Indomias acutipennis (Boheman)

Y, R A M A M U Rt H & Ayri, Shaloo, 2010, Revision of the genus Indomias Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Tanymecini) from India, Zootaxa 2357, pp. 1-49 : 7-8

1. Indomias acutipennis (Boheman)

(figs. 5, 32, 59, 97, 140, 150, 171, 207, 208 and 209)

Brachyaspistes acutipennis Boheman, 1845: 415 ; Marshall, 1916: 166

Sympiezomias acutipennis (Boheman) ; Marshall, 1916: 165; 1941: 350 [NRS]

Description: Colour black, with chalky white vestiture, more or less tinged yellow at the sides, which is sparse on disk, but much denser laterally and beneath. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface finely coriaceous, with scattered, coarse punctations. Rostrum shallowly impressed above, as long as broad, anterior margin 0.9x as broad as posterior margin; median furrow club shaped, rounded at either ends, narrowing posteriorly and extending upto middle of eyes; lateral carinae distinct throughout the length of rostrum; upper surface coarsely punctate; sides straight and parallel; scrobes rounded anteriorly and pointed posteriorly, 0.6x as long as rostrum. Eyes dorsolateral, convex, 2x as long as broad (figs. 5 and 32). Antennae brown; sparsely hairy; scape gradually clavate, funicle with first segment 1.1x as long as the second, third and fourth subequal, fifth and sixth equal; club conical (fig. 59). Prothorax 1.1x as broad as long (male), slightly longer than broad (female), broadest at a little distance away from middle towards anterior margin and 1.07x as broad as posterior margin; sides rounded anteriorly, straight at middle, anterior margin only 0.7x as broad as posterior margin, subtruncate dorsally and acute laterally, posterior margin truncate, basal lobe slightly emarginate; upper surface finely sculptured, with shallow, confluent punctations, usually hidden by vestiture and without any median stria. Legs with hind tibial apex without any dense, golden yellow hairs. Elytra ovate, with basal margin strongly raised, external angle acute, humeral fold prominent, slightly broader behind middle, strongly impressed on posterior declivity; apices sharply mucronate in both sexes; stria finely punctate; intervals broad and convex; elongate scales very short and depressed, more noticeable on declivity, posterior declivity distinctly sinuate; elytral vestiture with predominant scales oval, brown, with patches of granulated areas (fig. 97).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe in profile evenly arcuate at base, broadest at its junction with apophyses, its apex pointed, length: breadth ratio 8.5:1; apophyses 0.52x as long as median lobe (figs. 207– 208). Tegmen with dorsal piece 2.5x as broad as basal piece; parameres short, slender, their apices indistinct; manubrium elongate, slender, 0.52x as long as median lobe, uniformly thick, with a broadened, subconical apex (fig. 209). Spiculum gastrale with shaft 1.08x as long as median lobe, broadest at middle, apex much narrowed, slightly deflected and blunt; basal prongs equal, their apices slightly rounded (fig. 171).

Female genitalia: Spermatheca with proximal arm 3x as broad and 1.3x as long as distal arm, subcylindrical, angle between proximal and distal arms obtuse; nodulus bulbous; ramus rectangular, 2x as broad as nodulus; cornu tubular, its apex rounded (fig. 140). Spiculum ventrale with shaft elongate, uniformly thick, but widened towards the rounded apex; basal plate longer than broad (1.3:1), spatulate with basal half subtrapezoidal, its apical half subconical, apex blunt and bare, ratio of length of basal plate to that of shaft 1:4.3 (fig. 150).

Length: male, 7–8.00 mm; female, 8–8.30 mm. Breadth: male, 2.25–2.50 mm; female, 2.75–3.25 mm.

Specimens examined: 1 male, 2 female, INDIA: Kerala: Malabar: Dhony forests, 26.V.1922, Coll. Ramakrishna; 1 male, Peermad: VI.1922, Coll. E.B (NPC).

Distribution: India: Kerala

Taxonomic note: Marshall (1916) states apical margin of prothorax obliquely truncate but observed to be acutely subtruncate and prothorax broadest at a little distance away from the middle towards anterior margin, not exactly at middle as stated by Marshall (1916).