Cionus alauda ( Herbst, 1784 )

Košťál, Michael & Caldara, Roberto, 2019, Revision of Palaearctic species of the genus Cionus Clairville (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cionini), Zootaxa 4631 (1), pp. 1-144 : 11-13

1. Cionus alauda ( Herbst, 1784)

Figs 1 a–f.

Curculio alauda Herbst, 1784: 74 . Reitter, 1904: 60 ( Cionus ). Wingelmüller,1914: 179 ( Cionus ); 1921: 103 ( Cionus ); 1937: 158 ( Cionus ). Hustache, 1932: 345 ( Cionus ). A. Hoffmann, 1958: 1227 ( Cionus ). Smreczyński, 1976: 53 ( Cionus ). Caldara, 2013: 123 ( Cionus ). Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 185 ( Cionus ).

Curculio blattariae Fabricius, 1792: 435 . Clairville, 1798: 66 ( Cionus ). Reitter, 1904: 60 (syn. n.) ( Cionus ). Wingelmüller, 1914: 231 ( Cionus ); 1937: 214 ( Cionus ). Hustache, 1932: 345 ( Cionus blattaria F.) (error). A. Hoffmann, 1958: 1227 ( Cionus ). Caldara, 2013: 123 ( Cionus ). Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 185 ( Cionus ).

Curculio bipustulatus Marsham, 1802: 278 . Wingelmüller, 1914: 231 (syn. n.) ( Cionus ); 1937: 214. A. Hoffmann, 1958: 1227 ( Cionus ). Caldara, 2013: 123 ( Cionus ) (as homonym). Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 185 ( Cionus ) (as homonym).

Cionus villae Comolli, 1837: 30 . Reitter, 1904: 60. Wingelmüller, 1914: 232; 1921: 103; 1937: 159. Hustache, 1932: 346. A. Hoffmann, 1958: 1213. Caldara, 2013: 123 (syn. n.). Caldara & Alonso-Zarazaga, 2017: 542.

Cionus pici Desbrochers des Loges, 1894 : cclxviii. Reitter, 1904: 64 (syn. n.). Wingelmüller, 1914: 232; 1937: 214. A. Hoffmann, 1958: 1227. Caldara, 2013: 123. Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 185 ( Cionus ).

Type locality. Koszalin (Pomerania, Poland) .

Type series. The species was described from “Pommern”, a province in modern NE Germany and NW Poland. The description is short and vague, supplemented with a picture. In coll. Herbst ( ZMHB), there are three substantially damaged pinned specimens of which only one, 3.60 mm long female, bears hardly legible label “ Sicilien...”. These specimens cannot be regarded as syntypes (J. Frisch & J. Willers pers. comm.). It is obvious that the real type was lost. Due to this fact and the necessity to fix this taxon, we designated the neotype of Curculio alauda Herbst, 1784 as currently understood. In coll. Lüllwitz ( MIZ), there are a couple of C. alauda from Pomerania. We designated a male labeled “ Pommern Coeslin [= Koszalin] Lüllwitz / ex coll. A.Lüllwitz Mus.Zool.Polonicum Warszawa” as the neotype of Curculio alauda Herbst by adding the printed red label “ NEOTYPUS Curculio alauda Herbst M.Košťál et R.Caldara des. 2018”. The specimen is 3.04 mm long, well-preserved with glued extremities and antennae. It is deposited at MIZ.

Synonyms. Curculio blattariae was described based on an unknown number of specimens from Italy. In coll. Fabricius ( ZMUK), there are five specimens without label on the pin, one male, three females and one heavily damaged specimen under the common label “Blattariae”. With the exception of the damaged unidentifiable specimen, all are conspecific. The pinned male with several onychia of meso- and metatarsi missing, unmeasurable due to its position on the pin and disconnected elytra was designated as the lectotype of Curculio blattariae Fabricius by adding the label “ LECTOTYPUS Curculio blattariae Fabricius M.Košťál et R.Caldara des.2011 [printed red label]”. Females and the damaged specimen were labeled as paralectotypes accordingly.

Curculio bipustulatus Marsham, 1802 is a junior homonym of Curculio bipustulatus Rossi, 1792 , currently Rhinusa bipustulata (Rossi, 1792) as reported by Caldara (2013) and Alonso-Zarazaga et al. (2017). According to the original description of Curculio bipustulatus , it is probable that the species was described based on a single specimen from an unknown place. The collection of Marsham (BMNH) was dispersed after his death, with large parts acquired by Stephens or Kirby, both near contemporaries of Marsham (M. Morris pers. comm.). In coll. Kirby (BMNH), there is a completely preserved, 3.43 mm long female labeled “4 / 4.bipustulatus / Kirby.” conspecific with C. alauda as currently understood. This specimen is differently labeled than Marsham´s syntypes (round yellow-margin label). The designation of the neotype of Curculio bipustulatus Marsham was necessary to fix this taxon with regard to its taxonomic placement since although invalid, according to Article 10.6 of ICZN (1999) Marsham´s name remains available. We added the label “ NEOTYPUS Curculio bipustulatus Marsham M.Košťál des. 2012 [printed red label]” and the identification label “ Cionus alauda (Herbst) Michael Košťál det.2012”.

