Eurhoptus aenigmaticus Anderson & Caterino

Anderson, Robert S. & Caterino, Michael S., 2018, A revision of the genus Eurhoptus LeConte, 1876 (Curculionidae, Cryptorhynchinae) of America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 787, pp. 37-80 : 70-72

Eurhoptus aenigmaticus Anderson & Caterino sp. n. Figures 12, 13

Eurhoptus sordidus (part); O’Brien and Wibmer 1982: 136; Downie and Arnett 1996: 1581.

Description.

Body length (exclusive of head and rostrum) 2.2-2.5 mm, cuticle largely bare, variously covered with short, fine recurved seta-like scales only, although often encrusted and coated with a fine film. Pronotum with lateral margins rounded, margins constricted at about apical one-third such that apical one-third is tubulate, greatest width at about basal one-third, medially carinate (most) or not (few). Elytra strongly rounded dorsally and laterally, striae distinct, punctures large in size, deep; all elytral intervals evenly elevated, slightly rounded, each with single row of fine recurved seta-like scales. Metaventrite medially deeply impressed behind mesoventral cup. Abdomen with ventrite 1 with pair of rounded pits which are continuous medially, area around pits with inwardly directed scales. Legs with femora and tibiae at most fringed with a few erect scales especially along outer margin of tibiae, hind tibiae subequal in width throughout most of length. Aedeagus slightly longer than one-half length of aedeagal apodemes, in lateral view very slightly ventrally curved, in dorsal view with margins gradually tapered towards very blunt, truncate apex, apex not produced medially. Internal sac with large distinct apical sclerite complex, with median pyriform sclerite, bordered laterally by pair of inwardly arcuate longitudinal bars these each bordered posteriorly by an elongate oblique sclerite.

Distribution

(Figure 13). This species is distributed in the southern coastal plain of the U.S.A. from Alabama and Florida west to Louisiana. We have been able to sequence KKV, CAD, and COI from some individuals from Alabama. In COI these are rather divergent, though the other two genes show minimal difference from Eurhoptus curtus . Further effort to obtain sequences from these and other populations of E. aenigmaticus will help support its placement relative to E. sordidus and E. curtus .

Etymology.

We name this species ' aenigmaticus ' (L., an adjective or participle in the nominative singular, enigma, puzzle or riddle) after encountering difficulty in separating it from closely related species of the genus.

Specimens examined.

