Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) audax Gressitt

Riedel, Alexander & Kilmaskossu, Agust, 2017, Revision of the subgenus Niphetoscapha Heller of Gymnopholus Heller (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Entiminae, Eupholini) and a new species with epizoic symbiosis from West New Guinea, Zootaxa 4254 (3), pp. 339-356 : 348-349

Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) audax Gressitt

( Figs. 1–2 , 9 , 13 , 17 , 21 , 25, 28, 31 , 42 )

Gymnopholus (Symbiopholus) audax Gressitt, 1966: 254 (type locality: Itouda, Kamo valley).

Diagnosis. Body nude except antennal scrobe densely squamose. Pronotum punctate-granulate. Elytra with shallow transverse wrinkles; without distinct subapical tubercles.

Redescription. Males ( Fig. 1 ). Length. Total length 23.5–27.5 mm (n=6, x =25.8 ± 1.5); pronotum + elytron 18.5–21.7 mm (n=6, x =20.1 ± 1.1).

Color of integument black; body largely nude.

Head ( Fig. 9 ) dull, microreticulate, punctulate, with minute setae; between eyes 0.85 X as wide as vertical diameter of eye. Eyes weakly prominent from outline of head. Gena ca. half as long (0.53 X) as vertical diameter of eye.

Rostrum ( Fig. 9 ) 2.11–2.45 X longer than wide at base (n=6, x =2.27 ± 0.13); maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.41–1.56 X width at base (n=6, x =1.47 ± 0.06). Dorsum with marked median impression and shallow pair of dorsolateral furrows nude; antennal scrobes densely clothed with scales and brown encrustations.

Antenna. Funicle + club 1.56–1.69 X length of scape (n=8, x =1.64 ± 0.05); club 3.88 X as long as wide.

Thorax. Pronotum 1.04 X longer than wide; sides subparallel, subapically weakly converging; disc nude, dull, microreticulate, towards sides weakly tuberculate, with coarse punctures; medially with shallow impression. Thoracic venter subglabrous, with sparse thin setae; mesoventrite and mesocoxae with dense recumbent setae.

Elytron 4.12–4.44 X longer than wide between humeri (n=6, x =4.25 ± 0.11), at greatest width 1.08–1.24 X wider than between humeri (n=6, x =1.14 ± 0.06); sides converging to apex; almost nude, subapically with sparse short setae; surface dull, with distinct coriaceous sculpture, without coarse wrinkles; intervals 4–6 in basal third with impression devoid of setae or associated glands; epipleural edge with very sparse fringe of setae; apical declivity at suture with blunt knob continued laterad by Omega-shaped ridge.

Legs. Surface coriaceous, densely provided with granules and stiff, suberect setae. Femora weakly clavate, moderately long; metafemur in repose not reaching elytral apex.

Abdomen. Ventrite 1–2 medially flat; with sparse, long setae; ventrite 5 flat, subapically densely setose. Penis ( Fig. 21 ) with asymmetrical apical tip moderately widened. Transfer apparatus ca. 1.7 X as long as wide at base.

Females ( Fig. 2 ). Same as males except: Length. Total length 24.5–31.0 mm (n=6, x =28.6 ± 2.6); pronotum + elytron 20.5–26.5 mm (n=6, x =23.1 ± 2.2). Rostrum 1.95–2.50 X longer than wide at base (n=6, x =2.27 ± 0.13); maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.38–1.44 X width at base (n=6, x =1.41 ± 0.03). Elytron wider, 4.00–4.48 X longer than wide between humeri (n=6, x =4.24 ± 0.18), at greatest width 1.13–1.30 X wider than between humeri (n=6, x =1.20 ± 0.06); sides more rounded.

Intraspecific variation. Elytral surface nude or sparsely setose with suberect, brownish bristles; presumably, bristles worn-off in nude specimens; one single specimen with inconspicuous coverage of recumbent scales; surface smooth or markedly coriaceous.

Material examined. WEST NEW GUINEA, Paniai Reg.: 10 males, 7 females, Bilogay [E 137° 01´S 03° 44´], 2100–2200 m, 22–30.XII.1995 ( ARC, SMNK) ; 2 males, Bilogay , Tigipigu, 2100–2400 m, 23.XII.1995 ( ARC, SMNK) ; 1 male, 4 females, Bilogay—Bilai , 2100–2300 m, 1.I.1996 ( ARC, SMNK) .

Other material recorded. WEST NEW GUINEA, Paniai Reg.: Holotype, male, Itouda , 1550 m, Kamo valley , nr. Wissel Lakes, 13.VIII.1955 ( BPBM 6830 ) ( Gressitt, 1966); 1, Enarotali [E 136° 20´S 03° 55´] , 1900 m, 25.VI.1962; 22, Araboebivak [E 136° 40´S 03° 40´] and Paniai, 10.IX–4.XI.1939 ( Gressitt & Sedlacek, 1967).

Distribution ( Fig. 42 ). Paniai Reg. (Enarotali, Kamo valley, Bilai, Bilogay). Elevation: 1550–2100 m.

Figures

FIGURE 42. Distribution of G. (Niphetoscapha) audax and G. (Niphetoscapha) nitidus. Base map created with GeoMapApp (http: // www. geomapapp. org).

FIGURES 1 – 4. Habitus of Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) spp., dorsal aspect: (1) G. audax, male; (2) G. audax, female; (3) G. nitidus, male; (4) G. nitidus, female.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Head and rostrum of Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) spp.: (9) G. audax; (10) G. nitidus; (11) G. inexspectatus sp. n., holotype; (12) G. wichmanni, lectotype.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Pronotum of Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) spp., female: (13) G. audax (14) G. nitidus; (15) G. inexspectatus sp. n., allotype; (16) G. wichmanni, lectotype.

FIGURES 17 – 20. Elytral apex of Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) spp., female; in dorsoapical aspect (left), in profile (right): (17) G. audax; (18) G. nitidus; (19) G. wichmanni, lectotype; (20) G. inexspectatus sp. n., allotype.

FIGURES 21 – 24. Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) spp.; Male genitalia; body of penis in dorsal aspect (left), in profile (right): (21) G. audax; (22) G. nitidus; (23) G. inexspectatus sp. n., holotype; (24) G. wichmanni, paralectotype.

FIGURES 25 – 32. Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) spp.; female terminalia: (25) G. audax; (26) G. inexspectatus sp. n., allotype; (27) sternite VIII of G. audax; (28) sternite VIII of G. inexspectatus sp. n., allotype; (28) spermatheca of G. audax; (29) spermatheca of G. inexspectatus sp. n., allotype; (31) hemisternite of G. audax; (32) hemisternite of G. inexspectatus sp. n., allotype.