Eupholus vlasimskii Balke & Riedel

Riedel, Alexander, 2002, Two new species of Eupholus Boisduval (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from West New Guinea, a discussion of their taxonomic characters, and notes on nomenclature, Zootaxa 90, pp. 1-16 : 4-6

Eupholus vlasimskii Balke & Riedel sp. n.

( Figs. 1, 5 , 7, 15, 18, 19, 20, 23, 27)

Type material

Holotype: IRIAN JAYA, Paniai Prov. [at border with Manokwari Prov.], Wondiwoi Mts., Yeretua, 300­600 m, native collector ( MZB) [pinned through right elytron; genitalia dissected, in glycerol / microvial attached to pin; left ala cut at base, on cardboard attached to pin; left antenna broken after article 5 of funicle, apex lost; right antenna broken at base of club, glued on cardboard attached to pin; left elytron laterally punched in between intervals 6­8].

Description

Holotype, female ( Fig. 1). Length. Total length 23.5 mm; pronotum + elytron 18.3 mm. Head densely setose with pale green, ovate to lanceolate, recumbent scales; posteriorly at middle scales less dense and / or transparent. Eye surrounded by dense squamosity. Vertical diameter of eye 1.36 X horizontal diameter. Rostrum ( Fig. 5 ) 1.92 X as long as wide at base; maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.33 X width at base. Dorsum in cross­section almost evenly rounded towards antennal scrobes; densely covered with ovate to subrotund, recumbent, dull green scales; interspersed with setiform, subrecumbent scales, both scale types in transverse arrangement; medially area of less the width of antennal funicle very shallowly (hardly perceptible) impressed, containing very fine carina along midline. Epistome heart­shaped, weakly sunken ventrad, not bordered by distinct ridges posteriorly [e. g. as in E. schoenherrii (Guérin­Méneville) ]. Antennal scrobes shortened, ending 1/3 their length from eye. Venter densely covered with recumbent green scales, medially interspersed with long recumbent to suberect setae; medially with deep furrow, sublaterally bordered by pair of less distinct furrows; anteriorly behind prementum without exceptionally long erect setae. Antenna. Funicle + club 2.07 X length of scape; scape and funicle densely clothed with golden­green, elongate, recumbent scales. Pronotum 1.19 X wider than long; densely squamose with circular to subovate appressed scales of reddish green coloration; some areas abraded. Scutellum circular, squamose with green scales. Elytron 2.99 X longer than wide between humeri; greatest width somewhat behind middle, 1.06 X wider than between humeri. Interval 5 in apical third with obtuse tubercle; at humeri with bluntly subangulately projecting callus; interval 7 behind humeral callus continued as a ridge to apical third of elytron; interval 9 from humeral callus to level of metacoxa markedly swollen, in dorsal aspect forming lateral outline of elytron in basal third. Extensive areas of elytron glabrous, dull black, with weakly coriaceous sculpture, striae distinct. Following patterns composed of pale green, densely overlapping, recumbent, ovate scales: in basal 1/3 with circle from interval 2 to interval 11, glabrous center from interval 4 to interval 9; in apical 1/3 with another such circle, from sutural interval to epipleural edge, glabrous center from interval 2 to interval 9; apical tip of elytron squamose, with interspersed subrecumbent setae; mesal margin of sutural interval glabrous to apex; epipleural edge with fringe of lanceolate green scales. Ala as in fig. 7, length 19.5 mm. Thoracic venter. Coxae densely squamose with recumbent, green, ovate to elongate scales; meso­ and metacoxa with interspersed setae. In front of procoxae with patch of green scales, separated from reddish scaling of sides of prothorax by black subglabrous band which continues posteriad bordering procoxa, joining glabrous postpectus. Meso­ and metathorax subglabrous, dull black except between midcoxae densely squamose with green scales; posterior edge of metathorax with fringe of elongate, green scales. Legs with uniformly green vestiture of scales, densely interspersed with suberect setae. Abdomen subglabrous, sparsely setose, dull black except sternite IV­VI with fringe of green, elongate scales on posterior edge, sternite VII in posterior half with lanceolate green scales and interspersed setae. Genitalia. Sternite VIII as in fig. 19. Hemisternite ( Fig. 20 ) 2.4 X as long as high, apical half subquadrate, apically broadly weakly sinuate. Stylus 3.0 X as long as wide, subapically with cluster of moderately long stiff setae pointing laterad. Vagina ( Fig. 18 ) with pair of elongate lateral sclerites ca. 7 X 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 as in fig. 23, gland lost during dissection.

Differential diagnosis

The color pattern of a pair of green setose circles on the otherwise glabrous elytron distinguishes this species from all the other Eupholus . This pattern could be derived from one as exhibited in E. nagaii (Porion) . However, the pronotum of E. vlasimskii sp. n. is entirely squamose (with glabrous median band in E. nagaii (Porion)) . Moreover, the dorsal surface of the rostrum is peculiar in lacking either a glabrous costa (as in E. nagaii (Porion)) or a deep furrow (as in E. cuvierii (Guérin­Méneville)) . Furthermore, the shape of the elytra is characteristic of E. vlasimskii sp. n.: they are relatively broad between the humeri; interval 9 is visible in dorsal aspect in basal quarter of elytron behind the humerus. This resembles more the elytron of E. cuvierii (Guérin­Méneville) , than the one of E. nagaii (Porion) which is basally narrower and bordered by interval 7 in dorsal aspect.

Etymological note

This species is named in honor of Mr. Stan M. Vlasimsky (Sulzbach, Taunus). The epithet is based on the name Vlasimskius, latinized according to article 31.1.1 of the ICZN. This patronym is seen as a small service in return to Mr. Vlasimsky´s most generous support of systematic research and conservation of biodiversity through his donation to BIOPAT e. V..

Dr. Michael Balke (London) first recognized this species as new and participated in its description. He is therefore coauthor of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 5 ­ 6. Head and rostrum of Eupholus spp.: (5) E. vlasimskii, holotype; (6) E. schneideri, holotype; arrow marking median ridge of rostrum. Figs. 7 ­ 8. Ala of Eupholus spp.: (7) E. vlasimskii, holotype; (8) E. schneideri, holotype.

FIGURES 19 ­ 26. Female genitalia of Eupholus spp.: (19) sternite VIII of E. vlasimskii, holotype (20) left hemisternite of E. schneideri; (21) sternite VIII of E. schneideri, allotype; (22) left hemisternite of E. schneideri, allotype; (23) spermatheca of E. vlasimskii, holotype; (24 ­ 26) spermatheca of E. schneideri, allotype (24), paratypes (25 ­ 26).

FIGURES 14 ­ 18. Female genitalia of Eupholus spp., ventral aspect: (14, 17) E. schneideri, allotype; (15, 18) E. vlasimskii, holotype; (16) spermatheca of E. schneideri, allotype.