Mecinus kaemmereri Wagner, 1927

Caldara, Roberto & Fogato, Valter, 2013, Systematics of the weevil genus <i> Mecinus </ i> Germar, 1821 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). I. Taxonomic treatment of the species, Zootaxa 3654 (1), pp. 1-105 : 69

39. Mecinus kaemmereri Wagner

Figs 88 , 139

Mecinus kaemmereri Wagner, 1927: 96 . Toševski et al., 2011: 747.

Type locality. Monti Rossi ( Nicolosi , Sicily).

Type series. Wagner described M. kaemmereri from specimens collected on Monti Rossi near Nicolosi (Sicily) on Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill., and reported that this new species is very closely related to M. janthinus from which it differs by its bigger size, the more curved and longer rostrum in both sexes and antennae with stouter funicle and longer club. At NHMB (Frey's collection) we examined a syntype labelled: “ Sicilia, Mti. Rossi b., Nicolosi a. Aetna, V.26 / Mecinus Kämmereri, Wagner det.”.

Redescription. As in M. janthinus , except: body generally larger (length 3.3–6.0 mm), rostrum longer (Rl/Pl male 0.89–1.02; female 1.10–1.20) ( Fig. 88 ), in female with apical half less sculptured.

Variability. The rostrum varies somewhat in curvature in female, with the typical specimen having the rostrum distinctly more curved than the other examined specimens.

Remarks and comparative notes. It differs from M. janthinus and M. janthiniformis by the shape of the rostrum, which is longer, less sculptured and nearly straight in lateral view in its apical half especially in the female. Moreover, M. kaemmereri is usually larger than M. janthinus , to which it is more closely phylogenetically related than M. janthiniformis based on a molecular study (Toševski et al. 2011) and is probably a vicariant in Calabria and Sicily. Therefore the hypothesis by Toševski et al. (2011) that M. kaemmereri might be considered a subspecies of M. janthinus appears reasonable.

Biological notes. This species feeds only on Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. (C. Baviera pers. obs.), which is an endemic plant of central and southern Italy and Sicily.

Distribution. Italy (Calabria, Sicily).

Non-type specimens examined. ITALY: Calabria, Aspromonte, Gambarie , 1565 m, 2.VII.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (2, CBCM) ; Calabria, Aspromonte, S. Stefano , 750 m, 2.VII.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (1, CBCM) . ITALY (Sicily): Monti Peloritani, Antillo , 500 m, 29.V.2010, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (1, CBCM) ; Etna Nord, Piano Provenzana , 1600 m, 28.VI.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (20, CBCM) ; Etna Sud, Adrano, Contr. Marina , 1100 m, 12.VI.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (2, CBCM) ; Etna Sud, Adrano , 1270 m, 12.VI.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (2, CBCM) ; Etna Sud, Adrano, Osservatorio , 1750 m, 23.VI.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (7, CBCM) ; Etna Sud, Zafferana , 800 m, 23.VI.2011, on Linaria purpurea , Baviera leg. (2, CBCM) .

Figures

FIGURES 88–97. Rostrum in lateral view of (88) Mecinus kaemmereri, female; (89) M. setulosus, male; (90) M. janthinus, male; (91) idem, female; (92) M. barbarus, male; (93) idem, female; (94) M. dorsalis, male; (95) idem, female; (96) M. tavaresi, male; (97) idem, female. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 133–143. Penis in dorsal and lateral view of (133) Mecinus vulpes; (134) M. pipistrellus; (135) M. collaris; (136) M. lixoides; (137) M. sicardi; (138) M. janthiniformis; (139) M. barbarus; (140) M. janthinus; (141) M. heydenii; (143) M. tavaresi; (142) M. aubei. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.