ( Fig. 8 ). Mesanepisternum covered with pale-brown scales, basal inner angle with smooth glabrous triangular patch extending almost half area of mesanepisternum ( Fig. 6 ). Mesepimeron covered with patch of semierect, long, pale scales dorsally extending over elytral margin. Mesendosternite with dorsally projecting weakly sclerotized, curved arm ( Fig. 11 ). Mesoventrite strongly excavated forming mesoventral canal ( Figs. 5a, b ), laterally with two longitudinal carinae extending from anterior to posterior margin posteriorly meeting with metaventrite anterior carina ( Fig. 5b ), channel covered with pectinate yellowish scales. Outer side of each lateral carinae with patch of dense whitish scales behind mesocoxae ( Fig. 5b ).

Metathorax. Metanotum with few setae at anterolateral margins; scutellar groove with well-developed median longitudinal crest, anteriorly with well-developed transverse bridge; metascutum with convex angular posteromedial margin ( Fig. 12 ). Metathoracic wing with well-developed 3A, unsclerotized R3 forming white line, well-developed rm, and mst, C-shaped 2rs, elongated rectangular 1rs smaller than 2rs, the 1A2 defined near wing margin extending dorsally and merging with A through a1-a2 ( Fig. 14 ). Metanepisternum mostly with pale-brown and few whitish scales; metanepisternal suture with round yellowish type III sclerolepidia ( Fig. 4 ). Metendosternite with wide stalk, slender furcal arm, and developed hemiductus ( Fig. 13 ). Metaventrite excavated beneath anterior margin, forming metaventral canal to receive rostrum apex, with anterior carina connected to mesoventrite lateral carinae ( Figs. 5a, b ). Legs. Pro- and mesocoxae with inner tubercle. Ventrally, femora with longitudinal sulcus, slightly curved at apical third, both inner and outer apical margins with small tooth. Metafemora with longitudinal carina on inner face ( Fig. 7a ). Femora covered by pale-brown intermixed with whitish scales, slightly denser at apical third ( Fig. 7a ). Tibia sparsely covered with slender whitish and brown scales, apically with yellowish setal comb near outer margin ( Fig. 7a ). Apex with large, curved uncus, round inner flange longer than wide, and small premucro directed at almost 90° angle to longitudinal axis of tibia ( Fig. 7b ), few long setae at each side between premucro and inner flange ( Fig. 7b ).

Abdomen. Abdominal ventrite I with shallow anteromedial depression in males, shallower or flat in females ( Figs. 19, 20 ), weakly ascending at posterior half. Ventrite II strongly angulate, sharply ascending at posterior ¾, with posteromedial concavity bordered anteriorly by pair of tubercles ( Figs. 9 , 19, 20 ). Ventrites III–V strongly ascending, III and IV subequal, more slender than II and V. Ventrite V subtrapezoidal ( Fig. 9 ). Ventrite I covered with yellowish and pale-brown scales, male with oval patch of densely arranged yellow scales in anteromedial depression ( Fig. 19 ), absent in female ( Fig. 20 ). Tubercles covered with tuft of pale scales, concavity densely covered with pale-brown or reddish-brown scales. Ventrites III and IV with central patch of pale-brown or reddishbrown scales, and smaller patches of pale scales at each side of it, with tufts of pale or whitish scales on lateral margins. Ventrite V mostly covered by brown scales, with small tufts of whitish scales on sides ( Fig. 9 ).

Male terminalia ( Figs. 21–25 ). Abdominal tergite VIII subretangular, 1.2 times wider than long, slightly wider basal half; sides emarginate at base, gradually converging from middle toward apex; apical margin almost flat or slightly convex with sides somewhat angulate ( Figs. 21, 22 ); sclerotized at apical third and along periphery, not sclerotized at basal ¾; apical third dorsally covered with broad punctures and slender setae ( Fig. 22 ). Sternite VIII composed of two separated subtrapezoid plates, with apical margin almost flat, outer sides of each plate slightly concave, and base slightly larger than apex; apex covered mostly with long setae and few shorter setae ( Fig. 21 ). Sternite IX apically emarginate forming V-shaped structure with subequal short arms; spiculum gastrale slender and slightly curved, 1.3 times length of penis body, slightly enlarged at base ( Fig. 21 ). Penis body 2.5 times as long as wide, sides almost parallel at basal ¾ then gradually converging toward apex, with apical margin blunt; apical sclerites elongate and subtriangular; endophallus rectangular slightly shorter than penis body; penis apodemes 1.2 times longer than body ( Fig. 23 ). In lateral view, penis body arcuate and acuminate at apical end ( Fig. 24 ). The tegmen parameroid lobes not sclerotized, connate at apical third, almost half length of tegminal apodeme ( Fig. 25 ).

