Procas armillatus (Fabricius)

Thompson, Richard T., 2006, A revision of the weevil genus Procas Stephens (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Erirhinidae), Zootaxa 1234 (1), pp. 1-63 : 25-28

Procas armillatus (Fabricius)

Rhynchaenus armillatus Fabricius, 1801: 444 .

Procas armillatus (Fabricius) : Dohrn 1855: 73, 1856: 69; Marseul 1867: 104; Gemminger & Harold 1871: 2433; Fauvel 1897a: 64; Escalera 1914: 456; Sainte­Claire Deville 1914: 431; Tenenbaum 1915: 127; Winkler 1932: 1540; Porta 1932: 246; Klima 1934: 30;? Bodenheimer 1937: 153; Kocher 1953: 121, 1961: 131; Dieckmann 1986: 148; Gregori & Osella 1989: 439, fig. 29; Machado & Oromi 2000: 82.

Erirhinus atomarius Gené, 1839: 37 , pl. 2, fig. 16.

Procas cottyi Perris, 1864: 298 ; Marseul 1867: 104; Gemminger & Harold 1871: 2433; Tournier 1874: 71; Marseul 1875: 286; Bedel 1879: xviii [= armillatus ]; Desbrochers 1894: 84; Winkler 1932: 1540; Klima 1934: 31; Normand 1937: 252; Osella & Riti 1995: 648; Colonnelli 2003: 94.

[Misidentifications:]

Procas picipes (Marsham) : Wollaston 1865: 296; Bargagli 1884: 206.

Procas steveni (Gyllenhal) : Wollaston 1864: 318.

Description

Length 4.0–8.0 mm, mean (45) = 6.54. Head sometimes with a very small frontal pit; rostrum (male) × 4.6–5.1 as long as broad, mean (7) = 4.8; rostrum (female) × 4.6–5.0 as long as broad, mean (7) = 4.75; pre­apical dilation more gradual than in the other species, upper surface finely and evenly punctured, often with no trace of a median carina but with a fine linear carinula at extreme apex ( Fig. 9 ).

Antennae ( Fig. 18 ) with lengths of funicle segments 1–3 in ratio 10: (6.8–7.8): (5.6–6.5), mean (15) = 10: 7.14: 6.02; segment 2 × 1.1–1.3 as long as 3, mean (15) = 1.19.

Prothorax with disc of pronotum finely and evenly punctured, the smooth median line, when present, sometimes broad and irregular.

Legs with hind tibiae straight; setae on middle and hind tibiae as in P. picipes but basal circlets of white setae more prominent.

Vestiture of body very fine and recumbent throughout; elytra with a few (sometimes very few) much larger, semi­erect white setae which stand out against the otherwise dark background; metepisternum and sides of prothorax usually with exclusively simple linear setae.

Terminalia. Processes of male sternite 8 small, stout, inflexibly joined together, forming a ‘V’ ( Figs 88–91 ); female sternite 8 often straight­sided, pigmented areas convergent, setae large (<c. 0.1 mm), spiculum broad ( Figs 35–38 ).

Type material

LECTOTYPE of Rhynchaenus armillatus Fabricius , here designated, male, with small square green card, red card rectangle with ‘TYPE’ (printed), a card with printed linear borders inscribed ‘ Tanger./ Mus: S[eherstedt]: & T[onder] L[und]/ Armilla./ tus. F.’, ‘ LECTOTYPE Rhynchaenus armillatus F. R.T. Thompson det. 2002’ and ‘ Procas armillatus (F.) R.T. Thompson det. 2002’ in ZMUC. The specimen measures about 7.9 mm in length (excluding rostrum) and has a small frontal pit. At some time in the past it has been badly broken and rather clumsily reassembled, using brown water­soluble glue; the left fore leg and right hind leg are missing and the left hind leg, lacking tarsus, is glued to the venter.

The type material of P. atomarius Gené has not been found. Gené’s Sardinian collection is stated to be in Turin Zoological Museum ( Horn et al. 1990: 135) but most of it has been destroyed (M. Daccordi, pers. comm.). Apart from describing the pronotum and underside as ‘granulatum’ (not punctatum) the description fits P. armillatus well, especially “tibiae rectae, basi angustissime albo­annulatae, apice late griseo­flavescentepilosae.”

A putative type specimen of P. cottyi Perris (ENSA) has been examined. It is in poor condition, lacks data or determination labels and does not fit the original description. In particular, the “série un peu sinueuse de tubercles bien visible” on each elytral interstria (which is diagnostic of P. armillatus ) is not evident. I have therefore refrained from designating this specimen as lectotype. The type locality is Lalla­Magrnia in the Oran Province of Algeria.

