Trigonopterus fraterculus Riedel

Riedel, Alexander & Taenzler, Rene, 2016, Revision of the Australian species of the weevil genus Trigonopterus Fauvel, ZooKeys 556, pp. 97-162 : 120-121

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Curculionidae

15. Trigonopterus fraterculus Riedel sp. n.

Diagnostic description.

Holotype (Fig. 15a). Length 1.92 mm. Color ferruginous; pronotum dark ferruginous, almost black. Body subovate, with marked constriction between pronotum and elytron; in profile weakly convex. Rostrum with median ridge and pair of submedian ridges; intervening furrows with rows of coarse punctures each containing one mesad directed scale; epistome posteriorly with angulate ridge bearing 4 denticles. Forehead coarsely punctate-rugose. Pronotum with distinct subapical constriction; disk foveate-reticulate; each fovea containing one brown scales; sublaterally few scales widened and cream-colored; with irregular median costa. Elytra with striae deeply incised; intervals costate, subglabrous, with sparse recumbent scales; few scales almond-shaped, cream-colored; base weakly bisinuate. Legs. Femora punctate-rugose, with sparse recumbent scales. Tibiae subbasally with dorsal angulation; metatibia subapically with suprauncal denticle. Abdominal venter with coarse punctures containing upcurved clavate scales; ventrite 5 basally with transverse ridge. Penis (Fig. 15b) with sides of body weakly converging, pointed apex extended, curved ventrad; endophallus denticulate, with pair of lyriform sclerites; transfer apparatus long, spiniform; ductus ejaculatorius near insertion to transfer apparatus sclerotized, without bulbus. Intraspecific variation. Length 1.92-2.20 mm. Female body slender. Female rostrum dorsally somewhat flattened; with median costa and pair of submedian costae; epistome simple.

Material examined.

Holotype (ANIC): ARC4043 (PCR failed), Queensland, 11 km ENE of Mt. Tozer, S12°43', E143°18', rainforest litter, Berlesate ANIC 1062, 11- 16 -VII-1986. Paratypes (ANIC, SMNK): Queensland: 2 exx, same data as holotype; 1 ex, 9 km ENE of Mt. Tozer, S12°43', E143°17', open forest litter, Berlesate ANIC 1061, 05-10-VII-1986.

Distribution.

Queensland: Iron Range.

Biology.

Sifted from leaf litter in primary forest.

Etymology.

This epithet is based on the Latin noun fraterculus (younger brother) and refers to its presumably close phylogenetic relationship to the larger species Trigonopterus australis Riedel, sp. n..