Catapion austrinum ( Wollaston, 1864 )

Morris, Michael G., Sw, London & Dt, Dorset, 2011, The Apionidae (Coleoptera) of the Canary Islands, with particular reference to the contribution of T. Vernon Wollaston, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 51 (1), pp. 157-182 : 179

Catapion austrinum ( Wollaston, 1864)

( Fig. 13 )

DIECKMANN (1989) discussed the unique specimen of this species, which is in BMNH and which he examined, in considerable detail. He compared it with both C. seniculus (Kirby, 1808) and C. corsicum (Desbrochers, 1888) but was unable to decide whether it represented a good species or an anomalous example of some other one. The current author inclines to the view that it is an aberrant C. seniculus , but M. A. Alonso-Zarazaga strongly disagrees (in litt.); the specimen is not in very good condition and a definite decision may not be possible. At any event, the species is not, apparently, established in the Canaries. It was included as a Canarian endemic by GURREA & SANZ (2000).

The specimen bears a ‘Type’ label. The base of the card mount is coloured black or dark brown, hardly corresponding to the orange that should have indicated its Gomeran origin, and presumably the result of darkening with age.

Figures

Figs. 13–14. Habitus of the Apionidae of Canary Islands. 13 – Catapion austrinum (Wollaston, 1864), holotype, Wollaston Coll. (BMNH); 14 – Ischnopterapion sp., author’s Coll.