Smicronyx

Haran, Julien, Schütte, André & Friedman, Ariel-Leib-Leonid, 2017, A review of Smicronyx Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) of Israel, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 4237 (1), pp. 17-40 : 30

Key to species of Smicronyx in Israel

1. Small species (body length <2.5 mm), integument black or reddish, concealed by scales (fresh individuals), shiny on elytra but not smooth. Subgenus Smicronyx s. str. ( Fig. 15–20 ).......................................................... 2

1’ Large species (body length> 2.5 mm), integument shiny black, smooth on elytra, dorsum glabrous except patches with ocher scales on shoulders ( Fig. 21). Subgenus Chalybodontus Desbrochers des Loges........1. S. fulvipes Reiche & Saulcy, 1858

2. Integument black; legs dark. Vestiture variable.............................................................. 3

2’ Integument reddish, at least partly on elytra, suture usually darker ( Fig. 15 ); legs reddish. Vestiture sparse, usually composed of small elongate brown scales with transverse and irregular clearer bands. Integument may be entirely black in some specimens. Median lobe of male genitalia short, expanded at apex ( Fig. 8 )....................... 2. S. pauperculus Wollaston, 1864

3. Claws equal, pattern of elytra variable, never forming a distinct white “V”........................................4

3’ Claws unequal at least on fore legs, pattern of elytra generally forming a distinct white “V” ( Fig. 18 )........................................................................................... 5. S. albosquamosus Wollaston, 1854

4. Scape thin and longer ( Fig. 2, 3 )..........................................................................5

4’ Scape short and thick ( Fig. 1 ), prothorax coarse. Vestiture generally brown with two contrasted white spots on shoulders and an apical transverse band ( Fig. 16 ). Median lobe of male genitalia short, sides subparallel ( Fig. 9 ).... 4. S. syriacus Faust, 1887

5. Prothorax coarsely sculptured. Femora and tibiae reddish in middle. Scales on elytra elongated (3 times longer than wide at least), scattered, not concealing the integument ( Fig. 17 ). Vestiture variable, pale grey with translucent scales, or dark brown with shades of pale brown. Median lobe of male genitalia short (1/3 longer than wide), sides converging apically ( Fig. 10 )..............................................................................3. Smicronyx longitarsis sp. nov.

5’ Prothorax smooth. Legs entirely black. Scales on elytra short (maximum 2 times longer than wide), dense, almost concealing the integument on fresh specimens ( Fig. 19–20 ). Vestiture pale yellow or brown with shades of pale brown. Median lobe of male genitalia long (length more than twice the width, Fig. 6–7 )................................................6

6. Base of rostrum strongly arched ( Fig. 11–12 ). Tarsi elongate, last article as long as the three basal ones ( Fig. 5 ). Vestiture pale yellow, homogenous, rarely with shades of slightly darker scales ( Fig. 20 ). Median lobe of male genitalia lacking helical scleromes ( Fig. 7 )..................................................................... 6. S. jordanicus sp. nov.

6‘ Base of rostrum not strongly arched. Tarsi shorter, last article shorter than the three basal ones ( Fig. 4 ). Vestiture variable, never homogenous ( Fig. 19 ). Median lobe of male genitalia with helical scleromes ( Fig. 6 )......................................................................................................7. S. jungermanniae ( Reich, 1797)

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 20. Photographs of habitus. 15 — S. pauperculus Wollaston; 16 — S. syriacus Faust; 17 — S. longitarsis sp. nov.; 18 — S. albosquamosus Wollaston; 19 — S. jungermanniae Reich; 20 — S. jordanicus sp. nov.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Median lobe of male genitalia, dorsal and lateral view. 6 — S. jungermanniae Reich; 7 — S. jordanicus sp. nov.; 8 — S. pauperculus Wollaston; 9 — S. syriacus Faust; 10 — S. longitarsis sp. nov.

FIGURES 1 – 3. Antennae: 1 — Smicronyx syriacus Faust; 2 — S. jordanicus sp. nov.; 3 — S. longitarsis sp. nov.

FIGURES 11 – 14. Rostrum, lateral view. 11 / 12 — female and male rostrum for S. jordanicus sp. nov.; 13 / 14 — female and male rostrum for S. longitarsis sp. nov.

FIGURES 4 – 5. Tarsus: 4 — S. jungermanniae Reich; 5 — S. jordanicus and S. longitarsis sp. nov.