Mecinus pipistrellus (Marseul)

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 : 63-64

35. Mecinus pipistrellus (Marseul)

Figs 33 , 84 , 104 , 134

Gymnetron pipistrellus Marseul, 1871: 386 . Reitter, 1907: 17. Stöcklein, 1950: 280.

Mecinus pipistrellus (Marseul) . Caldara, 2001: 183.

Gymnetron concavirostre Stöcklein, 1950: 279 (syn. n.).

Type locality. Bône ( Algeria).

Type series. We did not find syntypes of this taxon described from Bône ( Algeria). However in some historical collections at the MNHN we examined numerous specimens identified as M. pipistrellus which corresponded well with the original description .

Synonyms. Gymnetron concavirostre was described from two specimens collected at Kanakin ( Iraq), without mention of their sex, which are preserved in Frey's collection ( NHMB). After studying them (two females), we have concluded that they are synonymous with M. pipistrellus . It is noteworthy that Stöcklein, although reporting to have studied one specimen identified as M. pipistrellus , stated that his species is similar to M. marmota (synonymous with M. vulpes ), but did not list distinctive characters for these two species.

Redescription. Male. Length 1.9 mm. Body: moderately long, oval, stout ( Fig. 33 ). Rostrum: black with reddish apical half, very short (Rl/Pl 0.48), subconical; in lateral view straight, distinctly tapered from base to apex; in dorsal view with sides distinctly tapered from base to apex, scrobes not visible, distinctly striate-punctured in basal two thirds, with wide sulcus along midline, with suberect to erect, dense, white and brown, very long (l/w 15– 20), seta-like scales to near apex. Head: frons slightly narrower than rostrum at base, with shallow fovea; eyes weakly convex. Antennae: completely reddish, inserted at middle of rostrum; scape short, 2.5x longer than wide; funicle slightly longer than scape, with segment 1 1.2x longer than wide, distinctly stouter and 1.5x than segment 2, which is moderately transverse, segments 3–5 distinctly transverse; club moderately long, oval, with segment 1 almost glabrous. Pronotum: reddish brown, with sparse and irregular punctures, intervals between punctures partly wider than punctures, moderately shining and slightly rugose, somewhat visible between subrecumbent to erect, moderately dense, white (more numerous at sides) and brown, very long (l/w 20–40), seta-like scales; moderately transverse (Pw/Pl 1.22), with moderately rounded sides, with weakly prominent apical constriction, widest at basal third, weakly convex. Elytra: reddish with blackish brown patch between median third and apical third of interstriae 4 and 5; moderately long (El/Ew 1.30), at base moderately concave, moderately wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.33), with moderately rounded sides from base, widest in basal third, moderately convex on disc; interstriae hardly visible between dense, whitish (more numerous at sides) and light brown, very long (l/w 20– 50), seta-like scales, whitish scales recumbent to subrecumbent (2.0–3.0x longer than width of interstria), light brown scales recumbent to erect (2.5–5x longer than width of interstria); striae hardly visible, one third narrower than interstriae, with a row of whitish scales, as long as shorter ones covering interstriae, but slightly thinner. Legs: stout, with suberect to erect, moderately dense, whitish, seta-like scales, which are partly slightly longer than width of tibia; femora reddish, unarmed; tibiae reddish, short, apex of outer surface of protibiae distinctly directed outward, with denticles stout and black as well as that of mesotibiae, that of metatibiae weakly directed outward, anterior margin of protibiae with apical part distinctly narrowed and apex almost at right angle; unci black, moderately stout, all equal in length, those of protibiae recurved backward; tarsi reddish, tarsomere 1 1.3x longer than wide, tarsomere 2 about as long as wide, segment 3 not bilobed, as wide as the segment 2 and of same shape, onychium longer than tarsomeres 1–3 taken together; claws dark brown, nearly equal in length, fused in basal half. Venter: metasternum dark brown, clearly visible between recumbent to suberect, sparse, whitish, long, seta-like scales; mesothoracic epimera and meso- and metathoracic episterna with sparse, whitish, long, seta-like scales and wide, fringed scales; abdomen reddish brown, with sparse big punctures, which are clearly visible between recumbent to suberect, sparse, whitish to light brown, long, seta-like scales; ventrites length ratio 1–2/3–4 1.84. Penis: fig. 134.

