Moreiba canariensis (Franz, 1995) Franz, 1995

Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A., 2013, Moreiba gen. n., a new Canarian genus in Laparocerini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), ZooKeys 333, pp. 45-54 : 51-52

Moreiba canariensis (Franz, 1995) comb. n.

Strophosoma canariense Franz 1995: 37.

Description.

Measurements (in mm): Length: 2.55-2.75 ( x– = 2.65, σn- 1 = 0.07, n= 8). Width: 1.40-1.48 ( x– = 1.44, σn- 1 = 0.03, n = 8). Ranges given by Franz (1995) for the length are apparently taken from apex of rostrum, which is not standard in Curculionoidea , and width seems to be a gross underestimation.

Integument reddish brown to pitch brown.

Body densely covered by subtriangular scales, these apically awned (with a projecting bristle), adpressed to slightly raised. Head vestiture mostly creamy or whitish, that of pronotum different shades of brown, with one lateral band and a median thin band (sometimes incomplete anteriorly) creamy or whitish, elytra watery chequered in shades of brown, whitish and cream, 4th interstria paler on declivity, 7th and 8th at base. Scutellum and legs with whitish scales. Semierect sublanceolate setae present among scales, on head forming a peculiar supraocular row, on pronotum denser, more perpendicular on sides, on elytra forming a regular row on interstriae. Semierect setae also present on antennae and legs.

Rostrum ca. 0.57 × as long as wide at base, as wide at pterygia as at base. Eyes asymmetrical, large-faceted, ommatidia separately convex, giving a blackberry aspect.

Antennae with scape ca. 7.0 × as long as wide, bisinuate, clubbed in apical half, desmomeres 1-3 oblong, pedicel about as long as desmomeres 2-3 together, desmomeres 4-7 moniliform. Club ca. 2.0 × as long as wide, oval, as long as the last 4 ½ desmomeres.

Pronotum ca. 0.80 × as long as wide. Surface under vestiture densely and irregularly granulate, granules flattened, small, ca. 30 µm in diameter.

Elytra ca. 1.30 × as long as wide, ca. 2.5 × as long as pronotum, interstrial setae longer on sides than on disc, apically rounded to subtruncate, with sides subparallel, on disc ca. half the width of an interstria, separated in the row by a distance about twice their length, interstrial adpressed scales in 4-5 irregular rows. Interstriae flat, smooth, minutely punctate. Striae with shortly subrectangular punctures separated a distance similar to their length, punctures bearing small, piliform scales not surpassing margins of puncture. Upper part of declivity slightly overhanging elytral apex.

Legs short, moderately robust, 1st tarsomere oblong, 2nd small, subtransverse, 3rd strongly transverse, bilobed, onychium a little longer than 1st, surpassing lobes of 3rd by 2/3 of its length.

Wings. Franz (1995) stated that the species was brachypterous. In the three specimens I have dissected into pieces, I have been unable to find any trace of a wing, the insects being totally apterous.

Penis in dorsal view with pedon ca. 4.5 × as long as wide, sides slightly converging towards ostium, apical plate subogival, apex slightly projecting, in side view slightly curved ventrally.

Styli of ovipositor ca. 4 × as long as wide.

Spermatheca with ramus curved opposite to cornu.

Material studied.

12 specimens, labelled El Hierro / Las Playas, ex coll. H. Franz, in coll. Alonso-Zarazaga (MNCN). The specimens have no date. They come from the type locality.

Biological notes.

Franz (1995) mentions the presence of the species in xerophytic habitats in the islands, mostly under Periploca laevigata Aiton ( Apocynaceae ). A. Machado (pers. comm.) reports specimens under the basal leaves of Asphodelus sp. ( Xanthorrhoeaceae ). This is probably another polyphagous genus.