Paralicus abnormis, Davis & Engel, 2007

Davis, S. R. & Engel, M. S., 2007, Cossonine weevils in Dominican amber (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (2), pp. 803-820 : 803-820

Paralicus abnormis nov.sp. ( Figs 32-35 )

H o l o t y p e: USNM 505350 (Woodruff #9799), amber, Dominican Republic, Early Miocene (Burdigalian).

D i a g n o s i s:Bodysomewhatdorso-ventrallycompressed.Compound eyes situated basally on rostrum ( Figs 32-33 ), reduced ( Fig. 33 ) and composed of approximately ten facets, distinctly convex and ovoid. Head constricted dorsally behind compound eyes. Rostrum long ( Fig. 32 ), slightly longer than length of pronotum. Antennal scape long ( Fig. 32 ), inserted at apical one-third of rostrum and reaching anterior margin of compound eye.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Total body length (including rostrum) ca. 2.52 mm; maximal width ca. 0.48 mm; elytral length ca. 0.96 mm. Integument dark brown to black (as preserved). Body more or less cylindrical, somewhat dorso-ventrally compressed. Compound eyes at base of rostrum and generally reduced ( Figs 32-33 ), composed approximately ten facets (although a couple more may be present), distinctly bulging, slightly ovoid, length approximately 1.5✕ width; interocular distance approximately equal to width of rostrum at mid-length in dorsal view. Rostrum puncticulate and with sparse, short, scale-like setae; rostrum subequal to or slightly longer than length of pronotum; ventral margin broadly and uniformly curved along entire length in lateral view; rostrum width gradually widened slightly apically in dorsal view. Antenna inserted after mid-length of rostrum at apical one-third of length; scrobe long, extending just before compound eye; scape nearly reaching anterior margin of compound eye; scape long, slightly more than one-half length of rostrum; funicle 7-segmented, narrow basally, gradually enlarging to a rather indistinct, glabrous club. Vertex glabrous, punticulate, finely crenulate and rugose. Head distinctly constricted dorsally behind compound eyes. Pronotum more or less glabrous, length subequal to posterior width; anterior portion narrower than posterior portion; moderate, shallow punctures present, punctures irregularly spaced, separated by distance 0.5-2✕ puncture diameter; lateral margins broadly rounded. Prosternum shallowly depressed; moderately punctate, punctures separated by distance 0.5✕ puncture diameter; coxal positions depicted in figure 35. Scutellum small, ovoid. Elytra with sparse, fine setae, each with approximately 8-9 striae; punctures of elytral striae small and shallow, separated by distance approximately 1-2✕ puncture diameter; humeri subquadrate. Metasternum and abdominal ventrites punctate, punctures separated by distance 1- 2✕ puncture diameter. Femora widest slightly beyond mid-length and puncticulate; width of tibiae subequal along length, slightly expanded apically ( Fig. 34 ); apical tibial unci at outer angle small, approximately equal to or slightly longer than length of pretarsal claw; no other smaller denticles present apically.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet is the Latin word abnormis, meaning "deviating from the norm" and is a reference to peculiar development of the compound eye in this species.

C o m m e n t s: The compound eye is reduced in this fossil, typical of Paralicus , but

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the facets are very small and there appear to be slightly more than 10, which is abnormal relative to modern species.

Figures

Figs 29-38: Two species of Dryotribini, Dryotribus amplioculus nov.sp. (holotype, USNM 505329) and Paralicus abnormis nov.sp. (holotype, USNM 505350), and one of Proecini, Proeces longirostrum nov.sp. (holotype, USNM 502728). (29) dorsal oblique aspect of head and anterior pronotum of D. amplioculus; (30) protibia, profemur, protarsus, and pro-pretarsus of D. amplioculus; (31) ventrolateral oblique view of prothorax of D. amplioculus depicting position of procoxae; (32) lateral aspect of head of P. abnormis; (33) dorsal aspect of head of P. abnormis; (34) protibia, profemur, protarsus, and pro-pretarsus of P. abnormis; (35) ventral aspect of prothorax of P. abnormis depicting position of procoxae; (36) Lateral aspect of head of P. longirostrum; (37) protibia, profemur, protarsus, and pro-pretarsus of P. longirostrum; (38) dorsal oblique aspect of head of P. longirostrum. All drawn as preserved.