Female. As in male except rostrum weakly longer (Rl/Pl 0.53) ( Fig. 84 ), protibiae with broader apex, unci smaller, almost undistinguishable from apical teeth ( Fig. 104 ). Sternite 8 and spermatheca: as in M. simus ( Figs 151 and 166 ).

Variability. Length 1.8–2.2 mm. Sometimes the longitudinal median sulcus of the rostrum and the frontal fovea are lacking. In some specimens the dorsal long erect seta-like scales are recumbent for the most part (like a “combed” specimen). The colour of the pronotal integument varies from reddish to blackish brown. Sometimes the rostrum is almost completely reddish.

Remarks and comparative notes. Due to the tarsal shape, this species is similar to M. vulpes , from which it differs by the smaller size, the teeth of the outer external apical margin of tibiae black, the apex of protibiae especially in female almost as wide as half of the tibial length, the posterior margin of the eyes not abruptly raised, the pronotum and elytra moderately convex.

Biological notes. No data are available.

Distribution. Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iraq.

Non-type specimens examined. ALGERIA: Aïn Sefra , V.1987, Biki leg. (1, JSCP) ; Beni-Abbes, Saoura, Sahara , 18.V.1965, Mateu leg. (1, MNHN) ; Biskra, Bonnaire leg. (1, MNHN) ; Bou-Saada , IV.1908 (2, MNHN) ; Ghardaia, 1929, Alluaud & Jeannel legg. (2, MNHN) ; Tondu , Ain-Touta (1, MNHN) ; Tozeur, 20.VI.1921, Dumont leg. (6, MNHN) . TUNISIA: Gafsa, Metlaoui , II.1921, Dumont leg. (1, MNHN) . SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh, Damman km 85 , 26.IV.1976, Wittmer & Büttiker legg. (1, NHMB) . ISRAEL: Negev , SE Shizzafon, 15.II.1987, Schawaller & Schmalfuss legg. (1, DEIM; 1, SMNS) .

Figures

FIGURES 28–36. Habitus of (28) Mecinus baridioides; (29) M. comosus; (30) M. simus; (31) M. pirazzolii; (32) M. vulpes; (33) M. pipistrellus; (34) M. collaris; (35) M. sicardi; (36) M. janthinus. Not to the same scale.

FIGURES 78–87. Rostrum in lateral and dorsal view of (78) Mecinus comosus, male; (79) idem, female; (80) M. collaris, female; (81–82) M. simus, female; (83) M. pirazzolii, female; (84) M. pipistrellus, female;; (85) M. vulpes, female; (86) M. sicardi, male; (87) idem, female. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 98–107. Male right protibia in anterior view of (98) Mecinus pascuorum; (99) M. tanaiticus; (100) M. comosus; (101) M. simus; (102) M. pirazzolii; (103) M. vulpes; (104) M. pipistrellus. Male right profemur of (105) M. pascuorum; (106) M. ictericus. Right antenna of (107) M. paratychioides.

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.

FIGURES 144–156. Sternite 8 of (144) Mecinus pascuorum; (145) M. caucasicus; (146) M. marina; (147) M. reichei; (148) M. humeralis; (149) M. circulatus; (150) M. pyraster; (151) M. simus; (152) M. collaris; (153) M. janthinus; (154) M. lixoides; (155) M. sicardi; (156) M. heydenii. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 157–171. Spermatheca of (157) Mecinus pascuorum; (158) M. caucasicus; (159) M. haemorrhoidalis; (160) M. labilis; (161) M. marina; (162) M. elongatus; (163) M. reichei; (164) M. circulatus; (165) M. pyraster; (166) M. simus; (167) M. comosus; (168) M. lixoides; (169) M. janthinus; (170) M. heydenii; (171) M. collaris. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.