Other material examined

PORTUGAL, AZORES: 1 ex., with ‘Livramento / 4’, ‘ Procas / armillatus F.’ (?Fauvel MS), curator’s label: ‘Portugal, coll. et det. A. Fauvel’; 1 ex., with curator’s label: ‘Portugal, Livramento April, coll. A. Fauvel’ (see note below) (both IRSN); MADEIRA: 1 ex. with ‘taken by Dr C. Wolff near the Curral ’ written under the card and ‘ Procas Steveni, Schön (Madeira) ’ (Wollaston MS)( BMNH). SPAIN, CANARIES: 4 ex. Gran Canaria, Moya, 11(3), 13.i.2004 (M.G. Morris), general tapping ( MGM); 1 ex. Tenerife, Bajamar, 10.xi.1909 (cerca Barranco Perdoma); 1 ex. Montes de los Silos, v.1921; 1 ex. Cumbre de Aguirre, iv.1921 (all MNCN); 1 ex. Fuerteventura, on card with yellow edge [Oliva, iii.1859 (T.V. Wollaston)]( BMNH); 1 ex. Palma, on card with green edge and ‘Barr[anc]o de Nogales’ written beneath [near Galga, v.1858 (R.T. Lowe)]( OUM); 2 ex. Gomera, Chorros de Epina, xii.1983 (G. Israelson)( SMNH); 1 ex. Gomera, near Tunel de la Caleta (M.G. Morris), general tapping at roadside ( MGM); 2 ex. Hierro, Lomo Blanco, 6 km W of Frontera, 550 m, 27º 44´39 N, 18º 02´45 E, 24.i.1998 (Behne), ‘ Faya­Brezel gesiebt ’; 1 ex. El Gretime, 8 km W of Frontera, 800 m, 27º 44´29 N, 18º 03´53 E (Behne), sweeping Urtica and Carduus (all DEI). MOROCCO: 1 ex. Tanger (M. Escalera); 1 ex. Tazzeka (? = Jebel Tazekka), 15.i.1973, Olivella (both MNCN). ALGE RIA: 1 ex. Aïn Sefra ( JU); 7 ex. Oran, Sidi bel Abbes (Plason)( BGO); 4 ex. Oran (2 NMB, ZSM, BGO); 8 ex. Oran, Daya (Bedel)(3 JU, ZSM, DEI, ZMAN, SMT, MRSN); 3 ex. Daya, ( BMNH, IRSN, MRSN); 3 ex. Batna, 15.ii.1929 (A. Schatzmayr)(2 NMB, 1 DM); 1 ex., with ‘Batna’ (printed), ‘Batna D./ Lethierrey’ and ‘Cottyi / Descrip. au / 1862 p. 298’ (Chevrolat MS, on pale blue paper)( SMNH); 1 ex. Batna, Lethierrey Coll. ( BMNH); 2 ex. Batna, 15.ii.1929 (A. Schatzmayr)( MRSN); 2 ex. Constatine (Meinert)( ZMUC); 1 ex. Saida (Zanini)( BGO); 1 ex. ditto, with ‘ v.1936 ’( MRSN); 2 ex. Philippville (= Skikda)( IRSN); 1 ex. Setif, 1100 m, 27.xii.1985 (A. Warchalowski)( DEI); 2 ex. La Calle (= El Kala)( IRSN); 1 ex. Bone, with ‘85 / Db’ ( ZIP); 1 ex. Bone, with ‘55 / Db’ ( DEI); 4 ex. Chellala, 1895 (Vauloger)(3 ZSM, 1 MRSN); 3 ex. Chellala ( SMT, BGO, IRSN); 2 ex. Cmemala ( BGO); 17 ex. without precise locality (4 DEI, 4 BMNH, 3 BGO, 2 ZSM, SMT, ZMAN, IRSN, MRSN). TUNISIA: 2 ex. Tunis, Sidi Gaber, xi.1952 (H.P. Müller); 1 ex. Tunis (Baudi)(all ZSM); 2 ex. Tunis ( NMB, MZPW); 34 ex. Tunis District, 1881–2 (G. & L. Doria)(27 MCG, 3 DEI, 2 MRSN, BGO, ZIP); 1 ex. ditto, except ‘ Tunisi Miceli’ and ‘1881’ ( DEI); 4 ex. Teboursouk ( NMB). LIBYA: 2 ex. Benghazi, 17.i.1924 (G.C. Krüger)( MCG, MRSN). ITALY: 1 ex. Sicily, Mazara del Vallo, 30.xii.1986 (L.L. Castelli)( MRSN); 2 ex. Sardinia, Golfo degli Aranci (A. Dodero); 1 ex. Cagliari, Bonaria; 1 ex. Quartu Santa Elena (both U. Lostia)(all MCG); 1 ex. Golfo degli Aranci, 1.xi.[?] (G.C. Krüger)( RC); 10 ex. Asinara [I.], vi.1918 (A. Oczkowski)( UMCS); 5 ex. ditto, but no date (4 JU, 1 DEI); 2 ex. Maddelena I., ix.1985 (Cesaraccio)( BGO); 1 ex. Sardinia [?] ( SMNH). MALTA: 1 ex. iii.1976 (O. Kochen)( DEI); 1 ex. Ta’Quali, 13.ii.2000; 1 ex. Zejtun, 30.xi.1997; 1 ex. St Thomas Bay, Tal­Munxar, 19.i.2003 (all D. Mifsud)( DM). FRANCE: 5 ex. Corsica (Damry)(3 ENSA, BMNH, ZMAN); 1 ex. Corsica

(Baudi)( MRSN). GREECE: 1 ex. ‘ Attica’ (Reitter)( ZMAN); 1 ex. ‘ Attika’ ( NMB). No data: 16 ex. (9 DEI, 3 MNCN, 3 BMNH, 1 SMNH) . Total : 187 specimens .

