Sympiezomias subserratipes Ramamurthy

Y, R A M A M U Rt H & Ayri, Shaloo, 2010, Revision of the genus Indomias Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Tanymecini) from India, Zootaxa 2357, pp. 1-49 : 46-47

26. Sympiezomias subserratipes Ramamurthy sp. nov.

(figs. 26, 46, 77, 112, 113, 185, 243, 244 and 245)

Diagnosis: This species resembles S. serratipes Marshall and distinguished by the following characters: Prothorax with upper surface having shallow, confluent punctations. Elytra with basal margin slightly raised; intervals broad and convex, first and second less raised, third to sixth much raised. Male genitalia with aedeagus having its apophyses considerably longer i.e., 1.07x as long as median lobe and tegmen with, manubrium 1.6x as long as median lobe.

Description: Colour black with pale grey vestiture. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface convex, with shallow, confluent punctations; frons with a median furrow, which ascends nearly vertex. Rostrum shallowly impressed at middle dorsally, 1.09x as long as broad, anterior margin as broad as posterior margin; median furrow very long, broad anteriorly, narrowed and pointed posteriorly, reaching up to the lower margin of eyes; lateral carinae short, but distinct, confined to middle and posterior aspects; scrobes uniformly broad at middle, narrowed at either ends, sharply pointed and convergent towards eyes. Eyes dorsolateral and convex (figs. 26 and 46). Antennae reddish brown; scape gradually clavate; funicle with first segment 1.2x as long as second, third to fifth equal, sixth shortest of all; club conical, slightly broader than funicle, sparsely hairy (fig. 77). Prothorax 1.1x as long as broad, at middle 1.18x as broad as posterior margin; sides rounded; anterior margin only 0.83x as broad as posterior margin, truncate dorsally and vertical laterally, posterior margin truncate; upper surface with shallow, confluent punctations; median stria uniformly broad and runs throughout the length. Elytra narrowly ovate, with basal margin slightly raised, humeral fold absent; apices rounded; stria shallowly punctate; intervals broad and convex, first and second less raised, third to sixth much raised; dorsal outline rather flat, posterior declivity steep, not impressed; elongate scales seen all over the surface; elytral vestiture with predominant scales circular, brown with patches of circular, granulated areas and a large, rounded patch (fig. 113), less predominant more elongate, conical, brown, its pedicel broad, apex gradually widened, with 4 ridges (fig. 112).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe short, curved, membranous at the middle, slender, only 0.14x as broad as at middle, in its profile apex rounded, broadest at its junction with apophyses, length: breadth ratio 4:1, apophyses 1.07x as long as median lobe, much slender, 0.28x as broad as median lobe (figs. 243–244). Tegmen with dorsal piece 3x as broad as basal piece; parameres long, 0.2x as long as manubrium, moderately thick, their apices rounded; manubrium 1.6x as long as the median lobe, uniformly thick, its apex deflected and rounded with a cleft (fig. 245). Spiculum gastrale with shaft 1.4x as long as median lobe, much thicker, 1.7x as broad as manubrium, apex very broad, deflected and irregularly rounded; basal prongs equal, their apices truncate (fig. 185).

Length: male, 9.00 mm; Breadth: male, 2.39 mm.

Holotype: 1 male, INDIA: Himachal Pradesh: Kullu, 5.VI.1987. Coll. V.R.S. Rao, on grass, weeds ( NPC).

Distribution: India: Himachal Pradesh.

Etymology: This species resembles S. serratipes Marshall and hence the name S. subserratipes sp. nov.