Cionus angulicollis 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 : 35-37

17. Cionus angulicollis Rosenschoeld ( Figs 17a–f )

Cionus angulicollis Rosenschoeld, 1838: 737 .

Cionus chilianthi Marshall, 1941: 28 . (syn. n.)

Type locality. Cape of Good Hope ( South Africa).

Type series. This species was described from specimens collected in “Caput Bonae Spei” received by Drège. In NHRS we examined one female labelled “Cap. b. sp., Drège / Typus”, which we designated as the lectotype by adding the following label “ LECTOTYPE Cionus angulicollis Rosensch. des. Caldara & Košťál 2014”.

Synonyms. Cionus chilianthi was described based on eight specimens: five collected at Storm River and three in Cape Province without more detailed data. In BMNH we examined the holotype labelled “Type [round white card with red margins] / Storms River, Cape Prov., 14 Jan 1925 / Reported destroying leaves of Chilianthus oleaceus / Pres. by Imp. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1941-13 / Cionus chilianthi Mshl. TYPE. male” and five paratypes labelled respectively “Co–, type [round white card with yellow margins] / Storms River, Cape Prov., 14 Jan 1925 / Reported destroying leaves of Chilianthus oleaceus / Pres. by Imp. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1941-13 / Cionus chilianthi Mshl. COTYPE. ♀ ” (2 specimens); “C. Bon Spei / Fry Coll. 1905.100. / Cionus chilianthi Mshl. COTYPE ♁”; “39520 / C. Bon Spei / Fry Coll. 1905.100 / Cionus chilianthi Mshl. COTYPE ♀ ”; “Cafrerie / Cionus chilianthi Mshl. COTYPE ♁ / GAK Marshall BMNH (E) 1950-255”. All these specimens do not show relevant differences from the lectotype of C. angulicollis . Two specimens with the same data as the holotype, but without Marshall’s labels, are preserved at SANC.

Diagnosis. Pronotum with two moderately pronounced protuberances. Elytra grayish with white and dark spots on odd interstriae. Elongated hair-like scales forming distinct tuft on V 2 in male. Claws of meso- and metatarsi distinctly asymmetrical in both sexes.

Redescription. Male ( Figs 17a–b ). Body: robust, globose. Head: rostrum stout, short (Rl/Rw 3.65–3.70, Rl/ Pl 1.17–1.21), black, in lateral view slightly curved, weakly tapered from antennal insertion to apex, in dorsal view parallel-sided, slightly enlarged apicad, striate-punctate with longitudinal distinct flattened carina along midline; in basal half with moderately dense, recumbent, elliptical, short to moderately long (l/w 3–7) whitish and light brown scales. Head between eyes moderately narrow, half as wide as rostrum at base. Eyes flat. Antennae dark brown, inserted between middle and apical third; scape long (l/w 9); funicle slightly shorter than scape, S1 moderately robust, slightly more robust than and as long as S2, 2.0× as long as wide, S2 2.3 × as long as wide, S3–5 transverse; club moderately oblongly oval, shorter than funicle, uniformly pubescent. Pronotum: dark brown, with small and regular punctures, completely hidden by dense, recumbent, moderately long (l/w 4–6), rectangular, intermixed whitish and brown scales, with whitish scales more numerous on sides and along basal half of midline; conical, moderately transverse (Pw/Pl 1.47–1.53), widest at base, with rectilinear sides, weakly convex, with two small lateral protuberances. Prosternum: anterior margin distinctly emarginated. Scutellar shield: heart-shaped, densely covered with white narrow scales. Elytra: dark brown, moderately long (El/Ew 1.15–1.21), subrectangular, widest in basal half, distinctly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.60–1.64), humeri distinct, rounded, sides in basal half subrectilinear, moderately convex on disc; interstriae almost flat, with very small punctures, almost smooth, completely hidden by recumbent, rectangular whitish scales with alternating small dark brown and whitish spots on odd interstriae; striae with small, moderately deep punctures, 1/3 as wide as interstriae, completely hidden by scales. Venter: mesosternal process moderately convex, not emarginated. Metasternum densely covered with wide and narrow intermixed white scales, distinctly shorter than V1. Abdomen with small and shallow punctures, completely hidden by moderately elongated scales, partly more elongated, hair-like in middle of V1, V2 and V5, forming distinct tuft on V2; V1 1.6× as long as V2; V1+2 5.0× as long as V3+4, latter ones 0.8× as long as V5. Legs: moderately densely covered with elongated, whitish and light brown intermixed scales; femora black, with robust sharp teeth; tibiae black, unci absent; tarsi black, onychium twice as long as T3; protarsal claws almost symmetrical and connate in basal 2/3, one claw of meso- and metatarsi by 1/3 shorter than other. Penis: Figs 17d–f , its body with rectilinear sides narrowing from base to apex, tip short, shallowly emarginated. Flagellum moderately robust, moderately long, bifurcated at base.