Holotype male (CMNC), labelled "AL: Winston Co.: Bankhead NF / Brushy Ck Lake CG, N34.297° / W87.2697°cols. CEC, MLF, JSP, AT / 3.Wink216h3/4", dissected. Extracted SSM-478. Paratypes (163): ALABAMA: Blount Co.: Blount Springs (33.9, -86.8), T. King, 31 Oct 1982, oak tree hole (1, UAAM); Blount Co.: Highland Lake (33.88, -86.42), T. King, 6 May 2009, litter (2, CWOB); Blount Co.: Highland Lake (33.88, -86.42), T. King, 20 Mar 2010, litter (1, CWOB); Cleburne Co.: Cheaha State Park (32.493, -85.809), R. Brown; J.A. McGown, 16 May 1998, berlese magnolia leaf litter (2, MEM); Jackson Co.: 3.2 km. N. Scottsboro (34.75, -86.04), 16 May 1972, S. & J. Peck (1, CNCI); Jackson Co.: Woodville (34.627, -86.274), S. Peck, 12 Jul 1965, leaf litter (2, CWOB); Lauderdale Co.: Joe Wheeler State Park (34.80, -87.33), J.A. McGown, 27 May 2004, soil humus at base Fagus grandofilia (1, MEM); Joe Wheeler State Park (34.80, -87.33), J.A. McGown, 27 May 2004, litter under rotten log (1, MEM); Joe Wheeler State Park (34.786, -87.388), J.A. McGown, 26 May 2004, mixed litter (1, MEM); Marshall Co.: 1.6 km. N. Guntersville Dam (34.43, -86.39), S. Peck, 11 Jun 1967, litter (1, CWOB); Monroe Co.: Haines Island Reserve (31.724, -87.470), V. Behan, 17 Mar 1994, mixed litter (1, MEM); Monroe Co.: Haines Island Park (31.723, -87.469), C.E. Carlton, 31 May 1995, beech/magnolia litter (3, LSAM); Monroe Co.: Haines Island Park (31.723, -87.469), C.E. Carlton, 26 May 1995, beech/magnolia litter (2, CMNC; 4, LSAM); Monroe Co.: 1.6 km.km. S. Claiborne Dam (31.54, -87.52), A. Tishechkin, 16 Sep 2005, litter (1, CWOB); Monroe Co.: 1.6 km. S. Claiborne Dam (31.54, -87.52), C.E. Carlton, 31 May 1995, litter (2, LSAM); Monroe Co.: Big Flat Creek (31.54, -87.52), A. Tishechkin, 16 Sep 2005, litter (1, CWOB); Morgan Co.: 5.63 km. S.E. Fayette (31.608, -87.414), C.E. Carlton, 27 May 1995, litter (1, LSAM); Morgan Co.: 5.63 km. S.E. Fayette (31.608, -87.414), S.B. Peck, 21 May 1972, litter (2, CMNC); Morgan Co.: Newsom Sinks, Turtle Cave area (34.43, -86.58), A. Cline & J. Skeens, 26 Nov 2004, litter (2, LSAM); Sumter Co.: Highway 17 at Noxubee River (32.918, -88.298), J.A. McGown, 27 May 2004, under dead Quercus nigra , floodplain (3, MEM). LOUISIANA: East Baton Rouge Par.: Place Du Plantier Apartments (30.4, -91.1546), E.G. Riley, 30 Dec 1993, berlese leaf litter (4, ASUIC; 2, BMNH; 16, CMNC; 2, CNCI; 4, LSAM; 22, TAMU; 2, USNM); East Baton Rouge Par.: Place Du Plantier Apartments (30.4, -91.1546), E.G. Riley, 27 Nov 1993, berlese leaf litter (20, EGRC; 11, TAMU); Evangeline Par.: Chicot State Park (30.795, -92.279), A. Tishechkin, 19 Feb 2004, berlese (4, CMNC); West Feliciana Par.: Feliciana Preserve (30.78, -91.25), J.L. Fassbender, 21 Apr 1999, sifting litter mixed pine hardwood forest (2, CMNC; 1, LSAM); West Feliciana Par.: D.P. Cabin (30.795, -91.256), J.L. Johnson, 21 Dec 1995, berlese (3, CWOB); West Feliciana Par.: Tunica Hills WMA, Magnolia Glen Trail (30.79. -91.38), D. Pashley, 15 Jul 1995 (1, LSAM); West Feliciana Par.: Tunica Hills WMA (30.79. -91.38), D. Pashley, 24 May 1995 (1, LSAM); West Feliciana Par.: Tunica Hills WMA, nr. St. Francisville (30.79. -91.38), J. & T. Fassbender, 23 Sep 1999, lower ravine berlese (10, CWOB). MISSISSIPPI: Chickasaw Co.: Natchez Trace Parkway mile 241.1 (34.01, -88.90), J.A. McGown; J.G. Hill, 21 Jul 2003, mixed litter (1, MEM); Claiborne Co.: Natchez Trace Parkway (31.97, -90.956), J.A. McGown; J.G. Hill, 8 Jul 2005, mixed litter (4, MEM); Warren Co.: Vicksburg, Waterways Experiment Station (32.355, -90.878), P.W. Kovarik, 23. Mar 1998, beech magnolia litter (2, CMNC; 14, CWOB); Wilkinson Co.: Clark Creek Natural Area (31.058, -91.521), A. Tishechkin, 2 Dec 2005, forest litter (5, CWOB).

Excluded from type series: ARKANSAS: Marion Co.: 7 mi E County line on Hwy 14 (36.36, -92.8), R. Chenowith, 27 Sep 1977, mixed hardwood litter (1, ASUIC).