Megorchestes deccanensis Ayri, Kojima & Ramamurthy

Ayri, Shaloo, Kojima, Hiroaki & Ramamurthy, V. V., 2014, Flea weevils of the genus Megorchestes Kojima (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae, Rhamphini), with description of a second species from India, Zootaxa 3814 (3), pp. 392-398 : 393-398

Megorchestes deccanensis Ayri, Kojima & Ramamurthy , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–2 , 5–20 )

Description. Male–Length (excluding rostrum): 4.1 mm, width– 2.2 mm and female–Length (excluding rostrum): 4.3 mm, width– 2.3 mm.

Derm reddish brown, antennae and tarsi paler, head, rostrum, median part of pronotum and scutellum darker, elytra with black macula between 3rd intervals before middle and blackish transverse band behind middle; clothed mainly with yellowish brown and whitish recumbent hairy scales, blackish ones on elytral macula and band.

Head and pronotum densely punctate, alutaceous; forehead between eyes with single row of very short scales along inner margin of each eye, sloping steeply down to rostrum. Rostrum nearly as long as pronotum; dorsum densely, subconfluently punctate. Antennae inserted at middle of rostrum, with length (width) from scape to club as 20 (4): 7 (3): 8 (2): 4 (2): 3 (2): 3 (2): 3 (2.5): 20(5), club 5 (5): 5 (5): 6 (4): 4 (3).

Prothorax 1.4x as wide as long, widest at base and narrowed in weak curve at sides to faint subapical constriction, anterior margin weakly arcuate, posterior margin subtruncate; dorsum with pair of weak swellings before middle, then sloping down to base, with subrecumbent yellowish brown to whitish hairy scales along anterior margin and at sides. Scutellar shield clothed with hairy scales as on pronotum, oval. Elytra 1.4x as long as wide, subparallel–sided from humeri to middle; striae somewhat sinuous on account of nodules, with narrowly separated punctures; intervals nodulate or costate as follows: 2nd and 4th intervals each with small nodule at middle, 3rd interval costate from basal third to middle and with small nodule at apical third, 5th with two nodules at basal third and on declivity, 9th with one nodule at basal third and weakly costate behind middle to apical third. Elytra <4x (3.2–3.5x) as long as pronotum and <1.7x (1.6–1.7x) as wide as pronotum at base (Male, elytral width: 2.2 mm, elytral length: 3.0 mm, pronotal width: 1.4 mm, pronotal length: 0.9 mm; Female, elytral width: 2.3 mm, elytral length: 3.2 mm, pronotal width: 1.4 mm, pronotal length: 0.9 mm). Elytral humeri less distinct. Legs with hind femora 2x as long as broad and about 2.5x as broad as middle pair.

Female genitalia as illustrated ( Figs. 14–16 ): spermatheca with ramus (lateral part) not differentiated from nodulus externally; and cornu distinct with pointed apex. Sternite 8 with bladal part 2x shorter than apodeme, apodeme with triangular apex (arrowhead).

Male genitalia as illustrated ( Figs. 17–20 ): penis a little longer than apophyses, spiculum gastrale nearly as long as penis body; internal sac asperate, without distinct sclerites.

Type series. Holotype, male. India: Karnataka, Bangalore: GKVK (12°58’N, 77°35’E), 18. iv. 2013, Sudha, M. (sweep net), Coll. NPIB ( NPC); paratype, female. India: Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, 21. iv. 2013, S. Murthy (at light) ( NPC).

Etymology. This species is named after the Deccan Plateau, a large plateau in India, making up most of the southern part of the country. It extends over eight Indian states and encompasses a wide range of habitats, covering most of central and southern India.

Distribution. India: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.

Comments. This new species, M. deccanensis sp. nov., differs from M. bolovenensis in the following features: Elytra clothed predominantly with whitish recumbent hairy scales before postmedian blackish band. Rostrum nearly as long as pronotum (both sexes). Hind femora 2.5x as broad as middle pair. Elytra <4x (3.2-3.5x) as long and <1.7x (1.6-1.7x) as wide as pronotum. Elytral humeri less distinct and size small (length: 4.1–4.3 mm).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Megorchestes deccanensis sp. nov. Habitus photographs. Adult male— 1 – 2. dorsal and lateral view. Megorchestes bolovenensis Kojima. Habitus photographs. Adult (holotype, female) - 3 – 4. dorsal and lateral view (after Kojima, 2011).

FIGURES 5 – 8. Megorchestes deccanensis sp. nov. SEM images, 5. elytra lateral view, 6 – 7. abdomen, 8. tarsi.

FIGURES 9 – 13. Megorchestes deccanensis sp. nov. Head, 9 – 10. dorsal and lateral view, 11. antenna, 12. pro- and mesocoxae, 13. hind femora.

FIGURES 14 – 22. Megorchestes deccanensis sp. nov. 14 – 16. female genitalia, 17 – 20. male genitalia. Megorchestes bolovenensis Kojima. 21 – 22. Female genitalia.