Canariotrox Machado

Machado, Antonio, Rodriguez-Exposito, Eduardo, Lopez, Mercedes & Hernandez, Mariano, 2017, Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Laparocerus, with comments on colonisation and diversification in Macaronesia (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), ZooKeys 651, pp. 1-77 : 32-33

Subgenus Canariotrox Machado subg. n.

Type species.

Laparocerus inaequalis Wollaston, 1864, by present designation (Fig. 13B).

Etymology.

The name is a combination from the Modern Latin demonym ‘canarius‘ (inhabitant of the Canary Islands) and the latinisation of the Greek term ‘trōx’, meaning gnawer, applied to weevils. Gender masculine.

Species assigned.

Laparocerus abona Machado, 2016; Laparocerus acyphus Machado, 2009; Laparocerus aeneotinctus Machado, 2009; Laparocerus aguiari Machado, 2007; affinis Wollaston, 1864; Laparocerus crassus Roudier, 1957; Laparocerus estevezi Machado, 2012; Laparocerus femoralis Machado, 2009; Laparocerus hirtus Wollaston, 1864; Laparocerus inaequalis Wollaston, 1864; Laparocerus occidentalis Wollaston, 1864; Laparocerus rugosicollis Uyttenboogaart, 1937; Laparocerus tauce Machado, 2016; and Laparocerus vestitus Wollaston, 1864.

Diagnostic remarks.

Laparocerus of squarish, rounded or elongated appearance, endemic to the central and western Canary Islands. Species of the Laparocerus inaequalis group (+ Laparocerus vestitus and Laparocerus affinis ) may be small (4.2-8.2 mm), have shiny or metallic integument, and elytra bearing long silky hairs, while the rest of species ( Laparocerus occidentalis group) are of larger size (6.2-1.2 mm), with matt integuments, and elytra beset with small setae more or less protruding from the vestiture of scales. Antennae thin and long, with capitated escape. Apex of male protibia incurved with blunt outer angle (except in Laparocerus vestitus and Laparocerus affinis ).

Gonoporal diverticulum of the internal sac of penis as long or longer than the blind diverticulum. Gonostyli tubular inserted at apex of hemisternites. Female terguite VIII ending sharp-pointed (plough-like) and spiculum ventrale (sternite VIII) very robust, spearheaded, with lamina as long as apodeme and with short marginal cirri. This feature is surely related to a special case of oviposition (punching a hard substrate?) and is a good diagnostic character, but not exclusive to this subgenus. Within Laparocerus , the same plough-like structure is present in Laparocerus (Purpuranius) calvus , and to some extent in Laparocerus (Atlantis) clavatus . It is also known from other weevil genera.