Mecinus comosus Boheman, 1845

Caldara, Roberto & Fogato, Valter, 2013, Systematics of the weevil genus <i> Mecinus </ i> Germar, 1821 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). I. Taxonomic treatment of the species, Zootaxa 3654 (1), pp. 1-105 : 56-57

31. Mecinus comosus Boheman

Figs 29 , 78–79 , 100 , 130 , 167

Mecinus comosus Boheman, 1845: 190 . Tournier, 1874: 41. Reitter, 1907: 15. Peyerimhoff, 1911: 309. Escalera, 1914: 470. Mecinus setosus Kiesenwetter, 1864: 274 . Desbrochers des Loges, 1893: 61 (syn. n.).

Mecinus hesteticus Vitale, 1906: 134 . Reitter, 1907: 15 (syn. n.).

Mecinus pici Reitter, 1907: 14 (syn. n.).

Mecinus pici var. theresae Reitter, 1907: 14 (syn. n.).

Type locality. Portugal .

Type series. This species was described from specimens from Portugal without more precise indications. We examined one female syntype ( NHRS) labelled “Lusit. / Rosenschöld / 34 / Typus” (lectotype here designated) .

Synonyms. Mecinus setosus was described from two specimens collected at Zakynthos ( Greece), which we did not examine. However, because of the accurate original description and our study of many specimens from Greece, we believe that this taxon is synonymous with M. comosus .

Mecinus hesteticus was described from one female collected at Licata (Sicily), which we did not find. However, we examined some specimens of M. comosus collected in Sicily (and identified by Vitale as M. hesteticus ) that match the lectotype of M. comosus .

Mecinus pici was described from specimens in Pic's collection and collected at Mekalia ( Algeria). We examined six syntypes ( MNHN) on three pins, one male and one female on the same pin, labelled respectively “Algèrie, Mekalia / type / Type / Mecinus pici n. sp., type” (we designated the male as lectotype); “Mekalia, 19 mai“; “Mekalia” followed by an illegible word within brackets. We have not observed any noteworthy differences between these specimens and the lectotype of M. comosus .

Reitter described the variety theresae of M. pici (which we consider as a subspecies according to Art. 45.6.4 of ICZN 1999) from specimens collected at Biaret (Reitter wrote erroneously “Piaret”) in Algeria, of which we examined one male labelled “Biaret, 30 mai / Algèrie / type / Type / Mecinus pici m. v. Theresae m., type” (lectotype here designated). This taxon must also be placed in synonymy with M. comosus .

Redescription. Male. Length 2.6 mm. Body: very long, cylindrical, moderately slender ( Fig. 29 ). Rostrum: black with reddish apex, short (Rl/Pl 0.63), subconical; in lateral view straight, weakly narrowed in apical third ( Fig. 78 ); in dorsal view with weakly tapered sides from base to apex, rugosely striate-punctured to near apex, with deep sulcus along midline, in basal half with recumbent to erect, somewhat dense, white, long to very long (l/w 8– 12), seta-like scales. Head: frons as wide as rostrum at base, with small deep fovea; eyes weakly convex. Antennae: reddish with reddish brown club, inserted between median third and apical third of rostrum; scape short. 3.0x longer than wide; funicle distinctly longer than scape, segment 1 1.5x longer than wide, stouter and 1.5x longer than segment 2, which is as long as wide, segments 3–5 gradually more transverse; club moderately long, oval, with segment 1 almost glabrous. Pronotum: black, with dense and regular punctures, intervals between punctures flat and shining, clearly visible between recumbent to erect, moderately dense, whitish (more numerous along midline and sides) and greyish brown, long to very long (l/w 8–12), seta-like scales; moderately transverse (Pw/Pl 1.22), with weakly rounded sides, with weakly prominent apical constriction, widest in basal third, somewhat convex. Elytra: reddish except base and interstriae 1, 3, 8 and 9, which are black; very long (El/Ew 1.66), at base weakly concave, only slightly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.15), with parallel sides, moderately convex on disc; interstriae somewhat visible between subrecumbent to erect, moderately dense, white (more adpressed at sides and humeri) and greyish brown, long to very long (1.00–1.25x as long as width of interstria; l/w 8–13), seta-like scales, arranged in 4–5 very irregular rows; striae hardly visible, one third narrower than interstriae, with a row of scales similar to shorter ones covering interstriae. Legs: stout, with mostly erect, moderately dense, whitish, seta-like scales, which are partly longer than width of tibia; femora black and reddish, subclavate, profemora with small sharp tooth, metafemora with very small tooth; tibiae reddish, short, protibiae with apical part of ventral surface somewhat directed outward ( Fig. 100 ); unci dark brown, stout, all equal in length; tarsi reddish, tarsomere 1 1.5x longer than wide, tarsomere 2 about as long as wide, tarsomere 3 bilobed and distinctly wider than tarsomere 2, onychium slightly shorter than tarsomeres 1–3 taken together; claws dark brown, equal in length, fused in basal half. Venter: metasternum distinctly convex, clearly visible between recumbent to suberect, sparse, whitish, long, seta-like scales; mesothoracic epimera and meso- and metathoracic episterna with sparse, whitish, long, seta-like scales and wide, fringed scales. Abdomen black with apical part of ventrite 5 reddish, with dense and somewhat regular punctures, which are clearly visible between recumbent to subrecumbent, moderately dense, whitish, very long, seta-like scales; ventrites length ratio 1–2/3–4 1.80. Penis: fig. 130.