Cionus villae was described from northern Italy (Lombardia: Induno Olona in the province of Varese, and Alpe d’Albese near Erba in province of Como). The original description corresponds to C. alauda with a reference to brownish coloration “elytra flavo-grisea vel castaneo-brunnea...”, not typical in specimens from northern areas of the distribution. As we found out the coloration is the only difference between northern and southern populations of C. alauda . Since Comolli´s collection was dispersed or probably destroyed in 1927 together with Villa´s collection at the MSNM (R. Poggi pers. comm.), and the taxon must be fixed with regard to its synonymy, we designated the neotype of Cionus villae Comolli. It is 2.90 mm long well-preserved male labeled “ Italia, Lombardia, lago di Ghirla (Varese), 25.VI.1970, leg. R. Rotondi” (originally coll. Caldara), conspecific with the neotype of Curculio alauda Herbst. We designated the neotype of Cionus villae Comolli by adding the printed red label “ Neotype Cionus villae Comolli des. Caldara & Košťál 2018” and an identification label “ Cionus alauda (Herbst) det. R. Caldara 2018”. The neotype is deposited in MSNM. Comolli’s taxon was erroneously considered to be a different subspecies of C. alauda or a distinct species by Stüben & Bayer (2015) and Stüben et al. (2015) respectively, present in Algeria and as noticed by Caldara & Alonso-Zarazaga (2017).

Cionus pici was described based on a single specimen from Algeria (Aïn Sefra). In coll. Desbrochers (MNHN), there is a single clumped, 2.97 mm long, probably female specimen labeled “Ain Sefra / Cionus pici Dsb [Desbrocher´s handwriting] / Ex Musaeo Desbrochers 1914 / MUSÉUM PARIS COLL. DESBROCHERS” perfectly corresponding to the original description. Therefore, we provided this specimen with a printed red label “ HOLOTYPUS Cionus pici Desbrochers Michael Košťál vidit 2014”. The specimen is conspecific with the neotype of Curculio alauda Herbst.

Redescription. Male. Body medium stout. Head: rostrum moderately stout, medium long (l/ w 3.9, Rl/Pl 1.32), at its entire length except the lightened very apical part blackish brown; in lateral view markedly evenly curved, same width from base until antennal insertion, then slightly tapered towards apex; in dorsal view of same width until shortly before antennal insertion, where broadened and parallel-sided until apex, at apex about 1.4 × as broad as rostrum at base, basal part laterally constricted, apical part dorsoventrally flattened; at entire length except apical part rugulosely punctured, before antennal insertion in basal part with indistinct thin carina, at apex with round, well isolated punctures, and naked shiny area in the most apical part; at basal 2/3 of its length covered with thin whitish and brown, variously oriented elongate scales, and with sparsely intermixed, white, broader elongate scales, in distal 1/3 with forwardly oriented, whitish long suberect seta-like scales. Head between eyes broad, of about 0.8 rostrum width at base. Eyes rounded, slightly protruding from the head outline. Antennae brown, with darkened club, inserted shortly before 0.7 of rostrum length; funicle length of about 0.8 scape length, segment 1 wider than segment 2, of its 0.8 length, segment 1 about twice as long as wide, segment 2 almost 3 × as long as wide, segments 3–5 globose; club oval, about 2.5 × as long as wide, of about 0.8 funicle length, completely covered with recumbent tiny, very thin dark hairs, and sparsely distributed sensilla. Pronotum: dark brown, its anterior part lighter, markedly transverse (Pl/Pw 0.51), very densely punctured, punctures small, round, its anterior and lateral part densely covered with broadly elongate (l/w 3–5), recumbent overlapping, whitish and light brown scales, in semicircular prescutellar area with subrecumbent short black scales, white scales on pronotal disc clustered into two forwardly convergent bands; widest at base, then slightly and at the mid-length of pronotum length abruptly more conically narrowed to anterior margin, moderately convex on disc. Prosternum: anterior margin with widely rounded, relatively shallow sharply incised emargination not reaching coxae, medially with deep impression reaching coxae. Scutellum: short, subtriangular, broadly rounded at apex, densely covered with backwardly oriented recumbent whitish and black scales. Elytra: dark brown, in anterior 2/3 subrounded to subparallel, in apical part broadly, evenly rounded, moderately elongate (El/Ew 1.20), widest at about basal 1/3, at base strikingly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.87), humeri apparently prominent, bluntly rectangular; almost flat on disc; interstriae, especially at base convex, odd and even interstriae except interstria 1 similar in width, interstria 1 on disc of normal width, broadened before apex encompassing round black tomentous macula, interstria 3 at base and before mid-length of medial length with black tomentous subquadrate patches being also in smaller size on interstriae 1–3 in anterior half of elytra, small, almost indistinct black patches alternating with small white patches on odd interstriae along the elytral length; striae shallow, formed by round, well separated punctures; brown and whitish scales on elytra mostly lanceolate (l/w 3–4), black macula on interstriae 1–3 formed by large and small patches of elongate (l/w 4–5) black scales with sparsely intermixed small patches of white scales, mostly blunt at apex. Venter: sparsely covered with subrecumbent, unevenly arranged whitish thin scales, metepisternum and lateral parts of mesosternum with densely arranged, overlapping yellow-orange scales; mesosternal process very short, broad, distally shallowly emarginate; metasternum almost flat, with transverse punctures and small ribs; ventrite 1 and 2 with shallow impression, evenly punctured; ventrite 1 about 1.8 × as long as ventrite 2, ventrites 1–2 combined 4.9 × as long as ventrites 3–4 combined, ventrites 3–4 combined of 0.7 length of ventrite 5. Legs: unevenly light and dark brown, profemora with small blunt teeth, meso- and metafemora with larger blunt teeth, on teeth several erect elongate scales giving teeth a sharp appearance; entire legs except onychia with recumbent to subrecumbent, on tibial outer sides suberect whitish and sparse light brown elongate scales, on tibial outer sides also suberect dark short seta-like scales, onychia covered with recumbent, and a few suberect whitish hairs; onychia of anterior legs of about 0.9 length of tarsomeres 1–3 combined; protarsal lateral, meso- and metatarsal medial claws of half length of their pair-claws. Penis: Figs 1 d–f, its body relatively short, with subparallel sides, tapered at apex.

