Brachymerinthus Faust, 1886

Yunakov, Nikolai, Korotyaev, Boris & Alziar, Gabriel, 2024, Miscellaneous notes on the systematics of and synonymy in Entiminae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), Contributions to Entomology 74 (2), pp. 249-264 : 249-264

Genus Brachymerinthus Faust, 1886 , new tribal placement

Fig. 4

Brachymerinthus Faust, 1886: 338, type species by original monotypy Brachymerinthus helferi Faust, 1886 (classified as Eustylini); Alonso-Zarazaga and Lyal 1999: 173 (classified as Phyllobiini).

Parakasakhstania Magnano, 2009: 244 , syn. nov.

Composition.

Brachymerinthus helferi Faust, 1886: 339 . Fig. 4 .

Brachymerinthus densesquamosus (Magnano, 2009: 245) , comb. nov.

Notes.

A review of old collections in the Museum of Zoology in Dresden has revealed a syntype of Brachymerinthus helferi Faust, 1886 . This species was described from an uncertain locality along the Euphrates River. Brachymerinthus was initially placed in the tribe Eustylini ( Faust 1886) probably based on the presence of metatibial corbel and humeral calli of elytra. Faust affined this genus with Platyomicus Thomson, 1858 belonging now to Episomini. Later Brachymerinthus was provisionally classified as Phyllobiini ( Lona 1938; Alonso-Zarazaga and Lyal 1999). Dorsal placement of antennal scrobes converging posteriorly, spatulate apex of protibia, mandibles with permanent process (pedicel; mn-pc) bearing scar (mn-sc) on its medial surface (Fig. 4 C ), free tarsal claws, straight anterior margin of pronotum, and presence of metatibial corbel and glossy scaling of body reveal that this taxon belongs to the psammophilous tribe Mesostyloidini , where it is closely related to, or even congeneric with, Kasakhstania Arnoldi 1960 from Kazakhstan and Middle Asia. Further morphological study is needed to resolve this taxonomic issue.

Another monotypic genus Parakasakhstania Magnano, 2009 was described from the United Arab Emirates without considering the existence of Brachymerinthus . A comparison of images given in the original description of Parakasakhstania densesquamosa Magnano, 2009 , with Brachymerinthus helferi suggests that these taxa are at least closely related species, if not conspecific. Therefore, we establish a new synonymy of Parakasakhstania with Brachymerinthus , leaving the issue of species status for further study.

Distribution notes.

Based on recent investigations of Jan Vilém Helfer’s itinerary ( Mlíkovský 2012), the type locality of Brachymerinthus helferi is potentially situated between Qal’at Najm and Al-Salihiyah in Syria. This discovery, along with recent findings in the United Arab Emirates, has enabled a reassessment of the taxonomic composition of Mesostyloidini and broadened the knowledge of its distribution. The distributional pattern of this tribe now links vast desert territories from Arabia to the lower Ural River.

Figures

Figure 4. Brachymerinthus helferi, syntype: A, B. Body dorsal and lateral view; C. Head ventral view; D. Head apex and mandibles, dorsal view; E. Head dorsal view; F. Head lateral view; G. Antenna; H. Distal part of metatibia, lateral view; I. Metatibia apex posterior view showing narrow scaleless corbel bevel; J. Metatarsus; K. Labels. Abbreviations: mn-pc – permanent mandibular process (pedicel); mn-sc – scar.