Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844: 95
Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904: 407
Derelomus hartmanni Klima, 1934: 134
D. pallidus Hartmann, 1904
Derelomus pallidus
Haran et al . 2022a
2022b
2023a
A monograph of Afrotropical and Mediterranean Derelomus Schoenherr, 1825 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with the descriptions of 14 new species
Haran, Julien M.
Benoit, Laure
Dufaÿ, Mathilde
Procheş, Serban
Kergoat, Gael J.
European Journal of Taxonomy
2025
2025-09-16
1014
1
128
Fahraeus, 1844
Fahraeus
1844
[583,1005,1439,1466]
Insecta
Curculionidae
Derelomus
GBIF
Animalia
Coleoptera
32
33
Arthropoda
species
pallidus
Fig. 10
Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844: 95. Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904: 407. Syn. nov. Derelomus hartmanni Klima, 1934: 134(replacement name for D. pallidus Hartmann, 1904; preoccupied name). Syn. nov. Derelomus pallidus– Haran et al. 2022a; 2022b(life history, phylogenetic relationships); 2023a(life history).
Diagnosis Derelomus palliduscan be distinguished in the combination of small body size (up to 2.5 mm), a short rostrum (at most as long as the pronotum in lateral view; Fig. 10B), the uniformly pale brown body integument (the darker triangular area as base of the elytra in this species is due to the dark color of the tergites partly masked by the wings in repose condition, some specimens have the head and rostrum slightly darker) and the simple claws. It can be distinguished from other species in the D. pallidusgroup by its comparatively short rostrum ( Figs 10B, 11B–F). The general appearance of this species is close to another one in Derelomini: Ebenacobius rectirostris Haran, 2022, but in the latter, the interocular space bears a groove (absent in Derelomus) and the body of the penis lacks a thickening near the base (synapomorphy in Derelomus). In our current knowledge, D. pallidusis the only species of Derelomusassociated with the flowers of EucleaL. ( Ebenaceae). GenBank accession numbers for the corresponding DNA barcodes: ON553416/ ON553430/PV698476–77–78–79.
Material examined Lectotypeof Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844(here designated) REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA• ♀; “ Cap. b.; sp. [ Cape of Good hope, South Africa]” “Drége” “3757; E91+” “Naturhistorika Riksmuseet; Stockholm; Loan no 813/06” “Lectotype ♀; Derelomus; pallidus; Fåhraeus 1844; Harandes. 2025”; NHRS. Lectotypeof Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904 TANZANIA• ♂; “ ♂” “ Usambara; Kraatz” “47” “ Derelomus; pallidusHtm” “Coll. J. Faust; Ankauf 1900” “Staatl. Museum für; Tierkunde Dresden” “Lectotype ♀; Derelomus; pallidus; Hartmann, 1904; Harandes. 2025” “ Derelomus; hartmanni; Klima, 1934; Haran 2025” “ Derelomus; pallidus; Fåhraeus 1844; Haran 2025”; MTD. Paralectotypes TANZANIA• 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for lectotype of Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904; MTD. Other material ANGOLA• 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Tundavala; 14°50′39″ S, 13°24′54″ E; 27–29 Mar. 1972; at lights; NHMUK. KENYA• 1 ♀; Mount Kenya, West slope, Amboni Rivir; 0°20′13″ S, 36°54′10″ E; Jan.–Feb. 1912; Alluaudand Jeannelcoll.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Nairobi 1°20′17″ S, 36°47′28″ E; Jan. 1938; A.F.J. Gedyecoll.; NHMUK. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA– Eastern Cape Province• 2 ♂♂, 30 specs(preserved in ethanol); Byra river mouth; 33°12′07″ S, 18°04′55″ E; 14 Jul. 2019; J. Harancoll.; beating flowers of EucleaL. sp. ( Ebenaceae); JHAR02380; CBGP • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MCZR • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Kabeljous Nature Reserve; 33°59′42″ S, 24°56′00″ E; Dec. 2009; Ş. Procheşcoll.; beating flowers of Diospyros dichrophylla(Gand.) De Winter( Ebenaceae); JHAR04163; CBGP • 4 ♂♂; Colchester; 33°42′25″ S, 25°50′38″ E; Ş. Procheşcoll.; on Euclea sp.