Cionus histrio Rosenschoeld, 1838

Caldara, Roberto & Košťál, Michael, 2023, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Afrotropical Species Of The Weevil Genus Cionus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Zootaxa 5288 (1), pp. 1-98 : 49-50

24. Cionus histrio Rosenschoeld ( Figs 24a–f )

Cionus histrio Rosenschoeld, 1838: 739 .

Type locality. “Caffraria” ( South Africa).

Type series. This species was described from specimens collected by Drège in “Caffraria” ( South Africa) without more precise data. In NHRS we examined two male syntypes labelled as follows “♁ Caffraria, Drège / Typus” and “♁ Africa austr. / Paratypus ”. We designated the first specimen as the lectotype by adding the following label “ LECTOTYPE Cionus histrio Rosenschoeld des. Caldara & Košťál 2014” and labelled the second specimen as the paralectotype.

Diagnosis. Head between eyes distinctly narrow. Pronotum distinctly conical, with two moderately pronounced protuberances. Elytra short, slightly longer that wide, strongly convex, on odd interstriae with whitish and dark rectangular spots, with striae hidden by vestiture. V2 at apex in male with indistinct tuft of erect setae. Claws slightly asymmetrical in male.

Redescription. Male ( Figs 24a–b ). Body: robust, globose. Head: rostrum stout, short (Rl/Rw 3.70–3.78; Rl/Pl 1.30–1.36), black, in lateral view with dorsal and ventral curvature moderate and regular, very slightly tapered from base to apex, in dorsal view parallel-sided, slightly enlarged apicad; moderately densely covered from base to near apex with recumbent, elliptical, moderately long (l/w3–5) grayish and light brown scales. Head between eyes narrow, 0.25× as wide as rostrum at base. Eyes flat. Antennae dark brown, inserted between middle and apical third of rostrum; scape long (l/w 10); funicle slightly shorter than scape, S1 robust, moderately more robust and 1.5× longer than S2, 2.2× as long as wide, S2 twice as long as wide, S3–5 as long as wide; club oblongly oval, slightly shorter than funicle, uniformly pubescent. Pronotum: dark brown, completely covered with dense, recumbent, moderately long (l/w 5–7), rectangular, intermixed brown and whitish scales, latter ones forming median vitta in basal half and two lateral vittae; distinctly transverse (Pw/Pl 1.71–1.77); conical, widest at base, with rectilinear sides and two distinct lateral protuberances, with small regular punctures, weakly convex on disc. Prosternum: anterior margin distinctly emarginated. Scutellar shield: heart-shaped, densely covered with moderately elongated whitish scales. Elytra: dark brown, short (El/Ew 1.07–1.13), globose, widest in basal third, distinctly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.66–1.73), humeri distinct, rounded, sides slightly rounded in basal half, strongly convex on disc; interstriae flat, completely hidden by recumbent, rectangular, light brown scales, with numerous quadrate to rectangular white and blackish spots on odd interstriae; striae with deep punctures, half as wide as interstriae, completely hidden by scales. Venter: mesosternal process flat, weakly emarginated. Metasternum densely covered with wide (at sides) and elongated hair-like (in middle) whitish scales. Abdomen with dense, irregular, moderately deep punctures completely hidden by moderately elongated scales, V1 and V2 along midline with sparse scales distinctly thinner than others, V2 at apex with indistinct tuft of erect setae; V1 as long as V2, V1+2 as long as V3+4, latter ones as long as V5. Legs: densely covered with elongated grayish and pale brown scales; femora black, with robust sharp teeth; tibiae black, unci absent; tarsi black, with onychium 1.5× longer than segment 3; claws slightly asymmetrical. Penis: Figs 24d–f , its body gradually narrowed from base to apex, tip short, blunted. Flagellum robust, long, bifurcated at base.

Female. Rostrum slightly longer (l/ w 3.95; Rl/Pl 1.42) ( Fig. 24c ), claws symmetrical, abdomen with all scales similar in shape.

Variability. Length 2.9–3.4 mm. This species is generally less variable. Alternating spots of white and blackish scales on odd elytral interstriae always very marked. The colour of scales on even interstriae vary from grayish to light brown.

Remarks. This species is distinguishable from the closely related ones by the distinctly globose body. The pattern of the elytral vestiture is similar to that in some specimens of C. nubilosus , with which it sometimes co–lives, and from which it differs mainly by the very narrow head between the eyes.

Biological notes. In Eastern Cape (Peddie), larvae were collected feeding on upper portions and inflorescence of Selago corymbosa together with C. nubilosus (det. Brent). On the same plant adults were found by R. Oberprieler, J. Haran and the second author.

Distribution. South Africa (Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape).

