Eremochorus (Eremochorus) mniszechi ( Capiomont, 1868 ) Legalov, 2023

Legalov, Andrei A., 2023, A new species of the genus Eremochorus Zaslavskij, 1962 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Central Altai (Russia) with systematics remarks, Ecologica Montenegrina 65, pp. 76-85 : 79-80

Eremochorus (Eremochorus) mniszechi ( Capiomont, 1868) , comb. n.

Hypera mniszechi Capiomont 1868: 516

Macrotarsus altaicus Petri 1901: 18

Material: 1 ex. ( SMTD), “ Altai, Hochh. ”, “ Coll. J. Faust, Ankaut 1900”, “ Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde , Dresden ”, “ mniszechi ” ; 3 ex. ( ISEA), RUSSIA, Altaiskii Krai, Kolyvan Mountains , 4 km WSW of Anton’evka, 400 m, 51°58'40.8"N, 83°54'28.8"E, 11. VI.2021, R. Yu. Dudko ; 1 ex. ( ISEA), env. Kolyvan , meadow, 9.VIII.1976, G. Zolotarenko ; 2 ex. ( ISEA), Altai Republic, Ust’-Kansky District, 8 km S of Ust’ - Kan, upper reaches of Aksas River , 1900−2000 m, subalpine - tundra, 8−9. VI.1999, A. et R. Dudko ; 3 ex. ( ISEA), Ust-Kansky District, NE spurs of Kholzun Mountains, upper reaches of Poperechnaya Krasnoyarka River , 50°10'33.6"N, 84°55'40.8"E, 1950 м, R. Yu. et E. R. Dudko ; 2 ex. ( ISEA), KAZAKHSTAN, East Kazakhstan region, Shemonaikha District, Western part of Sarym-Sakty Mountains , 10−12 km SSW of Medvedka, upper reaches of Siralka River , 2000−2500 m, 6−13.VII.1998, D.E. Lomakin, A.G. et N. V. Mensschikov ; 1 ex. ( ISEA), Katon-Karagaisky District, env. Katon-Karagai, left bank of Bukhtarma River , 22.VIII.2006, A.U. Gabdullina ; 4 ex. ( ISEA), env. Katon-Karagai, tract Baydyrman , 49 11'38.2"N, 85 38'33.9"E, 26.VII.2007, A.U. Gabdullina ; 1 ex. ( ISEA), idem, 3.IX.2007, A.U. Gabdullina ; 1 ex. ( ISEA), idem, 25.IX.2007, A.U. Gabdullina ; 5 ex. ( ISEA), Katon-Karagaisky District, Listvyaga Mountains , 30 km WNW of Berel’, south slope of peak 2691, subalpine, 49°31'N, 86°05'E, 7−9. VI.2006, R. Yu. Dudko et I. Lyubechanskii ; 1 ex. ( ISEA), Katon-Karagaisky District, eastern part of Narymsky Mountains, upper reaches of Ozernaya River , 49.030°N, 85.200°E, 2200−2300 m, subalpine, 20.VII.1997, R. Yu. Dudko et V.K. Zinchenko ; 60 ex. ( ISEA), Samarsky District, southern spurs of Kalbinsky Mountains , 12 km SW of Samarskoe, 575 m, 48°58.45' N, 83°11.86'E, 2. VI.2019, A.A. Gurina et R. Yu. Dudko .

Remarks. This species was placed in the genus Asiodonus (Legalov 2011) due to the formal character of metatarsi with distinct pulvilli on lower surface, although it is morphologically very similar to species of the genus Eremochorus . E. (E.) mniszechi was collected from Artemisia sp. in Altai, like other species of the genus Eremochorus . This species is transferred from the genus Asiodonus to the genus Eremochorus due to the mandibles short, weakly protrude from under the clypeus, elongate body and quite long rostrum lacking medial furrow, as well as trophic links. Developed pulvilli on lower surface of the metatarsi can be considered as adaptations to living in more humid conditions. Eremochorus (E.) mniszechi and E. (E.) belokobyskyi are probably similar to the original forms of the genus Eremochorus , and the pulvilli disappeared during the transition to living in arid conditions.