Female. As in male except rostrum weakly longer (Rl/Pl 0.67) and in lateral view subcylindrical ( Fig. 79 ), antennae inserted at middle of rostrum. Sternite 8: as in M. circulatus ( Fig. 149 ). Spermatheca: fig.167.

Variability. Length 2.2–2.9 mm. Sometimes the black part of the elytra is less extensive and in some specimens is completely reddish. The elytral scales may be mostly recumbent-subrecumbent or suberect-erect. Sometimes ventrite 5 is entirely reddish.

Remarks and comparative notes. The cylindrical and elongate shape of the body allows for the separation of M. comosus from the other species of the group, It is similar to M. circulatus by the shape of the body and the colour of the integument, but this latter species can be clearly separated from M. comosus by the shape of the rostrum and the tibiae.

Biological notes. Adults were collected in Morocco on Plantago macrorrhiza Poir. ( Peyerimhoff 1911) and in Spain on P. maritima L (Sprick det.).

Distribution. Southern Portugal, Spain, southern and insular Italy, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria.

Non-type specimens examined. PORTUGAL: Algarve, Aljezur, Praia de Monte Clérigo , 31.III.1996, Stüben leg. (5, PSCM) ; Algarve, Carrapateira , 1.IV.1996, Stüben leg. (7, PSCM) ; Algarve, Carretera. Tanganheira a Sinca , croce Porto Covo , 28.III.1991, Bastazo & Vela legg. (1, AZCM) . SPAIN: Andalucía, Malága, Misericordia , 13.VI.1984 (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Tarifa , IV.1990, Poot leg. (1, RCCM) ; Cataluña, Gerona, San Pedro Pescador , 11.V.1988, on Plantago maritima, Sprick leg. (1, PSCH) ; Cataluña, Torredembarra , 9.VI.1997, Białooki leg. (3, PBCS) ; Comunidad Valenciana, Alicante, Santa Pola , 27.IV.1987, Sprick leg. (1, PSCH) ; Madrid, Escorial , Lauffer leg. (1, MCNM) ; Madrid, Escorial , Aranjuez (1, MCNM) ; Navarra, Bardenas Reales , El Ferial, 17.VI.2006, Ugarte & Salgueira legg. (2, USCA) ; Pais Vasco, Vizcaya, Sopelana , 28.VIII.1962, Thompson & Brendell legg. (2, BMNH) . Spain (Balearic Islands): Mallorca, Algaida , Bonanza , Sanlucar de Barrameda , 17.IV.1936, Goodings leg. (2, BMNH) ; Mallorca, C'an Picafort , 12.IV.1964, Liebmann leg. (1, SMNS) ; Menorca (1, MCNM) . ITALY: Basilicata, Potenza, Abetina di Laurenzana, 31.V.1998, Angelini leg. (1, FACF) ; Calabria, Crotone , 8.III.1998, Angelini leg. (1, FACF) ; Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Gerace , 1905, Paganetti leg. (1, DEIM; 5, MSNM) . Italy (Sardinia): Cagliari, Elmas , 1.II.1990, Fancello leg. (1, RCCM) ; Cagliari, Flumini di Quartu , I.1937, Lostia leg. (1, MSNM) ; Olbia-Tempio, Golfo Aranci , 20.VI.1978, Mourglia leg. (2, MMCT) ; Olbia-Tempio, Isola Tavolara , 9.VI.1987, Osella leg. (8, GOCA) ; Olbia-Tempio, 5 km E Olbia, Padrogiano river , 14.IV.1994, Krátký leg. (2, JKCH) ; Sassari, Chilivani , 12.IV.1967, Franzini leg. (3, RCCM) ; Sassari, Isola Asinara, Fornelli , 4.VI.2004, Pierotti leg. (1, RCCM) . ITALY (Sicily): Messina , Vitale leg. (1, MNHN) ; Messina, Francavilla