( Ebenaceae); JHAR07429; CBGP • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Gamtoos; 33°57′29″ S, 25°02′17″ E; Ş. Procheşcoll.; beating flowers of Diospyros dichrophylla( Ebenaceae); JHAR07428; CBGP • 2 ♂, 7 ♀♀; Kenton-on-Sea; 33°41′06″ S, 26°40′12″ E; 9 Sep. 1951; E. Mc. Callancoll.; on sand; BM-1963-286; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Port St Johns; 31°37′46″ S, 29°32′31″ E; 15–31 May 1923; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK. – KwaZulu-Natal Province• 1 ♀; New Germany Nature Reserve, Protea Ridge; 29°48′43″ S, 30°53′28″ E; Jul. 2011; Ş. Procheşcoll.; on flowers of DiospyrosL. sp. ( Ebenaceae); JHAR07431; CBGP. – Northern Cape Province• 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 40 specs(preserved in ethanol); Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve; 31°27′00″ S, 19°04′05″ E; 4 Aug. 2023; J. Haran; beating flowers of undet. bush; JHAR05784; CBGP. – Western Cape Province• 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Cape Town; 33°55′12″ S, 18°24′36″ E; Aug. 1893; SAMC • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 20 specs(preserved in ethanol); West Coast National Park; 33°12′07″ S, 18°04′55″ E; 3 Mar. 2018; J. Harancoll.; beating flowers of Euclea racemosaL. ( Ebenaceae); JHAR00820; CBGP • 1 ♀, 4 specs(preserved in ethanol); Stellenbosch; 33°56′28″ S, 18°52′19″ E; 28 Jul. 2018; J. Harancoll.; beating flowers of Searsia( Anacardiaceae); JHAR01361; CBGP • 1 spec.(preserved in ethanol); Paradysekloof; 33°58′09″ S, 18°52′38″ E; 30 Mar. 2019; J. Haran; on white flowering bush; CBGP • 6 specs(preserved in ethanol); Du Toitskloof Pass; 33°43′15″ S, 19°04′23″ E; 21 Apr. 2018; J. Haran; beating fynbos; JHAR00920; CBGP • 3 specs(preserved in ethanol); Cape Peninsula, Cape of Good Hope; 34°21′12″ S, 18°28′24″ E; 15 Apr. 2018; J. Haran; beating flowers of Euclea racemosa( Ebenaceae); JHAR00921-01; CBGP • 1 spec.(preserved in ethanol); Franschoek Pass; 33°54′15″ S, 19°09′26″ E; 4 Jun. 2018; J. Haran; beating flowers of Euclea racemosa( Ebenaceae); CBGP • 7 specs(preserved in ethanol); Arniston; 34°40′30″ S, 20°13′52″ E; 21 Mar. 2019; J. Haran; beating flowers of Euclea racemosa( Ebenaceae); JHAR02253; CBGP • 1 ♀, 1 spec.(preserved in ethanol); Elandsbay; 32°19′49″ S, 18°18′58″ E; 6 Aug. 2023; J. Haran; beating flowers of Euclea racemosa( Ebenaceae); JHAR05798; CBGP • 10 specs(preserved in ethanol); Simonsberg; 33°53′10″ S, 18°55′30″ E; 7 Dec. 2019; J. Haran; beating fynbos; JHAR03096; CBGP • 2 ♀♀; Betty′s Bay; 34°20′24″ S, 18°55′12″ E; Ş. Procheşcoll.; beating flowers of Diospyros lycoidesDesf.( Ebenaceae); JHAR07427; CBGP • 1 ♀; Standford; 34°26′10″ S, 19°26′49″ E; Dec. 2009; M. Gibsoncoll.; on Acacia saligna(Labill.) H.L. Wendl.( Fabaceae); JHAR07430; CBGP • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Mossel Bay; 34°12′04″ S, 22°05′56″ E; Apr. 1921; R.E. Turnercoll.; “165”; NHMUK • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Mossel Bay; 34°12′04″ S, 22°05′56″ E; Jun. 1921; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Mossel Bay; 34°12′04″ S, 22°05′56″ E; Sep. 1921; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Mossel Bay; 34°12′04″ S, 22°05′56″ E; Oct. 1921; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Breede River, Heidelberg Dist.; 33°32′21″ S, 19°12′04″ E; 6 Feb. 1932; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Cape Town; 33°55′12″ S, 18°24′36″ E; 1 Sep. 1901; Cledouxcoll.; USNM • 1 ♀; Ceres; 33°22′04″ S, 19°18′21″ E; 2–21 Mar. 1921; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Worcester; 33°37′51″ S, 19°27′18″ E; Sep. 1928; R.E. Turnercoll.; NHMUK. UGANDA• 1 ♂; Kawanda; 0°25′31″ N, 32°32′24″ E; 15 Feb. –6 Mar. 1958; P. Walley; mercury vapor light trap; NHMUK.
