Minyomerus aeriballux [JF2015] Jansen & Franz sec. Jansen & Franz (2015)

Jansen, M. Andrew & Franz, Nico M., 2015, Phylogenetic revision of Minyomerus Horn, 1876 sec. Jansen & Franz, 2015 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) using taxonomic concept annotations and alignments, ZooKeys 528, pp. 1-133 : 42-44

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Curculionidae

Minyomerus aeriballux [JF2015] Jansen & Franz sec. Jansen & Franz (2015) sp. n. Figs 23, 24

Diagnosis.

Minyomerus aeriballux [JF2015] is distinct from other congenerics in having irregular rows of setae on the elytra, where the setae do not form regular rows as in most other species. The setae are generally a lighter color, and are arranged in offset rows on the intervals. The elytra are strongly, distinctly punctate. The punctured elytral striae give this species a uniquely ‘pin-striped’ appearance (see Etymology). The pronotum is medially incurved on both the anterior and posterior margins. The head is distinctly conical in appearance, and is curved medially. The metatibiae are apically strongly convex and covered with setae similar in length to the surrounding setae, somewhat translucent, and slightly lamelliform. The spermatheca has the ramus elongate, annulate, and sub-apically situated on the corpus. The aedeagus is broad, and tapers to the apex. The aedeagal flagellum terminates in an apical sclerite that is irregularly sinuate and tortuous, and is nearly as large as the Aedeagal pedon itself.

Description - female.

Habitus. Length 5.25-6.49 mm, width 2.00-2.41 mm, shape sub-cylindrical to pyriform, length/width ratio 2.50-2.69, widest at posterior 1/2-2/5 of elytra. Integument dark reddish-brown to black. Scales with variously interspersed colors ranging from white to gold, in some specimens appearing semi-translucent (in others opaque) or with reddish or golden opalescent reflections; dorsal patterning fairly stable in this species, having alternating gold and white stripes on prothorax and elytra. Setae white.

Mandibles. Covered with white-opalescent scales, with 4-6 longer setae, and 1-3 shorter interspersed setae.

Maxillae. Cardo bifurcate at base with an inner angle of ca. 105°, inner (mesal) arm 2 –3× longer and 2 × thicker than outer arm, inner arm of bifurcation equal in length to apically outcurved arm. Stipes nearly square, equilateral, roughly equal in length to inner arm of bifurcation of cardo. Galeo-lacinial complex membranous and setose in posterior 2/3, sclerotized and somewhat emarginate anteriorly; dorsally with 7 apicomesal lacinial teeth; ventrally with 3 reduced lacinial teeth. Palpiger with a transverse row of setae; anterior 1/2-1/3 membranous, posteriorly sclerotized. Maxillary palps. I with apical end facing mesally and forming a 45° angle with base, I and II each with 2 apical setae; II with 1 mesoventral seta in addition to 2 apical setae.

Labium. Prementum roughly pentagonal; apical margins sinuate, angulate, lateral margins broadly curved, posterior margin mesally incurved; each lateral region with 1 long seta. Labial palps 3-segmented, III with apical 1/3 projecting beyond margin of prementum, but not reaching apex of ligula; both with 2 apical setae.

Rostrum. Length 0.70-0.84 mm, anterior portion 2 –2.5× broader than long, rostrum/pronotum length ratio 0.55-0.59, rostrum length/width ratio 1.16-1.34. Dorsal outline of rostrum sub-conical, posterior half of dorsal surface strongly rugose. Rostrum in lateral view sub-triangular; apical margin with 2 large vibrissae. Nasal plate weakly defined by Y-shaped, impressed lines, slightly convex, integument partially covered with white-opalescent scales. Margins of mandibular incision directed 15° outward dorsally in frontal view. Ventrolateral sulci weakly defined as a broad concavity dorsad of insertion point of mandibles, running parallel to scrobe, becoming flatter posteriorly and disappearing ventrally. Dorsal surface of rostrum with median sulcus running dorsally from fovea at posterior end of rostrum, equal in length to anterior-posterior length of nasal plate. Rostrum ventrally with integument between 2 converging sulci (beginning at corners of oral cavity) slightly elevated. Oral cavity with lateral margins feebly curved.

Antennae. Dorsal margin of scrobe overhanging slightly and forming a small tooth, anterior to margin of eye by 2/5 of length of eye. Funicle slightly longer than scape. Club similar in length to funicular antennomeres V-VII, nearly 2.5 × as long as wide.

Head. Anterodorsal margin of each eye unimpressed, posterior margin very slightly elevated from lateral surface of head; eyes separated in dorsal view by 4 × their anterior-posterior length, set off from anterior prothoracic margin by 1/3 of their anterior-posterior length.

Pronotum. Length/width ratio 0.83-0.89, sub-cylindrical to globular; widest between midpoint and anterior constriction; surface punctate, though punctures somewhat obscured by scales; median sulcus absent. Anterior margin nearly straight, subtly incurving mesally, lateral margins curved and widening into a bulge just anteriad of midpoint of pronotum, posterior margin incurved. Pronotum with scales forming 2 parenthesis-shaped, whitish stripes dorsally, laterally with a whitish stripe that continues onto elytron; in lateral view with setae that barely reach beyond anterior margin. Anterolateral margin with a greatly reduced tuft of 1-3 ocular vibrissae present, usually not emerging much beyond fringe of appressed scales, sometimes not apparent.

Scutellum. Margins straight.

Pleurites. Metepisternum covered by elytron near posterior 1/4 of metasternum.

Thoracic sterna. Anterior 1/4 of Mesosternum with a few plumose scales; mesocoxal cavities separated by distance 1/4x width of mesocoxal cavity. Metasternum without apparent transverse sulcus; metacoxal cavities separated by 1.5 –2× their width.