di Sicilia, 7.V.1995, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS) ; Palermo, Bosco Ficuzza , 10.VI.1983, Abbazzi leg. (1, PACF) ; Palermo, Monreale , 20.IV.1911, Vitale leg. (1, MNHN) . ALBANIA: Butrint , 16.V.1994, Strejček leg. (1, JSCP) . GREECE: Attica, Reitter leg. (4, HNHM; 2, MSNM) ; Attica, Phaleron , Schatzmayr leg. (1, MSNM) ; Rhodos , Teodora leg. (1, MSNG) ; Rhodos, Kolympia, Loutani valley , 9.V.1996, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS) ; Rhodos, Lakaniá , 9.V.1996, Schön leg. (1, RBCS) ; Peloponnese, Morea, Hagios Wlassis , Bencke leg. (1, HNHM) ; Peloponnese, 5 km S Monemvasia , IV.1984, Christensen leg. (1, RCCM) . TURKEY: Antalya, N Kumluca, 26.V.1991, Gyllerfors leg. (1, RCCM) . MOROCCO: Boulhaut , IV.1923, Antoine leg. (2, MNHN) ; Ras el Ma , 5.V.2009, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS) ; Tanger , 22.V.1965 (1, BMNH) ; Tanger, Larache , Escalera leg. (6, MCNM) ; Tanger, Larache (1, MSNG) . ALGERIA: Mandoura , 17.IV.1988, Sama leg. (1, FTCM) ; Great Kabylie , 9 km E Yakouren, 930 m, 13.V.1988, Besuchet & Löbl legg. (1, MHNG) .

Figures

FIGURES 28–36. Habitus of (28) Mecinus baridioides; (29) M. comosus; (30) M. simus; (31) M. pirazzolii; (32) M. vulpes; (33) M. pipistrellus; (34) M. collaris; (35) M. sicardi; (36) M. janthinus. Not to the same scale.

FIGURES 78–87. Rostrum in lateral and dorsal view of (78) Mecinus comosus, male; (79) idem, female; (80) M. collaris, female; (81–82) M. simus, female; (83) M. pirazzolii, female; (84) M. pipistrellus, female;; (85) M. vulpes, female; (86) M. sicardi, male; (87) idem, female. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 98–107. Male right protibia in anterior view of (98) Mecinus pascuorum; (99) M. tanaiticus; (100) M. comosus; (101) M. simus; (102) M. pirazzolii; (103) M. vulpes; (104) M. pipistrellus. Male right profemur of (105) M. pascuorum; (106) M. ictericus. Right antenna of (107) M. paratychioides.

FIGURES 121–132. Penis in dorsal and lateral view of (121) Mecinus desertorum; (122) M. marina; (123) M. henrici; (124) M. alternans; (125) M. reichei; (126) M. tanaiticus; (127) M. circulatus; (128) M. humeralis; (129) M. pyraster; (130) M. comosus; (131) M. simus; (132) M. pirazzolii. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 157–171. Spermatheca of (157) Mecinus pascuorum; (158) M. caucasicus; (159) M. haemorrhoidalis; (160) M. labilis; (161) M. marina; (162) M. elongatus; (163) M. reichei; (164) M. circulatus; (165) M. pyraster; (166) M. simus; (167) M. comosus; (168) M. lixoides; (169) M. janthinus; (170) M. heydenii; (171) M. collaris. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 144–156. Sternite 8 of (144) Mecinus pascuorum; (145) M. caucasicus; (146) M. marina; (147) M. reichei; (148) M. humeralis; (149) M. circulatus; (150) M. pyraster; (151) M. simus; (152) M. collaris; (153) M. janthinus; (154) M. lixoides; (155) M. sicardi; (156) M. heydenii. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.