Redescription( ♂) MEASUREMENTS. Body length 1.9–2.4 mm. COLOR. Body integument unifo.rmly pale brown, head and club usually darker; dark color of tergites visible elytra at base, forming darker reversed triangle. Vestiture of dorsum made of minute white, recumbent setae, integument glabrous in appearance. HEAD. Rostrum as long as pronotum in lateral view, moderately and regularly downcurved; in dorsal view 3 to 4× as long as wide, integument densely punctate, forming 5 carinae, more or less distinct; antennae inserted near apical ¼ of length; head capsule densely punctate in dorsal view; eyes very convex, exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with first segment 2× as long as wide, equal in length to segments 2–4 together, 2 longer than wide, 3–7 transverse. PRONOTUM. Isodiametric to moderately wider than long (W: L ratio: 1–1.20), widest near base, 0.78× as wide there as elytra at humeral angles, lateral carina forming small obtuse tooth slightly beyond middle of length; sides subparallel or slightly converging apicad in basal ⅔ of length, converging or converging more distinctly in apical ⅓, apical constriction shallow but visible; integument with large circular punctures, arranged in irregular manner, space between punctures dull, narrower or wider than diameter of punctures. METATHORAX. Metanepisterna with scattered non-overlapping white setae. ELYTRA. Longer than wide (W: L ratio: 0.67); sides slightly convex, widest near middle of length; humeri raised; apex jointly rounded; striae with punctures as wide as or slightly narrower than interstriae; interstriae slightly convex, 9 raised into carina; scutellar shield rounded, bearing recumbent setae. ABDOMEN. Underside covered with minute recumbent whitish setae, not contiguous. Stridulatory plate with lines of about 10 granules, ⅔× as long as median line from base; granules space between granules as wide as or narrower than diameter of granules. Central sclerotized area wide and regularly rounded apically. LEGS. Profemora moderately thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, internal slightly bisinuate, metatibiae slightly curved outward in apical half; claws simple. TERMINALIA. Body of penis moderately elongate (W: L ratio: 0.28), slightly less than 2 × as long as apodemes; sides regularly and moderately convex in dorsal view, widest near middle of length; converging more strongly in apical ¼, apex rounded; in lateral view curvature stronger in basal 2/5 of length, width narrowing from apical 1/5 middle of length to apex; apex curved upward ( Fig. 10C). Sexual dimorphism Females can be distinguished from males by the rostrum which is slightly longer in lateral view. Variation The rostrum of this species shows a sizable variability of size and curvature, but this variation is not associated with genetic divergence ( Fig. 33).
Life history Adults of this species are found in prodigious numbers on inflorescences in anthesis of Euclea racemosa( Ebenaceae), which likely constitutes its host plant. They accidentally visit the flowers of other plants and were sporadically recorded on Fabaceaeand Anacardiaceae. A specimen was also intercepted in the port of Los Angeles ( USA) on imported PhylicaL. sp. ( Rhamnaceae) in 2002 (USNM). The records on flowers of DiospyrosL. species would deserve further observations in order to verify if this species can develop on Ebenaceaeout of Euclea. Derelomus palliduswas found in sympatry with Ebenacobius san Haran, 2022on Euclea racemosaand with Ebenacobius hessei Haran, 2022on an unidentified Euclea( Haran et al.2022b). Note that multi species assemblage of weevils on white and pendulous inflorescences of dioecious plants like Eucleaagree with the typical patterns of brood-site pollination mutualism ( Haran et al.2023a). Adults were recorded from January to March in East Africa ( Kenya) and almost all year round in southern Africa ( Angolaand Republic of South Africa, not recorded in January, May and October–November).
