Laparocerus aethiops garajonay, Machado, Antonio, 2007

Machado, Antonio, 2007, New species of Laparocerus Schönherr, 1834 from La Gomera, Canary Islands (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), Zootaxa 1643, pp. 1-38 : 15

Laparocerus aethiops garajonay n. ssp.

( Figs. 5 , 10 A–B, 16C)

Dimensions, holotype (ɗ). Length: total (without rostrum) 7.90 mm, head 1.45 mm, rostrum 0.75 mm, scape 1.72 mm, funicle 2.85 mm, segments ((1st/ 2nd/ 3rd/ 4th)) 0.46 /0.46 /0.30 / 0.36 mm, club 0.70 mm, pronotum 1.80 mm, elytra 5.50 mm, tibiae (pro- /meso- /meta-) 1.95 /1.90 / 2.20 mm. Width: head (with eyes) 1.20 mm, head (between eyes) 0.65 mm, rostrum (with pterygia) 0.90 mm, rostrum (minimum dorsal /ventral) 0.62/ 0.85 mm, rostrum (base) 0.70 mm, scape 0.16 mm, club 0.20 mm, pronotum (anterior /maximum /posterior) 1.55 /2.13 / 1.80 mm, elytra (maximum) 3.10 mm. Height: abdomen 2.70 mm.

Differential diagnosis. Length ɗɗ 6.6–9.9 mm, ΨΨ 7.4–10.8 mm. Almost identical in appearance and structural details to the nominate subspecies, L. aethiops aethiops Wollaston, 1864 from El Hierro, but generally not as dark, males slightly shorter and females narrower. Head more finely striated on temples and frons; 2nd funicle segment much longer than 3rd and 4th together; elytra with base evenly convex; shoulders slightly marked (humeral carina more elevated) but still rounded and not subquadrate and prominent as in L. excavatus (its vicariant species from Tenerife; unpublished molecular data). Elytral punctures stronger; intervals more prominent in ɗɗ, with microscopic hairs slightly longer; at apex, laterally and on rim with setae half as long as metatarsal onychium (obsolescent in ssp. aethiops ). Median lobe of aedeagus (fig. 10A–B) apically almost straight, not curved downwards as in ssp. aethiops (fig. 10C).

Etymology. The subspecific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from the name of the National Park of Garajonay in La Gomera, where this subspecies is very common.

Material examined. Holotype: La Gomera, Jardín de las Creces, 950 m (UTM = 28R 0 27410 311550), 17-4-2000, leg. A. Machado, 1ɗ ( TFMC, reg. CO-15507). Paratypes: same data, 20 exx. ( AMC, 2 MNCN, 1 TFMC); same data, 13-9-1997, leg. P. Oromí, 1 ex.; same data, 10-1978, leg. P. Oromí, 2 exx. (POM); Cruce de Las Hayas, 1100 m, 31-3-2001, leg. A. Machado, 1 ex. ( AMC); same data, 4-1-2003, leg. P. Oromí, 1 ex. (POM); same data, 10-7-2001, leg. R. García, 8 exx.; 6-12-2006, leg. R. García, 4 exx. (RGB); Apartacaminos, 1030 m, 17-2-2004, leg. A. Machado, 19 exx.; same data, 2-1-2005, leg. A. Machado, 11 exx. ( AMC, NHM); same data, 6-8-2002, leg. P. Oromí, 1 ex.; same data, 29-3-2002, leg. P. Oromí, 1 ex.; same data, 4-8- 1993, leg. M. Peña, 3 exx. (POM); same data, 13-12-1983, leg. G. Israelson, 1 ex. ( NRS); same data, 1-1- 1982, leg. A.H. Törnvall, 1 ex. ( ZMUL); Montaña La Zarza, 1100 m, 8-10-1998, leg. L. Behne, 5 exx. ( DEI). Other specimens: over 300 exx. from other localities: Altos de Garajonay, El Cedro (800-1000 m), Meriga, Agua de los Llanos, Las Rosas (600 m), Chorros de Epina, Teselinde, El Bailadero, Arure, Laguna Grande, Montaña del Dinero, Montaña Los Negrines, Montaña de Araña, Pajarito, Reventón Oscuro, Los Acebitos, Juego de Bolos, Plan de Régula, Cumbre de Juan Tomé, La Campana, Cabecera Bco. Juel, Cherelepín, Cabezo La Atalaya, etc.

Distribution and ecology. Laparocerus aethiops garajonay is endemic to La Gomera, occurring in the cloud forests that cover the upper parts of the island (600–1200 m). It is essentially nocturnal and fairly polyphagous, feeding on several native woody plants ( Cedronella, Hypericum , Adenocarpus, Bystropogon, Senecio , Argyranthemum, Phylis, Aenoium ) but mainly on Lauraceae ( Laurus , Ocotea , Persea ) and other forest trees ( Viburnum , Erica, Myrica, Notholaea , Sambucus ). It has also been taken on some introduced fruit species, such as sweet chestnut and apple trees, causing damage to the latter. It is probably the most common species in the sylvan district.

Figures

FIGURE 5. New Laparocerus species from La Gomera, holotypes: L. aethiops garajonay. Scale = 2 mm

FIGURE 10. Laparocerus species from La Gomera, aedeagi: (A – B) L. aethiops garajonay n. ssp., (C) L. aethiops aethiops Wollaston, (D – E) L. depressus n. sp., (F – G) L. spinimanus n. sp.