Acallopistus dissimilis Haran

Haran, Juilen, 2013, Revision of the genus Acallopistus Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae, Nerthopini), Zootaxa 3620 (4), pp. 553-568 : 559-566

4. Acallopistus dissimilis Haran , new species

( Fig. 10 , 15 , 24 )

Description. 3.5 – 4.0 mm. Morphologically similar to Acallopistus guttatus but larger; elongate-oval; body covered by elongate scales, 4 to 5 longer than broad, brown-ocher on even intervals and black on odd ones, with contrasting white spots; median band of pronotum dark with two shiny white spots. Rostrum black, 2/3 as long as pronotum, broad and arched in both sexes, a little longer in females; scales thin, not concealing integument, present until antennal insertion where they disappear to leave apex smooth and glabrous, scales of basal 1/3 of rostrum oriented transversely to median line; antennae reddish, inserted at apical 1/3, scape straight and clavate from middle, not reaching eyes; club oval and acuminate; scrobes straight, narrow, parallel-sided. Head transverse, eyes flat, interocular space finely foveate and twice narrower than rostrum at middle; front coated with very thin scales not concealing the integument, vertex red-brown. Pronotum transverse, base bisinuate, twice broader than apical margin, sides weakly rounded in basal half and obliquely converging in apical half, straggled at apex; hind angles almost square, a little acute; punctures strong and dense, apical margin smooth. Scutellum transverse, rounded. Elytra elongate, almost twice longer than broad, base distinctly broader than pronotum; sides parallel; humeri subsquare, blunt, forming a spot of white scales; intervals flat, puncture as strong as those on pronotum; striae hardly distinguishable through vestiture; basal ¼ of intervals 3 and 4 weakly raised. Abdominal sternites coated with sparse hair-like grayish scales. Legs bicoloured: femora black; tarsi, tibiae and apex of femora red; fore-femur with a strong triangular toothwith8 to 10 denticles; meso- and meta-femora unarmed and thinner. Fore-tibiae compressed, internally elbowed near middle of length; apical half expanded, twice broader than basal half; apex internally curved with cuticular expansion surmounted by acute tooth. Genitalia 3: median lobe short, sides convergent, strongly narrowed at orifices, distinctly and abruptly expanded in apical 1/3. Sides of apical 1/3 straight, convergent, apex rounded. Flagellum long and very incurved, oriented to right in dorsal view. Distal orificial margin apparent and straight. Orificial sclerites larges, rounded. Parameres as long as median lobe ( Fig.10 ).Ƥ: Sternum VIII with narrow row of hair on posterior margins, arms wider at center. Apodemes straight, thin and a little expanded at apex. Spermatheca thin and elongate, main part of the body almost parallel sided, apical 1/4 narrowing toward apex; nodulus and ramus forming two close sclerotized expansions ( Fig. 15 ).

Type material. Holotype: South Africa, Cape Province, Cape of Good Hope, Marshall coll. (13, BMNH).

Etymology. Named by reference to the similarity with previous species: A. guttatus .

Range. Type locality: South Africa, Cape of Good Hope.

Biology. No data.

Material examined. BMNH: South Africa, Cape Province, Cape of Good Hope: 13 (Odier), (PARATYPE [here designated] G.A.K. Marshall coll.). MNHN: South Africa, Cape Province, Cape of Good Hope: 1Ƥ (G.A.K. Marshall coll.). SMNH: Date and locality unknown: 1Ƥ (Chevrolat coll.).

Discussion. This species is related to A. guttatus . It is easily separable from this last species by the 8 to10 denticles on the external face of the profemoral tooth. The body is larger, coated with a more contrasting vestiture. Fore-tibiae are slightly narrower.