Distribution This species is distributed in southern and East Africa ( Angola, Kenya, Republic of South Africa, Tanzaniaand Uganda). The putative host plant, Euclea racemosa( Ebenaceae), ranges from the Western Cape Provinceof the Republic South Africaup to the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
Remarks In the Fåhraeus collection housed at NHRS, a female specimen under the name Derelomus pallidusand fitted with the labels “ Cap. b.; sp.[cape of good hope]” and “Drége” (as reported in the original description) was located. This specimen is the lectotype[here designated] for Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844and was labelled accordingly. In the Faust-Hartmann collection housed at MTD, a syntypic series of specimens ( 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀) under the name Derelomus pallidusand bearing the labels “Usambara” and “Kraatz” as reported in the original description was located. The male specimen of this series was designated as the lectotypefor Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904[here designated] and was labelled accordingly. The name Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904was replaced by Derelomus hartmanni Klima, 1934in the Catalogus Coleopterorum( Klima 1934), the former combination being preoccupied by Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844. Detailed examinations of external and internal morphology of the type material of Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844and Derelomus hartmanni Klima, 1934as well as specimens related to these species from various localities showed no significant differences. The rostrums in the lectotypeand the paralectotypesof D. hartmanniare slightly longer and more downcurved than in the lectotypeof D. pallidus, but the examination of long series of specimens of D. pallidusshows that the shape of the rostrum is quite variable at population level, a feature not associated with genetic differences (specimens included in Haran et al. 2022awere variable for that feature). In addition, the host plant of D. pallidus( Euclea racemosaL.) is widely distributed in austral and eastern Africa, and occurs where D. hartmanniwas recorded ( Tanzania). As a result of this, the names Derelomus pallidus Hartmann, 1904and Derelomus hartmanni Klima, 1934are proposed as junior synonyms of Derelomus pallidus Fåhraeus, 1844[new synonymies].
5833305676
NHRS
South Africa
Haran
Cape of Good hope
33
34
1
1
Cape of Good hope
lectotype
5833305368
MTD
J. Faust
Tanzania
Haran
Kraatz
Usambara
33
34
2
2
lectotype
5833305387
[189,1398,965,992]
MTD
Tanzania
TANZANIA
33
34
4
4
paralectotype
5833305607
[189,1352,1064,1093]
1972-03-27
1972-03-29
1972-03-27
NHMUK
Angola
-14.844167
Tundavala
21
13.415
Tundavala
33
34
2
1
1
5833305464
1912-01
1912-02-31
1912-01
MNHN
Alluaud & Jeannel
Kenya
-0.33694446
Mount Kenya
21
36.90278
33
34
1
1
5833305302
1938-01
NHMUK
A. F. J. Gedye
Kenya
-1.3380556
Nairobi
21
36.79111
Nairobi
33
34
1
1
5833305426
beating flowers of Euclea L. sp. (Ebenaceae)
2019-07-14
CBGP
South Africa
J. Haran
-33.201946
Byra river mouth
20
18.081945
33
34
JHAR02380
32
2
Eastern Cape Province
5833305552
[682,1379,1338,1364]
beating flowers of Euclea L. sp. (Ebenaceae)
2019-07-14
MCZR
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.201946
Byra river mouth
20
18.081945
33
34
2
1
1
Eastern Cape Province
5833305390
beating flowers of Diospyros dichrophylla (Gand.) De Winter (Ebenaceae)
2009-12
CBGP
S. Proches
Republic of South Africa
-33.995
19
24.933332
33
34
JHAR04163
4
2
2
Eastern Cape Province
5833305556
on Euclea sp. (Ebenaceae)
CBGP
S. Proches
Republic of South Africa
-33.706944
Colchester
19
25.84389
Colchester
33
34
JHAR07429
4
4
Eastern Cape Province
5833305670
beating flowers of Diospyros dichrophylla (Ebenaceae)
CBGP
S. Proches
Republic of South Africa
-33.958057
Gamtoos
19
25.038055
Gamtoos
33
34
JHAR07428
4
2
2
Eastern Cape Province
5833305328
on sand
1951-09-09
NHMUK
E. Mc. Callan
Republic of South Africa
-33.685
Kenton-on-Sea
19
26.67
33
34
BM-1963-286
9
7
2
Eastern Cape Province
