Afrophloeus dilaticornis Borovec & Oberprieler

Borovec, Roman & Oberprieler, Rolf G., 2013, Afrophloeus, a new genus of African weevils of the tribe Embrithini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), with description of a new species and notes on the composition of Embrithini, Zootaxa 3693 (3), pp. 365-378 : 374

Afrophloeus dilaticornis Borovec & Oberprieler , sp. n.

( Figs. 2, 5, 8, 12–13 )

Description. Body length 2.59–2.94 mm, holotype 2.59 mm.

Colour generally darker than in A. spathulatus but chevron pattern on elytra less distinct ( Fig. 2 ).

Rostrum ( Fig. 8 ) 1.33–1.42 x broader than long, with somewhat rounded sides. Antennae ( Fig. 12 ) robust; scapes gradually and slightly dilated in basal third, in middle of posterior edge extended into a large, flat, angled lobe set off sharply from apical quarter; funicles 6- or 5-segmented, segment 1 1.1 x longer than broad, 1.4–1.6 x broader than 2, segment 2 1.2–1.3 x longer than broad, 3–6/5 progressively broader, 3 as broad as 2, 6 almost as broad as basal club segment.

Pronotum in dorsal view 1.91–2.13 x broader than long, distinctly constricted behind anterior border, then subparallel-sided, disc evenly convex, simple. Elytra 1.05–1.13 x longer than broad, posthumeral calli on interstria 9 poorly developed, in dorsal and dorso-lateral views almost invisible. Protibiae ( Fig. 13 ) as in A. spathulatus , spines similar in arrangement but somewhat shorter. Tarsi with segment 2 1.1–1.2 x broader than long, 3 1.4 x broader than long and 1.2 x broader than 2, onychium 1.5 x longer than 3.

Genitalia. Penis as in A. spathulatus but slightly longer and more parallel-sided. Female genitalia as in A. spathulatus .

Material examined. Holotype. ♂, [ South Africa, Eastern Cape], Alexandria [33°39’S 26°24’E], May 1946, Acc. PE. 232, AcPE 232: destroying chicory seedlings (SANC). Paratypes. 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, same data as holotype (SANC); 1 ♂, same data as holotype (BMNH).

Etymology. The species is named for its conspicuously dilated antennal scapes, the name being an adjective.

Biology. The single series of specimens known has been reported destroying seedlings of chicory.

Distribution. The species is to date known from a single locality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa ( Fig. 24 ).

Remarks. This species is very similar to A. spathulatus but readily distinguishable from it by the unusual shape of its scapes. The number of funicular segments also varies as in A. spathulatus , the holotype and four paratypes (two males, two females) having 5-segmented funicles and the three remaining paratypes (one male, two females) 6-segmented ones.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 15. Habitus and structural details of Afrophloeus gen. n. 1. A. spathulatus (Boheman), ♀, Swartville, dorsal habitus; 2. A. dilaticornis sp. n., paratype ♀, Alexandria, dorsal habitus; 3. A. squamifer (Boheman), ♂, Marion Bay, dorsal habitus; 4. A. spathulatus (Boheman), ♀, Swartville, lateral habitus; 5. A. dilaticornis sp. n., paratype ♀, Alexandria, lateral habitus; 6. A. squamifer (Boheman), ♀, Marion Bay, lateral habitus; 7. A. spathulatus (Boheman), ♂, Kleinriviersberg, head, dorsal view; 8. A. dilaticornis sp. n., paratype ♂, Alexandria, head, dorsal view; 9. A. squamifer (Boheman), ♂, Marion Bay, head, dorsal view; 10. A. spathulatus (Boheman), ♀, Swartville, left antenna, dorsal view; 11. A. spathulatus (Boheman), ♂, Kleinriviersberg, left protibia and tarsus, dorsal view; 12. A. dilaticornis sp. n., paratype ♀, Alexandria, left antenna, dorsal view; 13. A. dilaticornis sp. n., paratype ♂, Alexandria, left protibia and tarsus, dorsal view; 14. A. squamifer (Boheman), ♂, Marion Bay, left antenna, dorsal view; 15. A. squamifer (Boheman), ♂, Marion Bay, left protibia and tarsus, dorsal view. Scale bars 1 mm for 1 – 6, 0.5 mm for 7 – 9, 0.25 mm for 10 – 15.

FIGURES 24 – 25. Distribution of Afrophloeus species. 24. South Africa; 25. South Australia (○ — A. spathulatus (Boheman), ■ — A. squamifer (Boheman), ∆ — A. dilaticornis sp. n.).