Female terminalia ( Figs. 26–30 ). Tergite VIII subtriangular, 1.2 times wider at base than long, wider at basal third, sides subparallel, slightly convex at basal third, then slightly concave and converging toward apex, apical margin slightly convex or almost flat, sclerotized at apical third and along periphery, weakly sclerotized at basal half ( Figs. 26, 27 ); dorsally with apical third covered by long setae, denser toward apical margin ( Fig. 27 ). Sternite VIII with U-shaped lobe, arms 0.7 times shorter than spiculum ventrale, with sides almost parallel, with weak lateral constriction in middle, slightly wider at apex, with somewhat irregular margin covered by long setae, spiculum ventrale emarginate at base ( Fig. 28 ). Gonocoxite elongate, about three times longer than wide, slightly wider at basal half, weakly sclerotized, glabrous, with diagonal unsclerotized stripe at basal half; stylus cylindrical almost twice longer than wide, apex slightly narrow with few very small setae ( Fig. 26 ). Bursa copulatrix membranous, elongate, nearly three times longer than wide, with weak lateral constriction near insertion of common oviduct, then slightly curved ( Fig. 29 ). Spermatheca well sclerotized, C-shaped, cornu narrower than collum extremity, spermathecal duct positioned near common oviduct. Spermathecal gland membranous, elliptical, 1.4 times larger than spermatheca, and placed near spermathecal duct insertion ( Fig. 30 ).

External sexual dimorphism. Weak sexual dimorphism is evidenced by differences in the rostrum and first abdominal ventrite. The male rostrum is slightly more curved than the female ( Fig. 15 ), more evidently carinate along ¾ midline and wider punctures throughout most of the rostrum ( Fig. 17 ). In females, the rostrum is slightly more slender and smoother than the male ( Fig. 16 ), sparsely covered with tiny scales after antennal insertion, mostly glabrous ( Fig. 18 ). The male first abdominal ventrite presenting a weak anteromedial depression evidencing a rectangular or oval patch of yellowish scales ( Fig. 19 ), mostly flat in females, without the patch of scales ( Fig. 20 ).

Remarks. Specimens also presented reddish-brown scales intermixed by a higher proportion of pale and darkbrown scales at each side of the pronotal midline. Some males showed an almost glabrous rostrum, similarly to females. This species can be easily differentiated from H. cubicus , H. heteromorphus , H. randiae , H. prenai , and H. costaricensis by presenting a more general reddish color, especially on the pronotum, rather dark brown and tan in H. randiae , H. prenai , and H. costaricensis , brown, yellowish, and white in H. heteromorphus , and glabrous in H. cubicus . Hemicolpus maragatensis can be further differentiated from H. abdominalis by the less visible pronotal integument in dorsal view ( Fig. 3 ; more visible in H. abdominalis ; Fig. 32 ), by a somewhat shinier reddish integument ( Fig. 4 ; darker and less shiny in H. abdominalis ; Fig. 33 ), a proportionally wider patch of brown scales on the concavity of the second abdominal ventrite ( Fig. 9 ), and differences in size ( H. maragatensis smaller than H. abdominalis ). Also, by presenting an unsclerotized diagonal line at the basal half of the gonocoxite ( Fig. 26 ); a narrower spermatheca cornu ( Fig. 30 ; round in H. abdominalis ; Fig. 57 ); a round anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix ( Fig. 29 ; lobular in H. abdominalis ; Fig. 56 ); and the margin of the mesonotum axillary cord slightly more angulate ( Fig. 10 ; round in H. abdominalis ; Fig. 39 ).

Distribution. Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul (Nova Petrópolis, Passo Fundo, Pelotas), Santa Catarina (Seara, district of Nova Teutônia, and Joaçaba), and Paraná (Curitiba; Fig. 1 ). Elevational range from 280 to 940 m.

Biology. This species has been reared from fruits of Randia ferox (Cham. & Schltdl.) DC. (Rubiaceae) , with adults emerging approximately two-three months after fruits started to develop, from February to the middle of April. Up to six adults from the fruits collected in Pelotas emerged from the same fruit.

Type data. The holotype male is labeled “ BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul: Passo Fundo, 27.II.2012, 28°14′27.89″S 52°27′39.21″W, 642 m, frutos, M. Savaris ” / “HOLOTYPE ♁ Hemicolpus maragatensis Sanz-Veiga, Savaris & Leivas ” [red] / “ESALQENT0001643” [paper bar code label]. The holotype is pin mounted, in excellent condition, and deposited in the MELQ. Paratypes: same data as holotype, 3♁ 1♀ ( MELQ ESALQENT0001644–47 ) ; Pelotas , 31º36′46″S 52º30′13″W, 288 m, 15 Mar 2021, reared from fruits Randia ferox, J. Bugoni col., 1♁ 1♀ ( MELQ ESALQENT0001648–49 ) ; Santa Catarina: [Seara], Nova Teutônia , 27º11′0.8″S 52º23′0.1″W, VII [Jul] 1954, 300-500 m, F. Plaumann, 2♀ ( MZUSP) . Joaçaba , 27°11′20.0″S 51°34′43.0″W, 708 m, 27 Apr 2022, reared from fruits of Randia ferox, C. Geuster col., 1♁ 1♀ ( MELQ ESALQENT0001736–1737 ) . Paraná: Curitiba , 25°23′48.0″S 49°14′57.0″W 947 m, reared from fruits of Randia ferox , 10 Mar 2022, P.A.S. Veiga col., 1♁ ( MELQ ESALQENT0001650 ) .