5833305509
1923-05-15
1923-05-31
1923-05-15
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-31.629444
Port St Johns
20
29.541945
33
34
1
1
Eastern Cape Province
5833305313
on flowers of Diospyros L. sp. (Ebenaceae)
2011-07
CBGP
S. Proches
Republic of South Africa
-29.811943
New Germany Nature Reserve
20
30.891111
33
34
JHAR07431
1
1
KwaZulu-Natal Province
5833305540
2023-08-04
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-31.45
Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve
20
19.068056
33
34
JHAR05784
42
1
1
Northern Cape Province
5833305347
1893-08
SAMC
Republic of South Africa
-33.920002
Cape Town
19
18.41
Cape Town
33
34
4
2
2
Western Cape Province
5833305367
beating flowers of Euclea racemosa L. (Ebenaceae)
2018-03-03
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.201946
West Coast National Park
20
18.081945
33
34
JHAR00820
23
1
2
Western Cape Province
5833305622
beating flowers of Searsia (Anacardiaceae)
2018-07-28
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.941113
Stellenbosch
19
18.871944
Stellenbosch
33
34
JHAR01361
5
1
Western Cape Province
5833305456
2019-03-30
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.969166
Paradysekloof
19
18.877222
33
34
1
Western Cape Province
5833305457
2018-04-21
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.720833
Du Toitskloof Pass
19
19.073057
33
34
JHAR00920
6
Western Cape Province
5833305569
beating flowers of Euclea racemosa (Ebenaceae)
2018-04-15
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
34
35
-34.353333
Cape of Good Hope
19
18.473333
Cape of Good Hope
33
34
JHAR00921-01
3
Cape Peninsula
5833305577
beating flowers of Euclea racemosa (Ebenaceae)
2018-06-04
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.904167
Franschoek Pass
19
19.157223
34
35
1
Western Cape Province
5833305593
beating flowers of Euclea racemosa (Ebenaceae)
2019-03-21
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-34.675003
Arniston
19
20.231112
Arniston
34
35
JHAR02253
7
Western Cape Province
5833305628
beating flowers of Euclea racemosa (Ebenaceae)
2023-08-06
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-32.330276
Elandsbay
20
18.31611
Elandsbay
34
35
JHAR05798
2
1
Western Cape Province
5833305557
2019-12-07
CBGP
Republic of South Africa
J. Haran
-33.886112
Simonsberg
19
18.925
Simonsberg
34
35
JHAR03096
10
Western Cape Province
5833305553
beating flowers of Diospyros lycoides Desf. (Ebenaceae)
CBGP
S. Proches
Republic of South Africa
-34.34
Betty's Bay
19
18.92
34
35
JHAR07427
2
2
Western Cape Province
5833305329
on Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. L. Wendl. (Fabaceae)
2009-12
CBGP
M. Gibson
Republic of South Africa
-34.43611
Standford
19
19.446943
Standford
34
35
JHAR07430
1
1
Western Cape Province
5833305341
1921-04
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-34.20111
Mossel Bay
19
22.09889
34
35
4
2
2
Western Cape Province
5833305594
1921-06
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-34.20111
Mossel Bay
19
22.09889
Mossel Bay
34
35
6
2
4
Western Cape Province
5833305430
1921-09
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-34.20111
Mossel Bay
19
22.09889
34
35
1
1
Western Cape Province
5833305301
1921-10
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-34.20111
Mossel Bay
19
22.09889
34
35
1
1
Western Cape Province
5833305365
1932-02-06
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
Heidelberg Dist
-33.539165
Breede River
20
19.201113
34
35
6
4
2
Western Cape Province
5833305393
1901-09-01
USNM
Cledoux
Republic of South Africa
-33.920002
Cape Town
19
18.41
Cape Town
34
35
1
1
Western Cape Province
5833305518
[283,1316,786,814]
1921-03-02
1921-03-21
1921-03-02
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-33.367775
Ceres
20
19.305832
Ceres
34
35
1
1
Western Cape Province
5833305488
1928-09
NHMUK
R. E. Turner
Republic of South Africa
-33.630833
Worcester
19
19.455
Worcester
34
35
1
1
Western Cape Province
5833305561
1958-02-15
1958-03-06
1958-02-15
mercury vapor light trap
NHMUK
P. Walley
Uganda
0.42527777
Kawanda
21
32.54
Kawanda
34
35
1
1