Orthorhinoides, Kuschel, 2008

Kuschel, Guillermo, 2008, Curculionoidea (weevils) of New Caledonia and Vanuatu: Basal families and some Curculionidae, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 197, pp. 99-250 : 204-205

Genus ORTHORHINOIDES n. gen.

Type species: Orthorhinus cylindricus Montrouzier.

DESCRIPTION. — Elytra cylindrical, slightly wider at shoulders than prothorax at base, with obsolescent humeral callus, with odd interstriae flat also before declivity, but 3 a liitle raised and thickened on basal quarter. Fore femora lineal or gradually thickening apicad, not noticeably swollen at tooth area, tooth on hind femora much larger than on middle femora, ciliate, with smooth, crenulate or denticulate margin; fore tibiae compressed or not, with blunt dorsal edge, with small or large premucro; hind tibiae with a sharply pointed tooth at end of curvature of lower edge; uncus specifically and sexually variable, on hind tibiae on or near lower angle. Forecoxae contiguous or disjunc. Mesepisternum not protruding, area toward epimeron weakly impressed.

Male: tegmen with subcontiguous or fused parameral lobes, without a tooth between lobes. Aedeagus parallel-sided or broadening apicad on basal half in straight line, with pale latero-apical spot firm, well-sclerotised; ingernal sac with a long, flattish tapering basal sclerite, entirely or largely exposed between apodemes; median sclerites usually fused to a small steering plate (Fig. 165), rarely with an additional pair of sclerites (Fig. 173).

Female: sternite 8 with arms not closing at apex. Bursa long, not pigmented at spermathecal duct insertion point; spermatheca with short stem, duct emerging from middle of bottom, gradually but gently thickening towards bursa where inserting near middle, not extending beyond apex of bursa.

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia, Loyalty, Île des Pins.

HOSTPLANTS. — Larva apparently in dying or freshly dead trees and shrubs; adults found so far on Dilleniaceae , Ericaceae , Euphorbiaceae and Myrtaceae , according to information on labels.

ETYMOLOGY. — The generic name is a latinised Greek noun meaning Orthorhinus -like.

REMARKS. — Orthorhinoides and Dracophyllius seem to be related more closely to Homorthorhinus from New Guinea and the Solomons than to Parorthorhinus from Australia. Eight species are presently recognized in Orthorhinoides .

KEY TO SPECIES OF ORTHORHINOIDES

1. Pronotum lacking pale design in front of scutellum (Figs 93-98). Hind femora not extending beyond tip of abdomen except in male of O. centurio .................................................................................. 2 — Pronotum with pale design in front of scutellum (Figs 99, 100). Hind femora extending distinctly beyond tip of abdomen. Fore tibiae in male extending to fore coxae ...................................................... 7

2 (1). Premucro on fore and middle tibiae small, considerably smaller than uncus (Fig. 94) ........... 3

— Premucro on fore and middle tibiaelarge, about size of uncus (Figs 96-98) ...................................... 4

3 (2). Integument reddish brown, rather dull. Elytra with a large, dark elliptic patch on posterior half, limited by a conspicuous pale line. Granules on interstria 4 minute, well over 20 in number. 5.5-6.7 mm. New Caledonia................................................................................................................... dugdalei – Integument black or dark brown, rather shiny. Elytra variegated with yellowish grey scales, without a large, dark elliptic area on posterior half. Granules on interstria 4 large, well under 20 in number. 6.8-7.8 mm. New Caledonia....................................................................................... humboldtensis

4 (2). Rostrum robust, short, distinctly less than twice as long as wide at apex. Head anteriorly lacking pair of glabrous dots. 5.0- 9.5 mm. New Caledonia............................................................ brevirostris

— Rostrum slender, long, consisderably more than twice as long as wide at apex. Head anteriorly with pair of glabrous, usually asperate dots ................................................................................................... 5

5 (4). Fore tibiae in male not asperous on lower edge. Rostrum in female distinctly curved, with coarsely punctate postrostrum. 7.7-10.8 mm. New Caledonia............................................... punctirostris — Fore tibiae in male distinctly asperous on lower edge. Rostrum in female straight or nearly so, finely punctate ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

6 (5). Fore tibiae in male short, not extending to trochanter when folded, with tooth opposite femoral tooth. Postrostrum in female subcylindrical, squamose at base only. 4.3-10.5 mm. New Caledonia, Loyalty, Île des Pins ...................................................................................................................... cylindricus — Fore tibiae in male long, touching trochanter when folded, lacking tooth opposite femoral tooth. Postrostrum in female distinctly tapering, squamose at least on basal half. 7.5-9.0 mm. New Caledonia................................................................................................................................................................. centurio

7 (1). Pronotum with an anchor-shaped prescutellar design. Flanks of prothorax lacking design of pale, dense scales. Prosternum lacking rostral canal. Head capsule posteriorly on either side with one, well-exposed large, smooth dull area. 6.9-11.5 mm. New Caledonia............................. caledonicus – Pronotum with a bell-shaped prescutellar design. Flanks of prothorax with a spot of dense, pale scales. Prosternum with shallow but distinct rostral canal. Head capsule posteriorly on either side with two, finely strigose spots, these usually not exposed unless rostrum tucked under. 5.3-12.0 mm. New Caledonia, Île des Pins ....................................................................................................... ambiguus