Euops paraconvexus, Riedel, 2001

Riedel, Alexander, 2001, The pygmaeus-group of Euops Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Attelabidae), weevils associated with Nothofagus in New Guinea, Journal of Natural History 35 (8), pp. 1173-1237 : 1200-1203

Euops paraconvexus sp. n.

(®gures 5, 62, 90, 97, 113, 146, 162, 176, 188, 223)

Diagnosis. Colouration largely deep blue. Dorsal contour of body from middle of elytron sloping in almost continuous straight line anteriad (®gure 109). Elytral striae deeply impressed. Pygidium with basal margin raised, medially extended dorsoanteriad. Male: TA as in ®gure 146.

Range. Figure 223. Manokwari Prov. (Anggi). Altitude: c. 1700 ±2300 m.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Irian Jaya : Manokwari Prov., Anggi-Membey, 1700±2300 m, 30 August± 1 September 1991, leg. A. Riedel ( ARC).

Description

Holotype, male. Length, pronotum1 elytron: 2.19 mm. Colouration. Deep metallic blue, except elytron reddish-purple, base of pronotum reddish-golden. Head. As in ®gure 90; gena as long as width of head behind eyes; contours of genae in dorsal view subparallel, weakly converging anteriad; vertex shining, densely transversely striolate with interspersed shallow punctures, deeply punctate along hind margin of eye; eyes evenly rounded, dorsally approximated, separated by c. 0.11 Ö basal width of rostrum; frons smooth except row of punctures along mesal margin of eye, anteriorly with median longitudinal impression, centre without median costa; ventrally in front of gular region shining, shallowly transversely wrinkled, punctate, with median furrow, anteriorly with short median submental carina. Rostrum. 1.63 Ö as long as mouthparts, at widest point 1.58 Ö wider than at base; clypeus with median process apically deeply incised; antennal insertion at base, approximately within basal ®fth of rostrum; in lateral aspect with dorsal contour above antennal insertion weakly rounded, then in straight line to apex; ventral contour forming angle of c. 150 ss with contour of head, weakly convex to apex; dorsal and ventral contour converging from base to apex; ventral surface with submentum before hind level of maxillary cavities ¯at, posteriorly towards sides steeply rising to postgenal recesses, margins of ¯at median area in straight line converging basad. Antenna as in ®gure 97. Prothorax. Sides straight, converging from base to apex; without preapical constriction; disc shining, with shallow punctures. Elytron. At humerus simple; 2.54 Ö longer than wide; striae deeply impressed. Thoracic venter. Prepectus about as long as postpectus. Height of pterothorax 0.83 Ö length of elytron. Legs. Procoxa anteriorly simple. Profemur with ventral surface smooth. Protibia (®gure 113) stout, with dorsal contour curved, ventral contour sinuate; ventral surface densely granulate, densely setose. Mesotibia with dorsal edge subapically simple, without extension. Uncus of metatibia curved ventrad, at base with posteriad directed accessory tooth. Abdomen. Ventral contour in lateral view straight; venter sparsely setose; sternite VII with apex (122) E. kurulu (Jiwika) ; (123) E. pygmaeus (Mt. Kaindi) . Scale lines 200 m m.

evenly concave; pygidium c. 1.08 Ö wider than long, shining, densely deeply punctate, setose; pygidium with base not overlapped by elytral apex, instead with basal margin raised, medially extended dorsoanteriad, ®tting to apical margin of elytron (®gure 62). Genitalia. Sternite VIII (®gure 162) with apex bilobed, apically setose with short setae, entire surface sclerotized. Tegminal plate (®gure 188) with sides diverging before apex; apex weakly rounded, evenly setose. Aedeagus. Apical scoop of pedon (®gure 176) with lateral margins sinuate and converging, with apex subacute. TA as in ®gure 146.

Etymological note

This epithet is based on the combination of the Greek pre®x para- (next to; near by) and of E. convexus , presumably its sister species that possesses the same characteristic gestalt.

Biological note

There is no record of the host of the type specimen, but Nothofagus was present at the type locality.