Non-type material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga: Middelburg, XI.1933 (1, SANC). KwaZulu-Natal: Boston nr. Pietermaritzburg, 1450 m, 29°40’S 30°04’E, 24.XI.2017 (5, MKCS); Nkandla Forest Reserve, 28°45’S 31°10’E, 20.X.1989, leg. Reavell (1, SANC);, Eastern Cape: Alexandria, 33°35’S 26°09’E, 28.XI.2015, leg. Košťál (4, MKCS); 30 km before Alexandria, 33°36’S 26°08’E, leg. Osella (14, GOCV; 4, RCCM); road Atherston to Stonehaven, 33°20’S 26°21’E, 12.XI.2005, Colonnelli leg. (2, ECCR); W Bisho, km 35 from Peddie road N2, 33° 16’ S 26°48’ E 14.XI.2006, leg. Osella (1, GOCV); Butterworth, 26.I.1963, leg. van Schalkwyk (2, SANC); Colchester, 33°68’S 25°82’E, 28.IV.2018, leg. Haran (1, CBGP); East London, 1.XII.1977, leg. Cilliers (5, SANC); Old route for Fort Beaufort, 1250 m, 33°19’S 26à40’E, 12.XI.2006, leg. Osella (1, GOCV); 33 km S Fort Beaufort 33°02’S 26°39’E, 23.XI.1988, leg. Grobbelaar (1, SANC); Graaf Reinet, 10.X.1923, on bitter[blom?]bos, leg. Smith (3, SANC); Groendal Dam nr Uitenhage, 10.III.1983, leg. Breytenbach (2, SANC); Grahamstown, XI.1900 (3, BMNH); Grahamstown, Faraway Farm, 33°20’S 26°28’E, 22.XI.1988, Grobbelaar leg. (8, SANC); Grahamstown, Faraway Farm, 33°20’S 26°28’E, 22.XI.1988, collected on Selago corymbosa, Oberprieler leg. (7, SANC); Grahamstown,Toposcape forest, 13.XI.2006,leg.Osella (18, GOCV); road R343 10 km SE of Grahamstown, 33°22’S 26°28’E, 3.V.2005, leg. Colonnelli (18, ECCR; 4, RCCM); road N2 10 km SW Grahamstown, 33°22’18”S 26°28’58”S, 10–11.XI.2005 (4, ECCR); Hankey, 33°50’S 24°55’E, 26.XI.2015, leg. Košťál (6, MKCS); Kentonon-Sea, 33°40’88”S 26°40’21”E, leg. Colonnelli (1, ECCR); Komga, 600 m, 32°34’S 27°56’E, 25.XI.2017, leg. Košťál (1, MKCS); Kowie river, 12.XI.2005, 33°20’96”S 26°33’54”S, leg. Colonnelli (1, ECCR); Kruisfontein, Humansdorp, 33°59’S 24°46’E, 27.XI.2015, leg. Košťál (6, MKCS); Kruisfontein, Impofu Dam, 34°02’S 24°34’E 27.XI.2015, on Selago sp. , leg. Košťál (10, MKCS); Loerie, 33°52’S 25°02’E, 25.XI.2015, leg. Košťál (1, MKCS); Peddie, III.1932, larvae feeding on upper portions (leaves?) and inflorescence of Selago corymbosa , leg. Brent (1, MRAC; 6, SANC); N2 Roadside 20 km N of Peddie, Albany Thicket vegetation, 18.XI.2013, leg. Ruta (1, MNHW); vicinity of Salem, R343 near Kikuyu Lodge, Gauda Res., 10.XI.2005, 33°33’28”S 26°22’83”E, leg. Osella (3, GOCV); St. Francis bay, Jeffrey’s bay, 33°57’S 24°57’E, 25.XI.2015, leg. Košťál (8, MKCS); ditto, 29.XI.2018 (6, MKCS); road R 343 near fork Southwell–Kenton on Sea, 33°36’S 28°38’E, 4.V.2005, Colonnelli leg. (6, ECCR); Suurberg Pass, 900 m, 28.XI.1988, leg. Grobbelaar (3, SANC); Thomas Bains Nat. Res., nr Grahamstown, 3.XII.1992, leg. Oberprieler (2, SANC); Umtiza, East London Coast Reserves, East London, 33°02’S 27°49’E, 25.XI.1988, Grobbelaar leg. (2, SANC); Winterberge Mts., 5 km N of Seymour, 1200 m, 32°29’S 26°47’E, leg. Košťál (1, MKCS); Zuurberg Pass road, 550 m, 33°21’66”S 25°44’56”E, 17.XI.2006, leg. Colonnelli (1, ECCR). Western Cape: Cederberg W.A., 1 km S of Eikeboom, 930 m, 32°46’S 19°17’E, 6.XII.2013, leg. Wanat (1, MNHW); Cederberg, 2 km N Eichenboom, 1050 m, 32°25’83”S 19°09’16”E, 16.XI.2007, leg. Colonnelli (1, ECCR); 15 km E Citrusdal, 948 m, beating, 32°37’563”S 19°08’198”E, 26.X.2011, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS); Gydo Pass, 19.XI.1984, leg. Prinsloo (1, SANC); Haarlem, 33°44’S 23°17’E, 17.XII.1986, leg. Mansell (1, SANC); Keurboomrivier Mond nr Plettenberg, 34°02’S 23°24’E, 13.II.1990, M. Jonsson (2, SANC); Knysna, 34°02’S 23°03’E, I.1979. van Tonder leg. (2, SANC); Kranz Bush, 33°47’S 23°14’E, 14.III.1977, Endrődi leg. (1, HNHM); Outeniekwaberge 33°52’S 23°11’E, 14.XII.1977, leg Endrödy-Younga (3, TMSA); Saasveld nr George, 12.II.1985, leg. Breytenbach (1, SANC); Simonsberg, 33°86’S 18°90’E, 18.III.2018, on Selago corymbosa , leg. Haran (13, CBGP); Somerset East, 23–31.XII.1930, Turner leg. (1, BMNH); Stellenbosch, 33°94’S 18°87’S, 11.II.2018, aaaleg. Haran (1, CBGP); Table Mountain, 29.X.1988, Wittmer leg. (1, SANC).

Figures

FIGURES 23–24. FIGURE 23. Cionus nubilosus. a: body in dorsal view (male), b: body in lateral view (male), c: rostrum in lateral view (female), d: penis in ventral view, e: penis in lateral view, f: apex of penis in dorsal view. FIGURE 24. Cionus histrio. a: body in dorsal view (male), b: body in lateral view (male), c: rostrum in lateral view (female), d: penis in ventral view, e: penis in lateral view, f: apex of penis in dorsal view. Not to scale.