Doubtful records 1 ex., with ‘Ross. mér.’ ( IRSN) ; 2 ex., with ‘ Chypre / Janvier’ ( JU) .

Additional (published) records

ITALY: Sicily Channel, Pantelleria I., Mursia, 8.ix.1983 (E. Ratti & G. Rallo)(Osella & Riti 1995: 648). SPAIN: Balearic Is, Mallorca; Palma (Moragues y de Manzanos 1894: 76; Tenenbaum 1915: 127). MOROCCO: Casablanca ( Kocher 1953: 121); Meknès; Azrou ( Kocher 1961: 131); Oujda ( Kocher 1964: 166). TUNISIA: Bizerta; Le Kef ( Normand 1937: 252).

Notes

The place­name ‘Livramento’ occurs in mainland Portugal (and in Brazil) but M.A. Alonso­Zarazaga assures me that Fauvel’s specimens are from the Azorean locality (on São Miguel I.). Fauvel is known to have received Azorean material from Baron Guerne “... ajoutant ce que j’ai recueilli moi­même aux Madère et aux Salvages pendant mon voyage en 1896” ( Fauvel 1897b: 237) The ZIP specimen from Bone bears a label: ‘ Procas cottyi / type’ ( MS, on squared paper) but it is highly unlikely to have any type status. According to Bargagli (1884: 206) Damry’s Corsican specimens were taken at Bonifacio. The identity of specimens from the Balearic Is needs to be checked; there are no specimens of Procas in the Tenenbaum collection (Malgorzata Adamczewska ( MZPW), pers. comm.).

Comments

The largest species. The smooth widening of the rostral apex is subtly different from the more abrupt widening in the other species; occasionally the lower rims of the scrobes are visible in dorsal view, as in some P. p. picipes . The diagnostic white elytral setae are, in fact, quite small; they stand out because the general vestiture of the elytra is very small and fine, so that the surface appears dark in contrast to the white setae. Dark brown setae are also present but do not stand out. As mentioned in the introduction, the size of the elytral granules reflects the size of the setae they bear, so in P. armillatus the elytral intervals are covered with very small granules with, in addition, an irregular row of much larger granules bearing the large setae. These granules remain evident after the setae have been lost ( Perris 1864: 298). P. armillatus is the only species in which split setae do not regularly occur on the sides of the prothorax and on the metepisterna. Some specimens have a ‘white scutellum.’ In spite of its extensive range, including numerous islands, no localized variation has yet been detected in this species.

Figures

FIGURES 9–14. 9, 10. Apex of rostrum, dorsal, of (9) Procas armillatus, (10) P. p. picipes; 11–14. Prothorax of (11) P. p. picipes (setae removed), (12) ditto, part enlarged and in oblique view to show detail), (13) P. granulicollis (setae removed), (14) ditto, part enlarged and in oblique view to show detail.

FIGURES 15–20. Terminalia of (15) Procas granulicollis, male, ventral view, (16) P. p. picipes, female, dorsal view (right valve of ovipositor omitted). Scale­bar = 0.5 mm. Key: bc, bursa copulatrix; is, internal sac; m, manubrium; od, oviduct; op, ovipositor; s, sternite 8; sg, spiculum gastrale; sv, spiculum ventrale; t, tegmen (apex of dorsal plate). Ovipositor of P. p. picipes (17). Scale­bar = 0.1 mm. Antennae, ventral view, of (18) P. armillatus, (19) P. lecontei, (20) P. granulicollis. Scale as figs 15, 16.

FIGURES 86–99. Sternite 8 of male of Procas michaelis from (86) Spain, Santa Lucia, (87) Spain, Tablas de Daimiel; P. armillatus from (88) Corsica, Bonifacio, (89) Algeria, Oran, (90) Libya, Benghazi, (91) Azores, São Miguel I, Livramento; P. biguttatus from (92) Russian Far East, Evseevka, (93) China, ‘Erdzendjancy,’ (94) Russian Far East, Vladivostok, (95) Japan, Hokkaido; P. lecontei from (96) Canada, Yukon, Dawson, (97) USA, Colorado, La Vita Pass, (98) Canada, Quebec, Duparquet, (99) Canada, Ontario, Pearson Point. Scale­bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 35–38. Sternite 8 of female of Procas armillatus from (35) Canary Is, (36) Algeria, (37) Tunisia, Teboursouk, (38) Algeria, Setif. Scale­bar = 0.2 mm.