Cionus bremondi A. Hoffmann, 1938

Košťál, Michael & Caldara, Roberto, 2019, Revision of Palaearctic species of the genus Cionus Clairville (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cionini), Zootaxa 4631 (1), pp. 1-144 : 69-71

40. Cionus bremondi A. Hoffmann, 1938

Figs 40 a–f.

Cionus bremondi A. Hoffmann, 1938a: 103 . Caldara, 2013:123. Alonso-Zarazaga et al., 2017: 185.

Type locality. Ifrane ( Morocco) .

Type series. The species was described based on five specimens of both sexes collected on 17.iv. 1933 in Ifrane, Morocco by P. Bremond. He yielded them to M. Peyerimhoff who subsequently gave them to A. Hoffmann for description. In coll. A. Hoffmann ( MNHN), there is a completely preserved, 4.79 mm long male labeled “Ifrane ( Maroc) 17-4-1933 P. Bremond / S/ Verbascum sp. / Cionus Bremondi Hoffmann / TYPE [printed red label] / coll. M.Paris Hoffmann”. The author indicated the holotype in the original description with the reference “Type: ma collection.” For clarity, we provided this specimen with the distinguishing label “ HOLOTYPUS Cionus bremondi Hoffmann M.Košťál et R.Caldara vid. 2017 [printed red label]”. In coll. Peyerimhoff ( MNHN), there are a couple on a single pin labeled “Ifrane 17-4-33 Bremond col. / S. Verbascum sp / Cionus Bremondi n.sp. (paratypes) A. Hoffmann d / coll. M.Paris Peyerimh.”. We remounted the female and provided both specimens on the single pin with two labels “ PARATYPUS Cionus bremondi Hoffmann M.Košťál et R.Caldara vid. 2017”. Additionally, in coll. A. Hoffmann, there are another couple identified by Hoffmann as C. bremondi . Only the male was labeled as collected in Ifrane. It is 5.05 mm long, well-preserved and labeled “ Maroc Mn-Atlas Ifrane (1650) / 15-31-V-38 Ch. Rungs / C. Bremondi Hoffm. Hoffmann det. / Paratype [red label] / MUSEUM PARIS 1968 Col. A. HOFF- MANN”. We remounted this male and dissected the genitalia. In coll. Smreczynśki ( ISZP), there is an identically labeled (except for missing last label) damaged female. Since neither the date nor the collector correspond to the original description, it is not possible to consider these specimens syntypes. Moreover, in coll. A. Hoffmann, there is a mounted (glued on a card) penis labeled in a full accordance with the paratype data “ ♂ Cionus Maroc / Ifrane 17.4.33 Maroc Bremond / Cionus ♂ sp. n. Maroc / MUSEUM PARIS 1968 Col. A. HOFFMANN”. The shape of the penis is identical to that of the above mentioned dissected specimen.

Synonyms. None.

Redescription. Male. Body stout, subrotund. Head: rostrum moderately slender, relatively long (l/w 6, Rl/Pl 1.31), black; in lateral view as in C. olivieri ; in dorsal view same width from base to apex, in basal part round in cross-section, in apical part moderately dorsoventrally flattened; texture as in C. olivieri but without median carina; scales as in C. olivieri . Head between eyes and eyes as in C. olivieri . Antennae inserted at 0.6 of rostrum length, as in C. olivieri except shorter club (l/ w 2.25). Pronotum: black, somewhat wider than long (Pl/Pw 0.65), densely, evenly, very finely punctured, punctures as in C. olivieri ; scales and outline as in C. olivieri , in lateral view flat in basal half, then more abruptly falling to anterior margin. Prosternum: anterior margin with relatively deep, sharply incised emargination, bounded by small indistinct tubercles, separated from coxae by narrow prosternal area. Scutellum: as in C. olivieri . Elytra: black, small areas brown, in basal 2/3 subparallel, in posterior third very broadly rounded, moderately elongate (El/Ew 1.21), widest at about one third of their length, at base markedly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.71), humeri subrotund, moderately prominent, with indistinct posthumeral impression; flat on disc; interstria 1 at 1/3 of medial length and in preapical area distinctly broadened, interstria 2 at same lengths narrowed and constricted laterally encompassing medium large dorsal macula and subrotund preapical macula without differently colored scale border; interstriae except perimacular areas of approximately equal width; odd interstriae with unevenly distributed, variously large patches of black scales, without patches of light scales, at base of interstriae 3–5 and beyond humeral apex with large irregular patches of black scales; striae as in C. olivieri ; entire surface covered with very densely arranged, mostly recumbent, relatively moderately elongate (l/w 3–5) yellowish scales with greenish to grayish shade, completely concealing integument. Venter: covered with thin, in medial part hair-like, densely arranged subrecumbent grayish scales, without clusters of scales; mesosternal process flat, broad, subquadrate, almost straight at posterior margin, densely punctured; metasternum flat, punctured, with few transverse ribs; ventrites 1 and 2 with relatively broad, deep, punctured, at sides ribbed impression; ventrite 1 1.7 × as long as ventrite 2, ventrites 1–2 combined 7.3 × as long as ventrites 3–4 combined, ventrites 3–4 combined of about half length of ventrite 5. Legs: black, otherwise as in C. olivieri except lack of black scales on tibiae and more regular distribution of scales. Penis: Figs 40 d–f, its body not narrowed, of approximately same width, with parallel sides and broadly rounded apex.

Female. Rostrum longer (Rl/Pl 1.38). Ventrites 1 and 2 without impression. Claws equally long.

Variability. The few specimens which we could examine show slight variability. The most variable character is the patch of black scales on the base of elytral interstriae 3–5, which can be slightly reduced or, on the contrary, reaches interstria 6.

Diagnosis. Cionus bremondi is recognizable by large size, evenly curved stout rostrum, striking patches at base of elytral interstriae 3–5 and beyond humeral apices, broad and deep impression on ventrites 1 and 2 in males, and penis shape.

Comparative notes. This species is most closely related to C. olivieri , from which it differs by shorter rostrum, black scale patches at the base of elytral interstriae 3–5, and different shape of penis.

Biological notes. In the original description, Verbascum sp. is reported as a host plant. J. Haran (pers. comm. and labeling) collected this species in Middle Atlas (Arhbalou near Ifrane, 1,900 m a. s. l.) on silver-leaved Verbas- cum sp.

Distribution. Morocco (Middle Atlas).

Non-type specimens examined. We examined 12 specimens (in addition to non-type specimens mentioned in “ Type series. ”). MOROCCO: Ifrane, A. Leuh-Bleton 2000 m, 12.vi. 1938 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) ; Ifrane , 22.vi.1951, leg. Kocher 1 ♂ ( MNHN) ; Ifrane , 11.vi. 1951 1 ♂ ( MNHN) ; Ifrane , 11.iv.2010 leg. Haran 1 ♂, Arhbalou N’Cerda- ne , N 32 o 40.8´W 5 o 33.5´1463 m a. s. l., 15.iv.2016, on Verbascum sp. leg. Haran 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (coll. HA) ; Ifrane , 11.vi.1951 1 ♂ ( ISZP) ; Ain Leuh, 2000 m, 12.vi.1938 1 ♀ ( ISZP) .

Figures

FIGURES 39–40. FIGURE 39. Cionus olivieri. 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 40. Cionus bremondi. 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.