Female. The species shows minimal sexual dimorphism. The only difference from male is the absence of shallow impression on ventrites 1 and 2, and equally long claws.

Variability. Length: ♂♂ 2.70–3.57 mm, ♀♀ 2.98–4.00 mm. Cionus alauda is a very variable species with respect to vestiture coloration, but constant in characters like the shape of rostrum, tarsi, ratio of ventrite lengths, body proportions and genitalia. The marked variability of vestiture coloration undoubtedly led to several synonyms of this species. Whole body tone can gradually vary from black and white, dark brown to reddish specimens. The latter coloration type occurs mainly in the South-West of its distributional area. Large dorsal macula may, in some specimens, be substantially changed in shape and color, body integument is often lighter brown, pronotal convergent bands may be more or less marked. Moreover, C. alauda is one of the most abrasion sensitive Cionus species, which can result in many different vestitural appearances.We did not notice substantial differences between European and North African specimens except for the mentioned color tone transitions.

Diagnosis. This species is typified by a large subquadrate dorsal macula on elytral disc and large round or subrotund preapical elytral macula, broad forehead, shallow impression on ventrites 1 and 2 in males as well as an almost same length of onychia in females as in males.

Comparative notes. There is no related Palaearctic Cionus species. Cionus alauda resembles Cleopus females in regard to the equal claw length, however shows a clear generic placement in Cionus due to the emargination on prosternum. The unusual elytral pattern is reminiscent of some Eastern Palaearctic Stereonychus species.

Biological notes. Cionus alauda develops on various Scrophularia species. Wingelmüller (1937) reported S. nodosa L., S. lucida L., S. canina L. and S. auriculata L. (as S. aquatica L.) as host plants and Verbascum as possible occasional feeding plants. Hoffmann (1958) also added S. alpestris J.Gay ex Benth. and S. laevigata Vahl. , S. lucida and S. saharae Batt. & Trab. from North Africa ( Morocco, Algeria). Smreczyński (1976) reported also Limosella aquatica L. as a host plant. Read (1977) brought deeper insight into the biology of this species on S. nodosa . We collected the species exclusively on S. nodosa in cooler shaded places or in the montane zone.

Distribution. This species is widely distributed from North-Western Africa through the Iberian Peninsula and the entire West (GB included) and Central Europe to southern Scandinavia. Among Cionus , this species is the only one known from Madeira archipelago with certainty ( Machado 2008). It is absent from the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Eastern Europe except for many records from Ukraine ( Yunakov et al. 2018).

Non-type specimens examined. We examined more than 250 specimens from many European countries, Morocco and Algeria.

Figures

FIGURES 1–2. FIGURE 1. Cionus alauda. 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. FIGURE 2. Cionus scrophulariae. 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.