Female. Rostrum very slightly longer (l/ w 4.20; Rl/Pl 1.22) ( Fig. 17c ), protarsal claws symmetrical but not connate, on meso- and metatarsi one claw 1/2 as long as other, abdomen with all scales similar in shape.

Variability. Length 3.0– 4.1 mm. The dorsal vestiture vary from grey to yellowish brown, whereas the elytral spots on odd interstriae vary somewhat in number. Sometimes the dark spots are poorly visible.

Remarks. This species is very similar to C. meticulosus , from which it differs by the smaller size, elytra elliptical, not rectangular, moderately imbricate scales on the elytra, here black spots on odd interstriae more numerous, protarsal claws almost symmetrical and connate in the male.

Biological notes. Collgected in various localities from Buddleja salviifolia (det. Urban and M. Košťál).

Distribution. South Africa (Eastern Cape, Western Cape).

Non-type material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: W Bisho, km 35 from Peddie road N2, 33° 16’ S 26°48’ E, 14.XI.2006, leg. Osella (5, GOCV); Grahmstown, 23.I.1904 (1, BMNH); Grahamstown 10 km SW, 350 m, 33°22’S 26°28’E, 26.XI.2017, leg. Košťál (9, MKCS); Kareedouw Pass,, 450 m, 33°57’S 24°16’E, 16.XI.2006, leg. Osella (3, GOCV); Loerieheuwel, 10 km SW, 33°22’S 26°28’E, 20.XI.2017, on Buddleja sp. , leg. Košťál (1, MKCS); Uitenhage, sandrift, 1230 m, 33°58’S 24°03’E, 16.XI.2006, leg. Osella (2, GOCV); Zuurberg Pass road, 550 m, 33°21’S 25°44’E, 17.XI.2006, leg. Colonnelli (1, ECCR); Western Cape: Bontebok, 34°04’S 20°27’E, 22.IV.1995, leg. Deckert (3, ZMHB); George, 33°58’S 22°27’E, I.1990, collected from leaves of Buddleja salviifolia , leg. Urban (10, RCCM; 100, SANC); Karatara, 33°54’S 22°50’E, 28.XII.1996, leg. Stals & Stahmer (1, SANC); Little Karroo, Oudtshoorn 10 km N, 33°29’S 22°15’E, 22.X.1993, leg. Endrödi-Younga (1, TMSA); Plettenbergbaai, 6.I.1971, leg. Strydom (2, SANC); Swellendam, 34°00’S 20°82’E, 20.IV.2019, leg. Haran (1, CBGP); Wilderness N. P. Half Collard Kingfisher trail km 0–1, 33°98’S 22°60’E, 28.XI.2013, leg. Wanat (7, MNHW).

Figures

FIGURES 17–18. FIGURE 17. Cionus angulicollis. 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 18. Cionus tenuepilosus sp. n. a: body in dorsal view (female), b: body in lateral view (female). Not to scale.