Cionus thapsus ( Fabricius, 1792 )

Košťál, Michael & Caldara, Roberto, 2019, Revision of Palaearctic species of the genus Cionus Clairville (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cionini), Zootaxa 4631 (1), pp. 1-144 : 63-66

36. Cionus thapsus ( Fabricius, 1792)

Figs 36 a–f.

Curculio assimilis Harrer, 1784: 184 . nom. oblitum

Curculio thapsus Fabricius, 1792: 434 . Reitter, 1904: 52 ( Cionus thapsi ). Wingelmüller, 1914: 204 ( Cionus thapsi ); 1921: 109 ( Cionus thapsi ); 1937: 186 ( Cionus thapsi ). Hustache, 1932: 344 ( Cionus thapsi ). A. Hoffmann, 1958: 1223 ( Cionus thapsi ). Smreczyński, 1976: 59 ( Cionus thapsi ). Caldara, 2013: 124. Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 186. nom. protectum

Cionus simplex Rosenschoeld, 1838: 731 . Reitter, 1904: 52. Wingelmüller, 1914: 206 ( C. thapsi simplex ) (stat. dem.); 1921: 109 ( C. thapsi simplex ); 1937: 188 ( C. thapsi simplex ). Caldara, 2013: 124 (syn. n.). Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 186.

Cionus simplex bipunctatus Reitter, 1904: 52 . Wingelmüller, 1914: 207 ( C. thapsi “ab.” bipunctatus); 1921: 109 ( C. thapsi “ab.” bipunctatus); 1937: 188 ( C. thapsi “ab.” bipunctatus). Caldara, 2013: 124 (syn. n.). Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 186.

Cionus simplex uniformis Reitter, 1904: 52 . Wingelmüller, 1914: 207 ( C. thapsi “ab.” uniformis); 1921: 109 ( C. thapsi “ab.” uniformis); 1937: 188 ( C. thapsi “ab.” uniformis). Caldara, 2013: 124 (syn. n.). Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 186.

Cionus tissoni Reitter, 1906: 451 . Wingelmüller, 1914: 207 ( C. thapsi tissoni ) (stat. dem.); 1921: 106 ( C. thapsi tissoni ); 1937: 189 ( C. thapsi tissoni ). Caldara, 2013: 124. Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 186. syn. n.

[ Cionus simplex ab. anticemaculatus Plavilstshikov, 1924:231. Zumpt, 1937: 223. (unavailable)]

Type locality. Kiel ( Germany) .

Type series. The species was described based on an unknown number of specimens. In coll. Fabricius ( ZMUK), there are six males under the common label “Thapsus”. This series consists of four species. Three specimens belong to C. hortulanus , one to C. montanus , one to C. olivieri and the last male corresponds to C. thapsus as currently understood. In order to fix the nomenclature stability, we selected this, 3.84 mm long male, formerly pinned and later glued by Syndetikon-like glue, which was remounted again, dissected for genitalia and designated as the lectotype of Curculio thapsus Fabricius by adding the label “ LECTOTYPUS Curculio thapsus Fabricius ♂ M.Košťál et R.Caldara des. 2011 [printed red label]”. During the second remounting, the right elytron was broken and glued separately on the label. The left anterior onychium is missing. The original pin was preserved. The other five males were labeled as paralectotypes accordingly.

