Panscopus (Nocheles) coloradensis Van Dyke, 1936

Spanton, Timothy G. & Anderson, Robert S., 2016, A Taxonomic Revision of Weevils of the Genus Panscopus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Tropiphorini), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 15) 70, pp. 1-86 : 54-55

Panscopus (Nocheles) coloradensis Van Dyke, 1936

( Figs. 22 , 48 , 71 , Map 23 )

Panscopus coloradensis Van Dyke 1936: 80 . Blackwelder 1939: 66; O’ Brien and Wibmer 1982: 63.

Type Material. Holotype female: “Cumbres/ Pass, Col. 10,000 ft. / VI-12-35; Van Dyke/ Collection” and 12 specimens, same label data, labeled as paratypes ( CASC).

Notes about Synonymy. Van Dyke (1936) did not mention a subgeneric placement, and O’ Brien and Wibmer (1982) did not recognize any subgenera in Panscopus . Blackwelder (1939) did not place P. coloradensis in any subgenus of Panscopus , though he followed Buchanan’ s (1936) scheme of classifying the other species into subgenera.

Specific Epithet. A Latinized adjective, based on the name of the state containing the type locality of this species.

Diagnosis. The subgeneric characters noted above plus the following character states distinguish specimens of P coloradensis and P. schwarzi from other species of Panscopus : alternate elytral intervals elevated, even intervals flat and without, or nearly without, setae; rostrum with single indistinct carina or non-carinate; tibia 3 slightly bent, its lower edge broadly convex and with some coarse brownish spines on ventral margin, in apical third; prementum without median carina. Panscopus coloradensis differs from P. schwarzi in lacking a distinctly delineated clump of supraorbital setae; setae are arranged diffusely over the frons and rostrum, are less flattened, and, in most specimens of P. coloradensis , are brown in color.

Redescription. Females: Length 6.36–7.4 mm (n = 10); width across elytra 2.53–3.10 mm (n = 10). Males: Length 6.4 mm (n = 1); width across elytra 2.34 mm (n = 1). Color: Brown. Head: Transverse depression at base of frons subtle, frons and rostrum apparently continuous in lateral view; rostrum apparently non-carinate, longitudinal carinae if present, thin, low and completely obscured by vestiture in most specimens; nasal plate distinct, without vestiture, v-shaped carina present; vestiture of rostrum and frons of dense overlapping scales and scattered decumbent setae; supraorbital setae scattered, not in dense clump. Antennae: Scape short, extending to only front of eye; vestiture of dense scales and scattered, decumbent setae, the integument obscured; funiculus (antennomeres 2–8) with long primary setae and scattered appressed, fine, short, secondary setae on each article, shiny integument visible among setae. Pronotum: One-third wider than long, broadly convexly rounded on lateral margins, widest at middle; median longitudinal sulcus nearly absent, evident as faint depression or longitudinal interruption of distribution of scattered setae on dorsum; dorsum finely irregular, granulate, not coarsely rugose or tuberculate; vestiture of dense, appressed, striate scales, and scattered, decumbent, flattened setae. Elytra: Broadly oval, combined width approximately 70% of length in females; slightly narrower, on average, in males; declivity evenly rounded to apex in lateral view in males; posterior margin slightly reflexed in females; alternate intervals slightly raised over even intervals, alternate intervals with double and partly triple rows of setae; even intervals without setae, or nearly so; serial pits each with round scale larger than surrounding scales; vestiture elsewhere of dense overlapping scales. Legs: Tibiae 1 and 2 with stiff, amber-colored spines on ventral margin in apical half; tibia 3 without such spines evident, curved ventrally in profile, corbellar area narrowly closed. Abdomen: With 5 ventrites in both sexes; ventrite 1 convex at middle in females, concave at middle in males. Genitalia: Females ( Figs. 22 , 48 ): Sternum VIII with apical expansion about 1/4 total length; vagina short, about as long as coxites; pair of crescent-shaped sclerites anteriorly near confluence of common oviduct. Males ( Fig. 71 ): Aedeagus decurved in lateral view; apex of median lobe with angular apical acuity medially; manubrium of tegmen slightly longer than median lobe; median struts approximately 1/2 longer than median lobe; internal sac with large, round, horseshoe-shaped sclerite and a smaller, v-shaped sclerite.

Variation. Specimens of the type series collected in 1935 have elytral setae that are broad, spatulate, and blunt. Specimens of the series collected at the type locality, but in 1987, have elytral setae that are visibly narrower, although flattened and blunt, also.

Plant Associations. Adults were collected from plants of the genera Rosa , probably R. fendleri Crép. , and Symphoricarpos , probably S. vaccinioides .

Geographical Distribution. This species lives in southern Colorado and eastern Arizona ( Map 23 ) at elevations between 2,290 and 3,050 m .

Habitat. Populations of P. coloradensis appear to be associated with islands of the high elevation Petran Subalpine Conifer Forest.

Chorological Affinities. See this topic for P. schwarzi above.

Material Examined. In addition to the type series listed above, more than 100 specimens were examined. USA: Arizona: Apache Co., Nutrioso, 5.8 km S. Hwy 180, 2.7 km E. on Forestry Road., Hulsey Lake, 2700 m, 6.VII.1987, T.G. Spanton, Ponderosa pine forest., ex.: Rosa probably R. fendleri , at night (2, CMNC); Greer, 16 km S., 22.VI.1957, F.G. Werner & G. Butler (1, UAIC); Phelps Botanical Area, White Mountains, 7.VII.1953, A.& H. Dietrich (1, CUIC); White Mountains, 6. VII.1933, Parker (1, CASC). Colorado: Cumbres Pass, 3050 m., 22.VI.1935, Van Dyke Collection (2, CMNC; 2, CWOB; 82, CASC). Archuleta Co./ Conejos Co. line, nr Cumbres Pass, 15 km N.E. Chama, 3000 m, NM, 5.VII.1987, T.G. Spanton, ex: Symphoricarpos sp. probably S. vaccinioides , at night, aspen/spruce/fir forest (4, CMNC). Mineral Co., Creede, 2700 m., Aug-1914, S.J. Hunter (1, CMNC). Ouray Co.: Ouray, 2290– 2440 m, 1-15.VII.1897, H.F. Wickham (2, USNM). San Juan Co.: Silverton, VII, A. Fenyes collection (1, CASC).

Figures

Map 23. Geographical distribution of Panscopus coloradensis.

Figs. 17–26. Panscopus species, sternum 8 (spiculum ventrale), ventral (a) and left lateral (b) views. 17) P. torpidus; 18) P. ovalis; 19) P. tricarinatus; 20) P. bufo; 21) P. schwarzi; 22) P. coloradensis; 23) P. aequalis; 24) P. squamifrons; 25) P. abruptus; 26) P. rugicollis. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figs. 47–52. Panscopus species, coxites and vagina, dorsal (a), ventral (b), and left lateral (c) views. 47) P. schwarzi; 48) P. coloradensis; 49) P. aequalis; 50) P. squamifrons; 51) P. abruptus; 52) P. rugicollis. cx = coxites; st = stylus. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figs. 71–73. Panscopus species, aedeagus, dorsal (a), ventral (b), and left lateral (c) views. 71) P. coloradensis; 72) P. squamifrons; 73) P. abruptus. b = belt of tegmen; is = internal sac; mb = manubrium of tegmen; ml = median lobe; ms = median strut; t = tegmen. Scale bar = 1 mm.