Etymology. This species is named after the locality where the type series was first reared from fruits of R. ferox , the “Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Maragato (RPPN Maragato)”, which was created by Rogério Benvegnu Guedes to preserve a fragment of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest in Passo Fundo, middle plateau region of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The Maragatos was also the name given to the people who initiated the federalist revolution in the Rio Grande do Sul in 1893 in protest of the federal government ( Oliveira 2014). This group of revolutionaries was identified by wearing a red scarf which distinguished them from the Chimangos, in a similar way by which H. maragatensis can be differentiated from the congeneric species due to its overall reddish vestiture and integument.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geographical distribution of Hemicolpus abdominalis (blue symbols) and H. maragatensis (red symbols), showing the widespread distribution of H. abdominalis in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, and more restricted distribution of H. maragatensis in the southern region of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Triangles represent records from literature and entomological collections and circles the records of insects reared from fruits.

FIGURES 2–5. Adult of Hemicolpus maragatensis 2) Habitus, male lateral view. 3) Habitus, male dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm. 4) Lateral view, highlighting the sclerolepidia (white arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 5) Prothorax ventral view; a. showing the yellowish flat scales on the sternellum (red arrow) within the prosternal canal and the mesoventral canal (blue arrow). Scale bar = 0.5 mm. b. Strongly excavated meso- and metaventral canal after removing the pronotum, showing the mesoventral carina (red arrow) and the lateral patch of whitish scales (blue arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 6–9. Hemicolpus maragatensis 6) Male frontal view of the head and pronotum, highlighting the triangular, glabrous patch on the inner basal angle of the mesanepisternum (red arrows). Scale bar = 0.5 mm. 7) Hindleg; a. showing the longitudinal carina on the inner face of the metafemur (white arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. b. detail of the tibial apex, the curved uncus, the inner flange, and a small premucro (black arrow). Scale bar = 0.1 mm. 8) Ventral view of elytra, showing the subapical microtrichia field (red arrow) and the left elytron flange along the suture line (black arrow). Scale bar = 0.5 mm. 9) Posterior view of abdominal ventrites II to V, highlighting the second ventrite concavity covered with a dense patch of brown scales (green arrow). Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 10–14. Hemicolpus maragatensis 10) Mesonotum highlighting the axillary cord (red arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 11) Dissected meso- and metaventrites, with the white line highlighting the mesendosternite. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 12) Structure of the metanotum. Scale bar = 0.5 mm. 13) Metendosternite. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 14) Hindwing. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 15–20. Hemicolpus maragatensis external sexual dimorphism 15) Lateral view of the male rostrum. 16) Lateral view of the female rostrum. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. 17) Male rostrum dorsal view. 18) Female rostrum dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. 19) Male ventral view showing the depression within the first ventrite with the yellowish patch of scales (red arrow) and the pair of tubercles on the second abdominal ventrite (blue arrow). 20) Female ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 21–25. Hemicolpus maragatensis male terminalia 21) Tergite VIII, sternites VIII and IX, ventral view. 22) Tergite VIII dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. 23) Penis dorsal view. 24) Penis lateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. 25) Tegmen dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 26–30. Hemicolpus maragatensis female terminalia. 26) Tergite VIII, gonocoxite and stylus, ventral view. 27) Tergite VIII dorsal view. 28) Sternite VIII. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. 29) Bursa copulatrix. 30) Spermatheca and spermathecal gland. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 31–34. Adult of Hemicolpus abdominalis 31) Habitus, female lateral view. 32) Habitus, female dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm. 33) Lateral view with detail of sclerolepidia (white arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 34) Prothorax ventral view a. showing the yellowish flat scales on the sternellum (red arrow) within the prosternal canal and the mesoventral canal (blue arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. b. Detail of the meso- and metaventral canal after removing the pronotum, showing the mesoventral carina (red arrow) and the lateral patch of yellowish scales (blue arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 53–57. Hemicolpus abdominalis, female terminalia 53) Tergite VIII, gonocoxite and stylus, ventral view. 54) Tergite VIII dorsal view. 55) Sternite VIII. 56) Bursa copulatrix. 57) Spermatheca and spermathecal gland. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 39–43. Hemicolpus abdominalis 39) Mesonotum, showing the axillary cord (red arrow). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 40) Dissected meso- and metaventrites with the white line highlighting the mesendosternite. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 41) Structure of the metanotum. Scale bar = 0.5 mm. 42) Metendosternite. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. 43) Hindwing. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.