5. Acallopistus fallax Boheman ( Fig. 9 , 22 )

Acallopistus fallax Boheman, 1835 – 455

Redescription. 3.0 – 4.0 mm. Elongate-oval; integument red-brown, coated with elongate yellowish gray scales; spots on intervals present but not contrasting. Rostrum wide, straight, subcylindrical, 2/3 as long as pronotum, densely coated with scales until apex, glabrous only at extreme apex, scales of rostrum oriented transversely to median line; antennae reddish, inserted at apical 1/3, scape not reaching anterior margin of eyes, clavate in apical half of length; club oval, acuminate; scrobes deep, slightly expanding. Head black, transverse, eyes flat, interocular space foveate, almost as broad as rostrum in middle of length. Prothorax moderately transverse, only 1/3 broader than long, base almost straight, sides rounded, wider at middle, strongly straggled at apex; hind angles obtuse; punctures dense, visible through median dark band. Scutellum round, pitted. Elytra subrectangular, almost twice as long as broad, as broad as pronotum in larger width, sides subparallel in basal 2/3; humeri subsquare; intervals flat; striae punctuate, apparent on dorsum as narrow glabrous lines. Basal ¼ of intervals 3 and 4 weakly raised. Abdominal sternites coated with grayish elongate scales. Legs red to red-brown; fore-femur with strong triangular tooth with 5 to 7 denticles; meso- and meta-femora unarmed and thinner. Fore-tibiae compressed, internally elbowed a little before middle of length, apical half expanded, almost twice broader than basal half; apex internally curved with cuticular expansion surmounted by acute tooth. Genitalia 3: median lobe short and wide, basal half parallel sided, apical half acuminate, apex rounded. Flagellum characteristic: twice curved, basal half outside of median lobe, oriented to left in dorsal view. Distal orificial margin apparent and acuminate. Orificial sclerites wide and acuminate. Parameres almost twice longer than median lobe ( Fig. 9 ). Ƥ not known.

Variation. The density of the vestiture is quite variable.

Biology. This species was bred from seeds of Abutilon angulatum (Guill. & Perr.) .

Range. Southern half of Africa: Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. Type locality: South Africa, (original term: Caffraria).

Material examined. BMNH: South Zimbabwe, Uintali District, X-1948: 13« In seeds of Abutilon angulatum ». Malawi, Cholo: 13 (NEOTYPE [here designated] G.A.K. Marshall Coll.). MNHN: Mozambique, Chemba, Zambeze, XII-1928: 13. Angola, Benguela, 1949: 13 (A. Hustache Coll.).

Discussion. This species is distinct from all others Acallopistus species by its elongate subcylindrical shape, its broad rostrum and its broad interocular distance (as wide as the rostrum in the middle of its length). The type specimen of this species is absent from the Schoenherr and Boheman collections despite the presence of a label indicating this species’ name. In the absence of information about the location of this type, a neotype was designated from the BMNH collections.

6. Acallopistus crassirostris Hustache ( Fig. 3 , 11 , 17 , 25 )

Acallopistus crassirostris Hustache, 1938 – 98

Redescription. 3.2 – 3.5 mm. Oval; integument entirely reddish, coated with sparse short scales, only 2 to 3 times longer than broad, recumbent, yellowish to ochre, forming non-contrasting spots on odd-intervals. Rostrum short and broad, only twice as long as broad, as broad as fore-femora (tooth excluded), straight, slightly longer in males; scales of basal half of rostrum oriented transversely, apical half with erect and sparser scales; antennae reddish, inserted in middle of rostrum, scape straight and clavate in apical half, hardly reaching eyes when rested in scrobes, club fusiform; scrobes straight and narrow, parallel-sided. Head transverse, eyes flat, interocular space finely foveate, 1/3 narrower than rostrum at middle of length. Pronotum transverse, wide and bisinuate at base, 1/3 broader than long, sides subparallel in basal half, rounded in apical half, and weakly narrowed at apex; hind angles acute; puncture dense but superficial, visible through vestiture; median line with darker scales. Scutellum round, pitted. Elytra 1.5 times longer than broad, parallel in basal 2/3, humeri ¼ larger than pronotum; intervals flat, coriaceous, basal ¼ of intervals 3 and 4 strongly raised; striae punctuate, apparent. Abdominal sternites coated with yellowish gray scales, only a little longer than scales of elytra. Legs entirely reddish, less densely coated than on dorsum; fore-femur with wide tooth with 9 to 11 denticles; meso- and meta-femora thinner and unarmed. Foretibiae compressed, strongly elbowed internally at middle of length, apical half not expanded, as broad as basal half; apex internally curved with cuticular expansion surmounted with acute tooth. Genitalia 3: median lobe elongate, weakly narrowed at middle, sides of apex obliquely convergent. Flagellum long and very thin, curved only at apex and oriented to left in dorsal view. Distal orificial margin not apparent, orificial sclerites weakly sclerotized, rounded and placed in apical 1/3 of median lobe. Parameres a little shorter than median lobe ( Fig.11 ). Ƥ: Sternum VIII “ Y ” shaped, with line of long setae, slightly interrupted at middle. Arms curved. Apodemes straight, expanded at apex. Spermatheca broad, apex of body narrowed and slightly curved; sides of body strangled in basal 1/4; basal 1/4 parallel sided. Spermathecal duct and spermathecal gland inserted at base of this expansion ( Fig. 17 ).