Synonyms. Curculio assimilis was described by Harrer (1784) based on specimens from Regensburg ( Germany) according to the plates that Jacob Christian Schäffer (1779) had published without Latin names. A few years later, it was synonymized with Cionus thapsus ( Fabricius, 1792) by Herbst (1795). Subsequently, no author quoted Harrer’s taxon. Only recently this synonymy was reported by Caldara (2013) noticing that Curculio assimilis has priority over Cionus thapsus , but that the latter name can be maintained since Curculio assimilis Harrer has never been used meeting the requirements of Article 23.9.1.1, and Cionus thapsus ( Fabricius, 1792) meets those of Article 23.9.1.2 embodied in ICZN (1999). Caldara (2013) concluded that a formal reverse of precedence would have been done elsewhere. Basing on the original description, we agree with the synonymy proposed by Herbst. Therefore, since Schäffer’s collection, where Harrer’s types were deposited, is unfortunately lost (Alonso-Zarazaga pers. comm.), we decided to designate the neotype of Curculio affinis Harrer. The neotype is 3. 91 mm long, fully preserved male labeled “CZ-BOHEMIA occ., 6344d NEE of HRADEC, dry hillside along railway ca 360 m, 3.vi.2002 / Cionus thapsus (F.) det. S.Benedikt 2008 / NEOTYPUS Curculio assimilis Harrer M.Košťál et R.Caldara des.2019 [printed red label] / Cionus thapsus (F.) M.Košťál det. 2019” ( NMPC). The type locality of C. assimilis is situated about 100 km in a straight line from Regensburg meeting Article 75.3.6 of ICZN (1999).

We also agree with Caldara (2013) concerning the application of Article 23.9.1 on the reversal of precedence. Therefore, as requested by Article 23.9.2, we quote the following 25 publications: Abbazzi & Maggini 2009, Abbazzi & Osella 1992; Abbazzi et al. 1995; Alonso-Zarazaga 2002; Alonso-Zarazaga et al. 2006; Alonso-Zarazaga et al. 2017; Angelov 1980; Arzanov 2015; Benedikt et al. 2010; Caldara 2013; Caldara et al. 2010; Casalini & Colonnelli 2014; Colonnelli 2003; Germann 2010; Legalov 2010; Mazur 2002; Lohse & Tischler 1983; Pelletier 2005; Poiras 1998; Rheinheimer & Hassler 2010; Telnov 2004, Tempère & Péricart 1989; Wanat & Mocrzycki 2005; Wanat & Mocrzycki 2018; Yunakov et al. 2018. Therefore, we formally propose Curculio thapsus Fabricius, 1792 (currently Cionus ) as nomen protectum and Curculio assimilis Harrer, 1784 as nomen oblitum.

Cionus simplex was described from Podolia based on an unknown number of specimens. In coll. Schoenherr ( NHRS), where types of Rosenschoeld are deposited, there is under the name simplex one well-preserved female labeled “ ♀ / Podolia. Besser. / Allotypus ”. We designated this specimen as the lectotype of Cionus simplex Rosenschoeld by adding the label “ LECTOTYPUS Cionus simplex Rosenschoeld M.Košťál et R.Caldara des.2011 [print- ed red label]”. This specimen is conspecific with the lectotype of Curculio thapsus Fabricius and was provided by the identification label “ Cionus thapsus (F.) (= C.simplex Rosensch. ) Michael Košťál det. 2011”.

Cionus simplex v. bipunctatus was described based on specimens from Hungary, Bulgaria, “Podolien”, “Sarepta”, Armenia and “Wolgamündungen”. In coll. Reitter (HNHM), there are four specimens with labels corresponding to the original description “ Russia mer. Volga / Paratypus 1904. Cionus thapsi var. bipunctatus Reitter / Coll. Reitter”. One formerly pinned, now laterally glued, well-preserved, 4,13 mm long female bears an additional dark label “m. Wolga” and a label handwritten by Reitter “ simplex v.bipunctatus m. 1904”. We designated this female as the lectotype by adding the printed red label “ LECTOTYPUS Cionus simplex v. bipunctatus Reitter Michael Košťál des. 2013”. The other specimens were labeled as paralectotypes accordingly. The lectotype and one female paralectotype are conspecific with C. thapsus (Fabricius) and were labeled “ Cionus thapsus (F.) Michael Košťál det. 2013”. Two other paralectotypes (male and female) are conspecific with C. clairvillei (Boheman) and were labeled “ Cionus clairvillei (Boheman) Michael Košťál det. 2013”accordingly.

