Cionus longinasus, Caldara & Košťál, 2023

Caldara, Roberto & Košťál, Michael, 2023, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Afrotropical Species Of The Weevil Genus Cionus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Zootaxa 5288 (1), pp. 1-98 : 60-62

32. Cionus longinasus sp. n. ( Figs 32a–f )

Type locality. Katberg Pass (Eastern Cape, South Africa) .

Type series. Holotype, male: “ SOUTH AFRICA EASTERN CAPE c. Katberg Mts. Michael Košťál leg. / Katberg Pass env. 1500 m S 32°27.5’ E 26°39.4’ 1.xii.2018 ” ( NMPC) . Paratypes: same data as holotype (15, MKCS) ; “ SOUTH AFRICA, CP, Katberg Pass , 1200m 32.29S 26.41E 23.xi.1988 R. Oberprieler /collected on Buddleja sp. ” (27, SANC) ; “ SOUTH AFRICA, CP, Katberg nr Seymour , 32.33S 26.46E 16.xi.1984, S. Neser / on Buddleja salviifolia ” (1, SANC) ; “ SOUTH AFRICA EASTERN CAPE c. Katberg Mts. Michael Košťál leg. / Katberg Pass env. 1300 m S 32°28.1’ E 26°40.3’ 26.xi.2018 ” (28, MKCS) ; “ SOUTH AFRICA EASTERN CAPE c. Katberg Mts. Michael Košťál leg. / Seymour env. 5 km N 1200 m S32°29.5’ E 26°47.2’ 30.xi.2018 / Buddleja sp. ” (1, MKCS) . “ SOUTH AFRICA EASTERN CAPE c. Winterberge Mts. Michael Košťál leg. / Seymour env. 5 km N 1200 m S32°29.5’ E 26°47.2’ 27.xi.2017 ” (1, MKCS) ; “ South Africa, CP, Hogsback, 32.35S 27.05E, i.1979, V.C. Moran T. Southwood / from Buddleja salviifolia ” (4, RCCM; 11, SANC); “ Kubusie Forest, Stutterheim , Cape, RSA / 2–IV–83, A.J. Duke leg. [under the card]” (1, MCNM) ; “ S. Afr.; Cape Prov. Stutterheim 7.XI.1958; J. A. Nagle” (2, TMSA) .

Diagnosis. Rostrum moderately elongated, at base slightly concave. Pronotum conical, with four transversely arranged protuberances emphasized by a tuft of erect scales, median ones smaller. Scales of ventrites elongated, in male slightly more elongated, hair-like at midline. Claws asymmetrical in male.

Description. Male ( Figs 32a–b ). Body: short, globose. Head: rostrum elongated (Rl/Rw 4.64–4.71, Rl/Pl 1.32– 1.38), dark brown; in lateral view weakly curved, of same width from base to antennal insertion, then tapered to apex, at base slightly concave; in dorsal view almost parallel-sided, distinctly striate-punctate, with subtle elongated carina in midline, from base to near apex with moderately dense, subrecumbent to recumbent, elongated (l/w 6–8), intermixed grayish and light brown scales. Head between eyes moderately narrow, half as wide as rostrum at base, with two tufts of erect scales around eyes. Eyes flat. Antennae reddish with dark brown club, inserted just behind middle; scape long (l/w 12); funicle distinctly shorter than scape, S1 more robust, slightly longer than S2, 2.5× as long as wide, S2 2.5 × as long as wide, S3–5 slightly longer than wide; club oblongly oval, shorter than funicle, pubescent. Pronotum: dark brown, with moderately irregular, very small, indistinct, very shallow punctures, completely hidden by recumbent, dense, elongated (l/w 5–8), grayish and light brown scales; conical, distinctly transverse (Pw/Pl 1.73–1.77), widest at base, with rectilinear sides, weakly convex on disc, with four transversely arranged protuberances emphasized by tufts of erect scales, median ones smaller. Prosternum: anterior margin distinctly emarginated. Scutellar shield: heart-shaped, densely covered with elongated, grayish scales, similar to those on elytra. Elytra: dark brown, moderately globose, short (El/Ew 1.10–1.16), widest at middle, distinctly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.80–1.84), humeri distinct, sides weakly rounded, moderately convex on disc; interstriae flat, almost straight except interstria 3 sinuate, slightly convex at base, with slightly irregular, very small, indistinct, very shallow punctures completely hidden by dense, recumbent, mostly grayish scales, and a few light brown intermixed scales, without distinct spots; striae not visible, punctures moderately deep, 2/3 as wide as interstriae, intervals between punctures situated at same level as interstriae. Venter: mesosternal process moderately convex, very slightly emarginated. Metasternum densely covered with distinctly elongated grayish scales being hair-like in middle. Abdomen with somewhat irregular, very small, indistinct, very shallow punctures hidden by moderately dense, elongated, grayish scales, slightly more elongated, hair-like in middle of all ventrites, denser only in apical half of V2; V1 1.75× longer than V2, V1+2 4.9× longer than V3+4, latter ones 0.9× as long as V5. Legs: densely covered with elongated, grayish scales; femora black, with robust sharp teeth; tibiae brown; tarsi brown, onychium as long as T1–3 combined; claws asymmetrical, one claw 2/3 as long as other. Penis: Figs 32d–f , its body subparallel-sided, tip blunted. Flagellum robust, long, bifurcated at base.

Female. Rostrum longer (Rl/Rw 5.55–5.63; Rl/Pl 1.60–1.66) ( Fig. 32c ), claws symmetrical, all scales on ventrites of same shape.

Variability. Length 3.8–4.3 mm. The color of the dorsal vestiture varies from grayish to pale brown.

Etymology The name of the species refers to the distinctly long rostrum especially in the female.

Remarks. This species is the largest among species related to C. ingratus . Apart from the size, due to its dorsal vestiture it seems more similar to C. concavifrons , from which it clearly differs by the shorter rostrum, which is less concave at its base, and more distinct humeri.

Biological notes. In the Katberg Mountains, this species was collected by R. Oberprieler from Buddleja salviifolia .

Distribution. South Africa (Eastern Cape).

Figures

FIGURES 31–32. FIGURE 31. Cionus concavifrons sp. n. 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. FIGURE 32. Cionus longinasus sp. n. 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.