Acalles granulimaculosus, Schütte, André & Stüben, Peter E., 2015

Schütte, André & Stüben, Peter E., 2015, Molecular systematics and morphological identification of the cryptic species of the genus Acalles Schoenherr, 1825, with descriptions of new species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), Zootaxa 3915 (1), pp. 1-51 : 27

Acalles granulimaculosus sp. nov.

1. Pronotum with circular, considerably large scales (digit 43’).

2. Aedeagus (ventral view): base broader; the apex, in lateral view, nearly curved at a right angle (fig. 15). Acalles pilula

1*. Pronotum behind the front margin on center line with predominant elongate-oval and smaller scales (digit 43). 2*. Aedeagus (ventral view): narrower, median lobe very long; the apex, in lateral view, less curved (digit 43).

FIGURES 13–15.

Description. Length. 2.0– 2.6 mm (without rostrum).

The new species corresponds in all other details—excluding the characteristics listed above, with the sister taxon A. pilula from Tenerife and the western islands El Hierro and La Palma (type locality). A detailed redescription of A. pilula with many scientific illustrations and a comparison with A. globulipennis can be found in Stüben (2000: 82-85). See also the couplet 43 vs. 43’ in this study.

Etymology. The species name refers to the small body (latin: granulum) and in many cases soiled, but always colored elytra (latin: maculosus)

Ecology. The specimens of the new species can be knocked off dead and broken branches of bushes and trees of the laurel forest and the thermophilic brushwood.

Distribution. So far this species is only known from the Canarian Island La Gomera.