Cionus simplex v. uniformis was described from northern Caucasus without mentioning the number of specimens. In coll. Reitter (HNHM), there is a 4.20 mm long male, without left medial and posterior leg, corresponding to the original description and labeled “Kaukasus bor. Starow. / Holotypus 1904. Cionus thapsi var. unifromis Reitter / simplex v. uniformis m. 1904. Type [Reitter´s handwriting] / Coll. Reitter / Michael Košťál reprep. 2013”. We dissected this specimen for genitalia and designated as the lectotype by adding the printed red label “LECTO- TYPUS Cionus simplex v. uniformis Reitter Michael Košťál des. 2013”. The lectotype is consubspecific with C. thapsus (Fabricius) and labeled accordingly “ Cionus thapsus (F.) Michael Košťál det. 2013”.

Cionus tissoni was described from Damascus. In coll. Reitter (NHMW), there are two males corresponding to the original description with morphology and locality labels. We designated a male glued on a triangular card previously dissected for genitalia and labeled “ ♂ / Damaskus / Tissoni [Reitter´s handwriting] / Tissoni” as the lectotype by adding the printed red label “ LECTOTYPUS Cionus tissoni Reitter Michael Košťál des. 2013”. The lectotype is 3.87 mm long, slightly damaged with missing left funicle, and left anterior and right medial onychium. The other male labeled “ ♂ / TISSON Damas / Tissoni” was labeled as paralectotype accordingly. Lectotype and paralectotype are conspecific with C. thapsus (Fabricius) and were labeled accordingly “ Cionus thapsus (F.) Michael Košťál det. 2013”.

Plavilstshikov (1924) described “ Cionus simplex ab. suturalis nov. ab.” from Ukraine. According to Article 45.6.2 of the ICZN (1999) and following its guidelines, we treat this name as infrasubspecific, and hence unavailable.

Redescription. Male. Body medium stout, subrotund. Head: rostrum moderately stout, medium long (l/ w 5.1, Rl/Pl 1.28), dark brown; in lateral view moderately evenly curved, same width from base to shortly before apex; in dorsal view subparallel to very slightly broadened from base to antennal insertion, from antennal insertion to apex of same width, basal part distinctly constricted laterally, apical part slightly dorsoventrally flattened; except apex, very densely to confluently longitudinally punctured, at apex with small bare shiny median area; basal part covered with recumbent, up- and backwardly oriented, yellowish elongate scales, apical part with forwardly oriented, subrecum- bent to suberect, longer yellowish seta-like scales. Head between eyes very narrow, of 0.3 rostrum width at base. Eyes very large, rounded, not protruding from head outline. Antennae reddish-brown, with slightly darkened club, inserted at 0.6 of rostrum length; funicle of 0.6 scape length, segment 1 moderately wider than segment 2, segment 1 twice, segment 2 more than twice as long as wide, segments 3–5 as long as wide to transverse; club spindle-shaped, almost 2.5 × as long as wide, completely covered with recumbent, thin, pale to reddish hairs and sparse, long, erect, light brown sensilla. Pronotum: black to dark brown, somewhat wider than long (Pl/Pw 0.64), very finely and densely slightly unevenly punctured, punctures tiny, subrotund, slightly unequal in size, spaces between punctures smaller or as wide as puncture diameter; densely covered with slightly unevenly distributed, variously oriented, recumbent, elongate (l/w 5–8) yellowish scales; widest at base, in basal half distinctly, in anterior half strongly conically narrowed to anterior margin, with very shallow, only indistinct constriction, in lateral view in basal half flat to slightly falling, in anterior half more distinctly falling to anterior margin. Prosternum: anterior margin with sharply incised, subquadrate deep emargination bounded by indistinct tubercles, separated from coxae by narrow prosternal area. Scutellum: elongate triangular with relatively sharp apex, covered with scales similar to those on elytra, densely punctured. Elytra: brown to dark brown, in basal 2/3 slightly rounded, in apical third broadly evenly rounded, moderately elongate (El/Ew 1.22), widest at about 1/3 of their length, at base somewhat wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.64), humeri subrotund, moderately prominent, with posthumeral impression; moderately convex on disc; interstria 1 at about 1/3 of medial length and in preapical area broadened, interstria 2 at same lengths narrowed and constricted laterally encompassing medium large, black tomentous maculae without differently colored scale border; interstriae except perimacular areas of approximately equal width; odd interstriae with alternating unevenly distributed, large black and yellowish scale patches; striae shallow, formed by single even rows of densely arranged large punctures; entire surface densely covered with recumbent elongate (l/w 3–5) yellowish scales almost completely concealing integument. Venter: unevenly densely covered with recumbent scales laterally, and hairs medially, with clusters of scales on metepisternum, lateral parts of metasternum, margins of ventrites 1–4, paramedian areas of ventrites 1–2; mesosternal process flat, broad, with emarginate broad apex, scaled, densely punctured; metasternum flat, transversally densely punctured with few ribs, ventrite 1 with small and shallow impression, ventrite 2 flat, both punctured; ventrite 1 1.7 × as long as ventrite 2, ventrites 1–2 combined 4.9 × as long as ventrites 3–4 combined, ventrites 3–4 combined of 0.9 length of ventrite 5. Legs: brown, profemora with small sharp teeth emphasized by erect scales, meso- and metafemora with large triangular sharp teeth; femora covered with slightly unevenly distributed, recumbent yellowish scales, tibiae by subrecumbent yellowish scales and rare subrecumbent to suberect black scales, tarsomeres 1–3 with suberect thin pale seta-like scales, onychia with recumbent long pale hairs; protarsal onychia of normal length, as long as tarsomeres 1–3 combined, tarsomere 3 wider than long; protarsal lateral, meso- and metatarsal medial claws by approximately 1/3 shorter than their pair-claws, smaller. Penis: Figs 36 d–f, its body medium long, subparallel to slightly narrowed, abruptly tapered at apex.

