Anthonomus rileyi, Clark & Burke, 2010

Clark, Wayne E. & Burke, Horace R., 2010, The Anthonomus juniperinus group, with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (119), pp. 1-10 : 8-9

Anthonomus rileyi , new species

( Figure 5, 6 , 11, 14)

Type series. Holotype. TEXAS [TEXAS: Travis Co. / vic. Cypress Creek / 30 o 25’58", 97 o 52’01"/ Apr. 23- 24, 1994 (22)] [Collectors: M. Quinn,/ E. Riley, R. Wharton. / on Quercus buckleyi / Qt G-MS1] (male, TAMU) . Paratypes (95). ARKANSAS. [ ARK: Logan Co./ Magazine Mtn./ FSR 1606/ VI-24-26-1993] [Coll. E. G. Riley/ beating/ juniper] (27, TAMU, 13 EGRC). TEXAS. Burnet Co.: [TEXAS: Burnet Co.,/ Inks Lake St. Pk./ 13.IV.1985 / P. W. Kovarik, R. W. Jones/ and C. W. Agnew, Collrs.] [collected/ sweeping] (2, TAMU). [TEXAS: Burnet Co.,/ Inks Lake St. Pk./ April 13, 1985 / sweeping/ P. W. Kovarik] [Taken on/ Juniperus ashei ] (3, TAMU). [TEXAS: Burnet County,/ Inks Lake State Park/ 13-IV-1985 / P. W. Kovarik, coll.] [Taken on/ Juniperus ashei ] (1, TAMU). [ U.S.A.: Hays Co./ 6 mi. NW Dripping Springs/ X-27-XI-11- 2005, pit-fall trap/ 1,340', E.G. Riley, et al/ Juniperus managed plot] (1, EGRC). [ U.S.A. TEXAS Kerr Co./ 6.5 mi. SW Hunt, 1,960'/ VI-3-30-2006, FIT-elev./ E.G. Riley, et al/ upland deciduous forest] (1, EGRC). [ U.S.A. TEXAS Kerr Co./ 6.5 mi. SW Hunt, 1,960'/ VII-27-2006, FIT-grd./ E.G. Riley, et al/ upland deciduous forest] (1, EGRC). [ U.S.A. TEXAS Kerr Co./ 6.5 mi. SW Hunt, 1,960'/ X-13-26-2005, FIT- Lingren FT./ E.G. Riley, et al/ upland deciduous forest] (1, EGRC). Kerr Co.: [Texas, Kerrville/ Sept. 21. 1951 / R. B. Gurney/ Beating cedar trees] (1, USNM). Travis Co.: Specimens from “vic. Cypress Creek” and “vic. Long Hollow Ck”, with slight variations from that of the holotype, some indicating collection on “ Quercus buckleyi ”, “ Q. virginiana ,” and “ Juniperus ashei ” (44, TAMU).

Description. Length 1.5-1.9 mm. Body stout, ovate to sub-obvate ( Fig. 5, 6 ); integument rufous; vestiture fine, setalike, sparsely distributed. Head sparsely, minutely punctate, with elongate, acuminate, fulvous scales; eyes round, slightly raised posteriorly, slightly larger in male. Rostrum nearly straight, slightly longer and more slender in female, with obsolescent lateral and lateromedian sulci proximally, smooth, shining, sparsely, shallowly punctate proximally and distally; with sparse elongate scales at extreme base; dorsal margin of lateral rostral groove carinate; subparallel-sided from base to antennal insertions, slightly widened to apex, in dorsal view. Pronotum slightly, broadly constricted subapically; densely punctate; with vestiture of elongate, narrow, acuminate, pallid fulvous scales, slightly narrower scales on dorsolateral portion. Scutellum with dense, pallid, elongate scales. Elytra ovate to sub-obvate in dorsal view; striae shallowly punctate; each puncture with one minute seta; interstriae slightly convex, slightly rugulose, minutely, sparsely punctate; with sparse, uniform vestiture of elongate, narrow, acuminate, fulvous scales. Pygidium with sparse setae; tergum 7 with posteromedian fovea in male and in female. Sterna subequal in length, with sparse, pallid fulvous scales laterally, sparse setae medially. Legs with femora stout, with sparse, pallid, elongate scales; profemur with stout, broad, ventral tooth (Fig. 14); mesofemur with smaller tooth; metafemur unarmed. Protibia with inner margin sinuate, with small, acute, black, apical uncus that extends parallel to long axis of tibia; mesotibia with more slender, acute uncus; metatibia with stout, oblique apical mucro (Fig. 14). Tarsal claws each with minute, acute basal tooth, sometimes visible only under high magnification. Median lobe subparallelsided, slightly narrowed to rounded apex in dorsal view (Fig. 11).

Discussion. Anthonomus rileyi is the smallest species of the A. juniperinus Group. It is easily distinguished from the other species of the group by its smaller size and uniform, and more sparse dorsal vestiture. In addition, the body is usually stouter than that of A. juniperinus and A. sanborni . The protibial uncus being slightly curved and extended parallel to the long axis of the tibia of A. rileyi as compared to the protibial uncus being perpendicular to the tibia also distinguishes it from the other two species. The disjunct distribution of A. rileyi parallels that of its likely host plant, Juniperus ashei . This juniper is widely distributed throughout Central Texas (where most of the weevil collections were made) into the southwestern part of the state. The plant also occurs in Arkansas (Magazine Mountain) where specimens of A. rileyi have been collected.

Biology. Although larval development has not been observed, the fact that many adults have been collected on Juniperus ashei in Central Texas indicates that this is likely a true host plant of the species. The association of three teneral specimens (not included in the type series) with Juniperus ashei further suggests that this plant is a host. It’s collection on two species of Quercus , both species intermixed with juniper, almost surely represent accidental associations.

Figures

Figure 1-6. Anthonomus juniperinus group spp., habitus, lateral and dorsal views. 1, 2) A. juniperinus, male, 10 mi. SW Elkhart, Texas. 3, 4) A. sanborni, female, 15 mi. N Alvord Ranch, Harney County, Oregon. 5, 6) A. rileyi, female, vic. Long Hollow Creek, Travis County, Texas.