Biology. No data.

Range. Kenya, Somalia. Type locality: Somalia, Mogadiscio.

Material examined. BMNH: Kenya, Malindi, Arabuko Forest, V-1940: 93, 4Ƥ (T. H. E. Jackson coll.). MNHN: Kenya, Maji-Chumvi, Wa-Nyika, VII-1903: 13 (LECTOTYPE [here designated] A. crassirostris Hustache 1938 , Ch. Alluaud). Somalia, Mogadiscio, Confalonieri: 13 (Hustache coll.).

Discussion. This species is distinct by its red tegument, covered with scattered short whitish scales. It is morphologically similar to A. hibisci , but smaller, the elytral intervals are all flat and lacking long erect setae.

7. Acallopistus hibisci Haran, new species ( Fig. 12 , 16 , 26 )

Description. 4.0 – 4.8 mm. Morphologically similar to Acallopistus crassirostris , but larger; odd elytral intervals convex, with a series of white erect setae, vestiture dense and suberect, scales ochre, yellow and black, yellow and black scales forming contrasting yellow and dark spots on odd elytral intervals. Rostrum broad, more than twice as long as broad, thinner than fore-femora (tooth excluded), straight, similar in both sexes, scales of basal half of rostrum oriented transversely, apical half with scales sparser and erect; antennae reddish, inserted slightly after middle of rostrum, scape a little arched and clavate in apical 1/3 of length, not reaching eyes when rested in scrobe, club fusiform; scrobes straight, narrow, parallel-sided. Head transverse, eyes flat, interocular space finely foveate, 1/3 narrower than rostrum at middle of length. Pronotum transverse,subtrapezoidal,1/3 broader than long; base wide, bisinuate; sides weakly rounded, obliquely converging to head, narrowed at apex; hind angles acute; punctures dense, visible through vestiture; scales along median line ochre, narrower. Scutellum round, pitted. Elytra 1.5 times longer than broad, basal 2/3 parallel, humeri ¼ larger than pronotum; even intervals flat and strongly narrowed on declivity, sometimes with series of black erect setae; odd intervals convex, especially at base, with series of long white erect setae, black and white scales forming series of alternate dark and yellow spots; basal ¼ of intervals 3, 4 and 5 raised; striae punctuate, apparent. Abdominal sternites coated with yellowish gray scales, a little longer than the scales of elytra. Legs entirely reddish; fore-femur with wide tooth with 9 to 11 denticles on external face; meso- and meta-femora thinner and unarmed. Fore-tibia compressed, strongly internally elbowed at middle of length, apical half not expanded, as broad as basal half; apex internally curved with cuticular expansion surmounted by acute tooth. Genitalia 3: median lobe elongate, weakly narrowed in apical 1/3, sides of apex obliquely convergent. Apical 1/3 strongly sclerotized, with centripetal striae, darker when they reach sides. Flagellum long, very thin, curved only at apex and oriented to left in dorsal view. Distal orificial margin not apparent, orificial sclerites weakly sclerotized, rounded and placed at middle of median lobe. Parameres a little shorter than median lobe ( Fig.12 ). Ƥ:Sternum VIII “ Y ” shaped, with line of long setae, slightly interrupted at middle. Fenestra between arms large, almost circular. Arms widening toward base. Apodemes straight, expanded at apex. Spermatheca broad, apex of body narrowed but not curved; base constricted; ramus and nodulus forming two long and narrow expansions. Spermathecal duct and spermathecal gland inserted on these expansions ( Fig. 16 ).

Type material. Holotype: Zimbabwe, Salisbury, I-1906: 13 ( Marshall coll., BMNH).

Etymology. Named for the supposed host plant, Hibscus sp., on which adults have been collected by Marshall.

Biology. Adults have been collected on Hibiscus sp.

Range. Zimbabwe.

Material examined. BMNH: Zimbabwe, Salisbury, I-1906: 63, 5Ƥ (PARATYPES) «on Hibiscus »; Umeshki?, II-1897: 13, 1Ƥ ( Marshall coll.).