Female. Rostrum longer (Rl/Pl 1.64), with basal part in dorsal view visibly broadened to antennal insertion and apical part with slightly concave outline, antennal insertion slightly closer to mid-length of rostrum. Ventrites 1 and 2 without impression, convex. Claws approximately equally long.

Variability. Length ♂♂ 3.07–4.70 mm, ♀♀ 3.85–4.88 mm. A very variable species in body length, integument color, elytral pattern (in some specimens the patches of black scale are very large, densely arranged to almost confluent, whereas in other specimens they may be absent at all; rarely both sutural maculae are missing), pronotum shape, and even slightly variable in the shape of body of penis, which can be less abruptly tapered at apex.

Diagnosis. This species is recognizable by almost concealed elytral integument, antennal insertion in both sexes closer to mid-length of rostrum, short onychia in males, shallow and small impression restricted to ventrite 1 in males, concave outline of apical part of rostrum in females, and penis shape.

Comparative notes. This species is most closely related to C. nigritarsis , from which it differs by longer funicle and shorter club, lighter color of integument, and especially by the penis shape. Some specimens may resemble small specimens of C. olivieri , from which they differ by shorter and less conically narrowed pronotum, shorter onychia in males, thinner rostrum, and penis shape.

Biological notes. Smreczyński (1976) reported Verbascum lychnitis , V. thapsus , V. phlomoides and V. nigrum as host plants. Apart from the above mentioned Verbascum species, the first author collected this species in Moravia also on Scrophularia nodosa and in Slovakia on V. chaixii austriacum (Roem. & Schult.) .

Distribution. This species is very widely distributed species occurring in all of Europe (except Scandinavia), Cyprus , Asia Minor, Transcaucasus, Middle East, Iran, Turkmenistan and West Siberia. Wingelmüller (1914) re- ported the species also from eastern “Turkestan” (Tian-schan, Bagratsch-kul)”, which presently involves Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and western China (Xinjiang). These historical distributional data need to be confirmed because of possible misidentification of C. flavopunctatus .

Non-type specimens examined. We examined more than 1400 specimens from all the above reported countries and regions.

Figures

FIGURES 35–36. FIGURE 35. Cionus boroveci. 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 36. Cionus thapsus. 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.