Limnobaris basalis (Voss, 1958) Voss, 1958

Prena, Jens, Korotyaev, Boris, Wang, Zhiliang, Ren, Li, Liu, Ning & Zhang, Runzhi, 2014, A taxonomic revision of Limnobaris Bedel in the strict sense (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae), with particular emphasis on the species found in China, ZooKeys 416, pp. 41-66 : 46-47

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Curculionidae

Limnobaris basalis (Voss, 1958) stat. prom. & comb. n.

Pertorcus tibialis basalis Voss, 1958: 76. Holotype female, Kuatun [Guadun], Fujian, China (AKMB).

Diagnosis.

Limnobaris basalis is a small species (2.3-3.1 mm) with white, squamiform setae on the elytral base. Males can be distinguished from the equally small Limnobaris albosparsa and Limnobaris tibialis by the shape and position of the ventral process on the protibia (Fig. 3). Abraded females of Limnobaris basalis and Limnobaris tibialis may be distinguished by body proportion ( Limnobaris basalis is slightly stouter) and host association, Limnobaris basalis and Limnobaris albosparsa by allopatry. Other similar but allopatric species are Limnobaris babai (Japan) and Limnobaris elliptica (South China, Myanmar). They are larger, have smaller and fewer scales on the elytral base and a shorter rostrum.

Distribution.

The species is known from several sites in Fujian Province, China (Fig. 13).

Biology.

The overwintered weevil appears on Scirpus in early April and feeds on the leaves. In late April, when the plant flowers in Fujian, we observed numerous specimens on the inflorescence. The larva develops in the culm, apparently most successfully in the basal, often submerged internode. Occupants of more distal internodes frequently were parasitized by an unidentified species of the Eupelmus (s. str.)urozonus Dalman group ( Eupelmidae , Hymenoptera ). Pupation starts in June and newly eclosed adults appear in July. In middle July 2013, we found mostly larvae, approximately one third pupae and one eclosed adult in the culms we dissected.

Notes.

Pertorcus tibialis basalis is transferred here to Limnobaris and raised to full species rank based on plant association, molecular data and morphological details of the protibia, genitalia and vestiture.

Material examined.

CHINA. Fujian: 建阳坳头 [?]田坵 [?tianqiu, Aotou, Jianyang], 25.iv.1965 (IZCAS 1); 建阳坳头三板桥 [Sanban Bridge, Aotou, Jianyang], 19.iv.1965, 26.iv.1965, 18.v.1991 (IZCAS 3); Daanyuan, Wuyi Mts., 24.-27.iv.2013 (BMNH 4, IZCAS 17, JPPC 11, ZIN 4), 16.-19.vii.2013 [larvae, pupae, 1 adult, parasites] (IZCAS, JPPC); Guadun, Wuyi Mts., 1.iv.1938 (PT), 2.iv.1938 (HT), 7.iv.1938 (4x), 8.iv.1938 (5x), 12.iv.1938 (2 PT), 15.iv.1938, 16.iv.1938, 19.iv.1938, 25.iv.1938 (5x), 27.iv.1938, 5.v.1938, 6.v.1938 (1 + 1 PT), 7.v.1938 (AKMB 25); 大竹栏 [Dazhulan], 4.vii.1965 (IZCAS 1); Guangze, 5.ix.1937 (AKMB 1); 建阳黄坑新历 [Xinli, Huangkeng, Jianyang], 25/27.v.1965 (IZCAS 2); 建阳黄坑 [Huangkeng, Jianyang], 10.-13.iv.1965 (IZCAS 4); 建阳将乐龙栖山 [Longqi Mts., Jiangle, Jianyang], 19.iv.1965, 3.vii.1965, 17.-19.v.1991 (6x), 1.viii.1991 (IZCAS 9); 梅花山双车村 [Shuangche Village, Meihua Mts.], 6.xi.2008 (IZCAS 1); 黄坑大竹篮先峰岭 [Xian Fengling, Huangkeng Dazhulan, Jianyang], 28.v.1960 (IZCAS 2).