Austromonticola inflatus Brown

Brown, Samuel D. J., 2017, Austromonticola, a new genus of broad-nosed weevil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from montane areas of New Zealand, ZooKeys 707, pp. 73-130 : 84-86

Austromonticola inflatus Brown sp. n. Fig. 13, 14, 29, 30, 31, 35, 33, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 106, 107, 115

Diagnosis.

Body size large, 8 mm in length. Rostrum with epifrons swollen (Fig. 33). Appressed scales on pronotum and elytra with metallic reflections. Females with ventrite 5 slightly emarginate and with median furrow (Fig. 106); elytra with sutural tubercle at top of elytral declivity.

Description.

Body length 6.98 mm to 8.72 mm (X‒ = 7.94 mm, s = 0.64, n = 8). Integument black. Dorsum densely covered with fine appressed scales coloured greyish blue to dark greyish blue, often with brassy or purplish metallic reflections. Femora and tibiae with appressed scales unicolorous, concolorous with elytral scales. Tarsi with integument blackish red to dark red. Rostrum. Length 1.29 mm to 1.72 mm (X‒ = 1.60 mm, s = 0.15, n = 8), width 0.89 mm to 1.18 mm (X‒ = 1.05 mm, s = 0.09, n = 8), length/width ratio 1.37 to 1.64 (X‒ = 1.53, s = 0.09, n = 8). Epifrons swollen (Fig. 33); appressed scales imbricate; setae piliform, decumbent, concolorous; median and lateral carinae not evident. Dorsal carinae arched over antennal insertions. Lateral area ventral of antennal insertions with fine setae and appressed scales. Antennae. Fig. 35. Scapes in repose reaching beyond hind margin of eyes; covered with appressed scales and setae. Funicular segments loosely articulated; segments 1 clavate, 1.2 times longer than 2; segments 2 clavate, about 2 times longer than 3; segments 3 to 5 clavate, getting progressively shorter; segments 6 and 7 subspherical. Pronotum. Length 1.68 mm to 2.26 mm (X‒ = 1.96 mm, s = 0.21, n = 7), width 2.63 mm to 3.62 mm (X‒ = 3.17 mm, s = 0.34, n = 7), length/width ratio 0.84 to 0.94 (X‒ = 0.89, s = 0.03, n = 7); in dorsal view widest in anterior 1/3, lateral margins evenly curved. Anterior margin entire, posterior margin straight. Disc in dorsal view with anterolateral and mediolateral impressions usually obscure, but occasionally pronounced; appressed scales imbricate; setae piliform, decumbent, concolorous. Postocular lobes moderately developed. Elytra. Length 4.60 mm to 6.19 mm (X‒ = 5.41 mm, s = 0.54, n = 7), width 2.63 mm to 3.62 mm (X‒ = 3.17 mm, s = 0.34, n = 7), length/width ratio 1.66 to 1.75 (X‒ = 1.71, s = 0.04, n = 7). Anterior margin curved posteriad in middle, with humeral angles rounded. Appressed scales imbricate. Setae piliform, semi-erect to decumbent, pale. Elytral interstriae 1 flat in males; produced into elongate tubercle in females. Apex in lateral view square in males, produced ventrad in females. Thoracic ventrites. Mesoventral process truncate. Metaventrite sparsely covered with appressed scales. Abdomen. Ventrites sparsely clothed with appressed scales. Apex of abdomen broadly rounded. Males with ventrite 1 strongly depressed medially; ventrite 5 flat. Female with subtriangular prominence on disc of ventrite 1; ventrite 4 with posterior margin curved anteriad in middle and posterior face glabrous (Figs 106, 107); ventrite 5 with median furrow and apical notch. Male genitalia. Figs 58-61. Hemisternites with spiculum relictum slender. Penis with apex narrowly rounded; ostial region normally developed, not strongly thickened. Endophallus with gonoporial sclerite with broad posterior lobes. Temones 0.59 times as long as pedon. Female genitalia. Figs 62-66. Distal gonocoxites stout, 1.3 times longer than high. Proximal gonocoxite with rods recurved distally. Bursa copulatrix stout; constricted anterior of proximal gonocoxite; sclerite large, pear-shaped. Sternite 8 broad, rounded at apex, membranous laterally.

DNA sequences.

COI. KX191461, KX191462. 28S. KX192043, KX192044, KX192045. ArgK. No sequences obtained. CAD. KX191187, KX191188.

Type material examined.

Holotype. Female (NZAC). Specimen pinned through right elytron; abdomen removed and mounted in DMHF on white card pinned below specimen, genitalia dissected, ventrites coated in gold for SEM; left protarsus broken at base of segment 1, right mesotarsus lacking claw segment. Labelled 'NEW ZEALAND CO / 1680 m / Hawkdun Range / 10 Dec 2013/ SDJ Brown’ [printed, cream card], 'On Chionohebe and under / stones close to / Chionohebe cushions / 44.788°S 169.994°E ' [printed, cream card], ' Irenimus taxonomy / and systematics / SDJ Brown / PhD Thesis 2012-2015 / IRE6389' [printed, cream card], 'HOLOTYPE / Austromonticola / inflatus / Brown 2017 ' [printed, red card]. Genomic DNA extract from enzyme digestion of abdomen: E336 (NZAC). CAD sequence KX191187; COI sequence KX191461; 28S sequence KX192043.

Paratypes. A total of 7 specimens (3 males, 4 females) designated as paratypes, bearing blue paratype label. Paratype specimens deposited in NHM, LUNZ, NZAC.

CO: Hawkdun Range [44°47.256'S, 169°59.694'E, R], 11 Dec 2013, Brown SDJ, 1730 m, On Hectorella cushion (NHM: 1); Hawkdun Range [44°47.28'S, 169°59.64'E, R], 10 Dec 2013, Brown SDJ, 1680 m, On Chionohebe and under stones close to Chionohebe cushions (NHM: 1, LUNZ: 2, NZAC: 1); Hawkdun Range [44°49.044'S, 169°59.922'E, R], 12 Dec 2013, Brown SDJ, 1720 m, On Hectorella cushion (LUNZ: 1, NZAC: 1).

Distribution.

Fig. 115. South Island: CO: Hawkdun Range.

Elevational range.

Label data: 1680 m to 1730 m (X‒ = 1696 m, s = 23, n = 8). Georeferenced data: 1684 m to 1716 m (X‒ = 1699 m, s = 11, n = 8).

Etymology.

From the Latin participle inflatus , 'swollen, distended’, in reference to the convex epifrons of this species; the species name is a participle.

Biology.

Specimens have been collected on Hectorella caespitosa Hook.f., 1864 and on and beside cushions of the snow hebe group (formerly placed in Chionohebe B.G.Briggs & Ehrend., 1976) of Veronica .