Cionus geometricus, Caldara & Košťál, 2023

Caldara, Roberto & Košťál, Michael, 2023, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Afrotropical Species Of The Weevil Genus Cionus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Zootaxa 5288 (1), pp. 1-98 : 65-66

35. Cionus geometricus sp. n. ( Figs 35a–f )

Type locality. Katberg Pass (Eastern Cape, South Africa) .

Type series. Holotype, male: “SOUTH AFRICA, C.P., Katberg Pass , 32.27S 26.39E, 1200 m, 30.xi.1992, R. Oberprieler / on Buddleja sp. ( LOGANIACEAE )” ( SANC) . Paratypes: same data as holotype (2, RCCM; 3, SANC); “ South Africa , C.P., Katberg Pass, 1200 m, 32.29S 26.41E, 23.xi.1988, R. Oberprieler ” (1, SANC) “E. Cape Prov., Katberg , 1–13.xi.1932 / S. Africa, R.E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1932–551” (1, BMNH); “ South Afr: Cape Prov , Hogsback, 3226DB, 13–16.xii.1985, J. & B. Londt, Forest & forest margins” (1, SANC); “RSA: Cape Prov., 15 km NW Seymor, Katbergpass 32°28’S, 26°41’E, 1200m 21.X.1994 loc. 29 leg. R. Danielsson ” (3, MZLU); “ Hogsback, C.P., Nov. 1952, H.K. Munro ” (1, SANC); “SOUTH AFRICA EASTERN CAPE c. Winterberge Mts. Michael Košťál leg. / Seymour env. 5 km N 1200 m S 32°29.5’ E 26° 47.2 27.xi.2017 ” (4, MKCS) .

Diagnosis. Head between eyes distinctly narrow. Pronotum with two weakly developed lateral protuberances. Elytra with basal maculae forming a large subtriangular drawing with irregular margins and rounded apex, striae not visible. Claws distinctly asymmetrical in male.

Description. Male ( Figs 35a–b ). Body: short, suboval. Head: rostrum stout, short (Rl/Rw 3.63–3.66, Rl/Pl 1.31–1.36), blackish; in lateral view almost straight, of same width from base to antennal insertion, then distinctly tapered to apex; in dorsal view parallel-sided, slightly tapered apicad, covered from base to near apex with moderately dense, recumbent, elongated (l/w 6–8), grayish and light brown scales. Head between eyes moderately narrow, 0.4× as wide as rostrum at base, with dense, elliptical, grayish scales forming a comb around apex of eyes. Eyes flat. Antennae black, inserted between middle and apical third; scape long (l/w 12); funicle distinctly shorter than scape, S1 slightly more robust and slightly longer than S2, 2.2× as long as wide, S2 2.0 × as long as wide, S3–5 as long as wide; club oblongly oval, shorter than funicle, pubescent. Pronotum: dark brown, with slightly irregular, very small, indistinct, very shallow punctures completely hidden by recumbent, dense, elongated (l/w 4– 6), intermixed whitish, light brown and dark brown scales; conical, moderately transverse (Pw/Pl 1.51–1.56), widest at base, with rectilinear sides, slightly convex on disc, with two small lateral protuberances emphasized by tufts of grayish scales. Prosternum: anterior margin distinctly emarginated. Scutellar shield: subtriangular, densely covered with light brown and dark brown scales. Elytra: dark brown, moderately long (El/Ew 1.20–1.25), widest at middle, distinctly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.80–1.83), humeri moderately prominent, sides slightly rounded, moderately convex on disc; interstriae flat, almost straight, with moderately irregular, very small, indistinct, very shallow punctures, completely hidden by recumbent, dense, grayish and dark brown scales, latter ones forming large subtriangular macula with irregular margins spreading out from base (interstriae 1–6) to apical third (apex of triangle, where ending in distinct subround spot), on interstriae 1, 7 and 9 small subquadrate spots; striae not visible, with moderately deep punctures, 2/3 as wide as interstriae, intervals between punctures situated at same level as interstriae. Venter: mesosternal process slightly convex, moderately emarginated. Metasternum with elongated scales partly hair-like in middle. Abdomen with moderately irregular, very small, indistinct, very shallow punctures almost completely hidden by dense, moderately elongated, grayish scales, in middle of V1 and V5 more elongated, hair-like scales; V1 2.0× as long as V2, V1+2 4.9× longer than V3+4, latter ones 0.7× as long as V5. Legs: densely covered with long pale brown scales; femora black, with robust sharp teeth; tibiae black, without unci; tarsi black, with onychium as long as T1–3 combined; claws distinctly asymmetrical, one claw smaller and by 1/3 shorter than other. Penis: Figs 35d–f , its body parallel-sided, narrowed shortly before apex, tip blunted. Flagellum robust, short, bifurcated at base.

Female. Rostrum longer (Rl/Rw 3.90–3.97; Rl/Pl 1.78–1.85) ( Fig. 35c ), claws almost symmetrical.

Variability. Length 3.0– 3.5 mm. Brown scales forming the triangular elytral pattern may be more or less numerous and compact, sometimes with intermixed grayish scales. The spot behind the triangular pattern may be transversely elliptical to rounded, sometimes with intermixed light scales.

Etymology. The Latin adjective refers to the elytral pattern composed mainly of maculae similar to a triangle and a circle.

Remarks. This species is easily distinguishable by the characteristic pattern of the elytral vestiture, which is sometimes incomplete due to missing parts of dark scales. Only two other species have a dark pattern on the elytral disc, C. ingratus and C. friedmani . In these species, which moreover have four distinct protuberances on the pronotum, the shape of the drawing is irregularly subround, not subtriangular, and lacks the apical circular spot. Apart from the elytral vestiture, C. geometricus is similar in habitus to C. schuelei .

Biological notes. This species was collected by R.Oberprieler at Katberg Pass from Buddleja sp.

Distribution. South Africa (Eastern Cape).

Figures

FIGURES 35–36. FIGURE 35. Cionus geometricus sp. n. a: body in dorsal view (male), b: body in lateral view (male), c: rostrum in lateral view (female), d: penis in ventral view, e: penis in lateral view, f: apex of penis in dorsal view. FIGURE 36. Cionus zimbabwicus sp. n. a: body in dorsal view (male), b: body in lateral view (male), c: rostrum in lateral view (female), d: penis in ventral view, e: penis in lateral view, f: apex of penis in dorsal view. Not to scale.