Legs. Tibiae and trochanters of all legs with a single, hair-like, brown seta positioned on mesal surface, approximately 1.5 –2× length of adjacent setae. Profemur/pronotum length ratio 0.93-1.00; profemur with distal 1/5 produced ventrally as a semicircular projection covering tibial joint. Protibia/profemur length ratio 0.89-0.95; protibia moderately stout, in cross section sub-circular, apically expanded; protibial apex with ventral setal comb recessed in a broadly concave groove, setal comb unbroken, but becoming thinner and sparser anteriorly; mucro present as a laterally projected tooth equal in length to nearby setae, triangular and equilateral. Protarsus with tarsomeres II and III equilateral; I-III jointly similar in length to V. Metatibial apex with almond shaped convex ity ringed by numerous longer, spiniform setae.

Elytra. Length/width ratio 2.94-3.32; widest at posterior 1/2-2/5; anterior margins jointly 1.5 –2× wider than posterior margin of pronotum; lateral margins sub-parallel after anterior 1/4, more strongly rounded and converging in posterior 1/2. Posterior declivity angled at nearly 60° to main body axis. Elytral striae deeply and distinctly punctate, appearing pin-striped, 1/4 × width of intervals; punctures distinct, separated by 2 –3× their diameter; colors variously interspersed, dorsally with a median longitudinal whitish stripe, laterally with a white stripe continuing from pronotum, these stripes more or less defined on some specimens; each interval medially with 1-2 rows of setae.

Abdominal sterna. Ventrite III anteriorly concave, posterior margin elevated and set off from IV along lateral 1/4s of its length. Sternum VII mesally 1/2 as long as wide; anterior margin weakly curved.

Tergum. Pygidium (tergum VIII) sub-conical, medial 1/2 of anterior 2/3 of pygidium less sclerotized.

Sternum VIII. Anterior laminar edges each incurved forming a 115° angle with lateral margin; lamina more sclerotized medially.

Ovipositor. Coxites 1/2 as broad as long in dorsal view.

Spermatheca. Comma-shaped; collum short, apically with a large, hood-shaped projection perpendicular to ramus, nearly equal in length and contiously aligned with curvature of bulb of ramus; collum short, cylindrical, sub-contiguous with, and angled at 90° to ramus; ramus elongate, somewhat bulbous, 2/3 × thickness of corpus and collum; corpus swollen, slightly thicker than collum, 2 × thickness of cornu; cornu elongate, apically, gradually narrowed, strongly recurved in basal 1/4, straight thereafter, extending nearly to extent of projection of collum, forming an inner angle of ca. 45° to collum and corpus.

Male.

Similar to female, except where noted. Length 4.74-4.97 mm, width 1.65-1.83 mm, length/width ratio 2.66-2.98. Rostrum length 0.63-0.74 mm, rostrum/pronotum length ratio 0.54-0.63, rostrum length/width ratio 1.14-1.41. Pronotum length/width ratio 0.85-0.95. Profemur/pronotum length ratio 0.92-1.03, protibia/profemur length ratio 0.91-0.97. Elytra length/width ratio 3.15-3.43.

Elytra. Elytral declivity more angulate, forming a 75° angle to main body axis, but otherwise as female.

Abdomen. Sternum VII similar to female. Tergum VII with posterior margin straight. Pygidium (tergum VIII) with posterior 3/4 punctate; anterior 1/4 rugose. Posterior 1/4 constricted and depressed, with posterior margin flaring out and slightly projected dorsally.

Aedeagus. Length/width ratio 3.09; lateral margins very slightly converging posteriorly, gradually, more strongly converging in region of ostium. Pedon in lateral view becoming gradually narrower posteriorly in anterior 1/2, ventral margins in posterior 1/2 becoming straight towards apex, then curving to meet dorsal margins at a sharp apical point. Flagellum with large, elonage, tortuous apical sclerite, sclerite nearly as long as pedon, with sinuate margins.

Etymology.

Named in reference to the dorsal coloration of the scales and the propensity of living specimens to traverse the open sand habitat in which they can be found, thus appearing as moving pieces of gold in the desert; aeris = bronze, brass, or copper, ballux = gold-dust or gold-sand; aeriballux = bronzy gold-dust; Latin noun in apposition ( Brown 1956).

Material examined.

Holotype - female "TEX. Winkler Co., 4 mi. N.E. Kermit, X-I-1971, C.W. O’Brien / on Artemisia filifolia [non-focal]" (CWOB). Paratypes, same label information as female holotype (CWOB: 17 females, 19 males) [8 females, 8 males deposited at CMNC]; "USA: NEW MEX: Lea Co., 7 mi. SE Jal, 2980 ft., 32.03275 °N, 103.14474°W, VIII-11-2012, E.G. Riley" (TAMU: 1 female); "USA: TEXAS: Winkler Co., Jct. TX hwy 115 & TX FM, 874, 16 rd. km NE Kermit, 31°57 ’13’’ N 102°58 ’15’’ W, X-6-7-2005, J.D. Oswald & Field Ento. Class-393" (TAMU: 1 female); "NEW MEXICO: Eddy Co., 32° 19.8'N, 103° 47.3'W, (Site 7) 23 Sept. 1979, R. R. Murray and J. C. Schaffner, sand dunes" (TAMU: 3 females, 3 males); "NEW MEXICO: Eddy Co., 32° 20.8'N, 103° 46.6'W, (Site 11) 24 April 1979, Burke, Selorme, Schaffner" (TAMU: 1 female).

Distribution.

This species has been found in western Texas as well as southeastern New Mexico (Fig. 51).

Natural history.

Associated with sagebrush ( Artemisia filifolia Torrey [non-focal]; Asteraceae [non-focal]).