Discussion. This species is characterized by its raised odd elytral intervals. It is morphologically similar to A. crassirostris , but larger; the elytral intervals are covered with a dense suberect vestiture, and a series of long erect setae.

8. Acallopistus dentirostris Haran , new species ( Fig. 6 , 18 , 27 )

Description. 3.0 – 3.5 mm. Oval; integument entirely reddish, coated with sparse short scales, recumbent, whitish grey, forming non-contrasting spots on odd-intervals. Rostrum short and broad, only twice as long as broad, as broad as fore-femora (tooth excluded), straight; scales of basal half of rostrum oriented transversely; antennae reddish, inserted in middle of rostrum, scape strongly bisinuate and clavate in apical half, hardly reaching eyes when rested in scrobes, club fusiform; scrobes straight and narrow, surrounded by wide smooth lateral tooth ( Fig. 6 ). Head transverse, eyes flat, interocular space finely foveate, 1/3 narrower than rostrum at middle of length (tooth excluded). Pronotum transverse, wide and bisinuate at base, 1/3 broader than long, sides subparallel in basal half, straight and convergent in apical half, and weakly narrowed at apex; hind angles acute; puncture dense but superficial, visible through vestiture. Scutellum round, pitted. Elytra 1.5 times longer than broad, parallel in basal 2/3; intervals flat, coriaceous; striae punctuate, apparent. Abdominal sternites coated with grayish scales. Legs entirely reddish, as densely coated as those on dorsum; fore-femur with wide tooth with 9 to 11 denticles; meso- and meta-femora thinner and unarmed. Fore-tibiae compressed, strongly elbowed internally at middle of length, apical half not expanded, as broad as basal half; apex internally curved with cuticular expansion surmounted with acute tooth. Genitalia 3: Unknown. Ƥ: Sternum VIII “ Y ” shaped, with line of long setae, slightly interrupted at middle. Arms curved. Apodemes straight, expanded at apex. Spermatheca broad, apex of body narrowed and straight; sides of body strangled in basal ¼, forming narrow expansion. Nodulus and ramus forming two close tubercles at apex of this expansion ( Fig. 18 ).

Type material. Holotype: Kenya, Lower Tana, Sabaki, IV/ V-1932: 1Ƥ (BMNH).

Etymology. Named by reference to the lateral tooth on the rostrum of this species.

Biology. No data.

Range. Kenya.

Material examined. BMNH: Kenya, Lower Tana, Sabaki, IV/ V-1932: 1Ƥ (Turner & Mc Arthur).

Discussion. This species is closely related to A. crassirostris , but the vestiture is whitish grey and more scattered; the rostrum bears a basal lateral tooth, rounded, placed between the scrobes and the eyes; the scape is strongly bisinuate at base.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. Median lobe, dorsal and lateral view. 7 a — A. vellicosus Schoenherr; 7 b — A. abutilonis Marshall; 8 — A. guttatus Boheman; 9 — A. fallax Boheman; 10 — A. dissimilis sp. n.; 11 — A. crassirostris Hustache; 12 — A. hibisci sp. n.

FIGURES 13 – 18. Spiculum VIII and spermathecae. 13 — A. vellicosus Schoenherr (and A. abutilonis Marshall); 14 — A. guttatus Boheman; 15 — A. dissimilis sp. n.; 16 — A. hibisci sp. n.; 17 — A. crassirostris Hustache; 18 — Acallopistus dentirostris sp. n.

FIGURES 19 – 24. Photographs of: 19 – 20 — Acallopistus vellicosus Schoenherr (amplitude of vestiture variation); 21 — A. abutilonis Marshall; 22 — A. fallax Boheman; 23 — A. guttatus Boheman; 24 — A. dissimilis sp. n.

FIGURES 1 – 3. Fore tibiae of Acallopistus species: 1 — A. vellicosus Schoenherr; 2 — A. guttatus Boheman; 3 — A. crassirostris Hustache.

FIGURES 25 – 27. Photographs of: 25 — A. crassirostris Hustache; 26 — A. hibisci sp. n.; 27 — Acallopistus dentirostris sp. n.

FIGURES 4 – 6. Rostrum shape and orientation of rostrum scales: 4 — A. vellicosus Schoenherr; 5 — A. guttatus Boheman; 6 — Acallopistus dentirostris sp. n.