Rhopalapion celatum Giusto, 2021

Giusto, Carlo, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the genus Rhopalapion Schilsky, 1906 (Coleoptera Apionidae) with description of Rhopalapion celatum n. sp. from the Turanian Region, Zootaxa 4908 (1), pp. 41-65 : 56-61

Rhopalapion celatum Giusto n. sp.

( Figs. 8–9 , 12 , 21–24 , 30–34 , 38–40 , 45–48 , 54–58 )

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:775066B0-A7C9-443B-83A7-B161E061040E

Type locality. Pâsârgâd : vicinity tomb of Cyrus (Fars Province, Iran) .

Diagnosis. A Rhopalapion species differing from R. longirostre in the following combination of characters: male protibiae unarmed; rostrum, in both sexes, on average, stouter (Lr/Wmsr: ♁ 3.38–4.72 [4.00], ♀ 4.70–10.72 [9.00]); mesorostral dilatation, in dorsal view rounded, just perceptible; prorostrum with straight sides slightly narrowing from mesorostral dilatation to apex (♁) or almost perfectly cylindrical (♀); prothorax, on average, just transverse (Lp/Wp: ♁ 0.89–1.00 [0.95], ♀ 0.86–1.00 [0.96]); disc fairly strongly and densely punctate with punctures round, never confluent to form striolae , interspaces shiny; elytra, in dorsal view, elongate in outline, with weakly rounded sides, almost sub-parallel; male meso- and metatibiae with well developed, blunt and oblique apical mucro; different shape of genitalia, in particular, tegmen with longer apical membranous lobes, subrectangular, not folded at base, separated by a deep median notch; suprafenestral sclerites with 2–6 long outer setae and 1 shorter inner seta (occasionally 0).

Type material. Holotype (♁): IRAN — Fars Province: S-Iran: Prov. Fars Pasargad / vic. tomb of Cyrus 30°11’42”N / 53°10’06”E 1,870 m 27.IV. / 2010 leg. A. Skale (31) (MNHN—registration number 1676) . Paratypes (126 ♁♁, 93 ♀♀): ARMENIA — Erevan Province: Caucasus / Erivan / Horvath 1893 (1 ♁ ZMHN) ; Erivan / 1.VI.76 // D. Ganglb. (1 ♁, 1 ♀ ZMHN) ;— Vayots Dzor Province: ARMENIA – Vayot Dzor reg. / Noravank – m 1461 / 39.40.93 N 45.11.11 E / 23.VI.2005 – E. Colonnelli (1 ♀ CG) . AZERBAIJAN — Lankaran District: 38°42’N / 48°24’E / Talysh Mts / NE Gosmalyan / 16 VI 2012 / leg. R. Królik 1340 m (1 ♁ MW) . IRAN — Alborz Province: Iraq [error]: / Keredj // B.M. 1948–496. // Bred at Kew from / seeds of Althaea sp. (5 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀ BMNH; 2 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ MNHN); Iran. Alborz, Taleghan , Sad / N: 27°11’45.4” / E: 50°38’2.5” / H: 1715m / 10th May 2015 / leg. E. Sanaei St 1 (1 ♀ ES) ;— Fars Province: S-Iran: Prov. Fars Pasargad / vic. tomb of Cyrus 30°11’42”N / 53°10’06”E 1,870 m 27.IV. / 2010 leg. A. Skale (31) (2 ♁♁, 1 ♀ AS; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ BMNH; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ CG; 1 ♀ MNHN); IRAN mer. / FARS / Kuhhâ-ye Zâgros Mts. / Michael Kođťál leg. // Shiraz / 1,850 m / N29°40.9’ E52°25.9’ / 5.v.2008 (1 ♁, 1 ♀ MK) ; IRAN mer. / FARS / Kuhhâ-ye Zâgros Mts. / Michael Kođťál leg. // Shul pr. Shiraz / 2100 m / N29°58.6’ E 52°10.7’ / 15.v.2013 // Althaea sp. (3 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀ CG; 14 ♁♁, 6 ♀♀ MK); S-Iran: Prov. Fars vic. / Qualat village 29°48’13”N / 52°19’11”E 2,000 –2,150 m / 28.IV.2010 leg. A. Skale (33) (1 ♁ AS; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ CG);— Lorestan Province: IRAN: Lorestan / 15 km SW Dorud / 8.V.2008 G. Sama (1 ♁ CG) ; Ghale-Mo / nar // coll. Escalera / Perse, 1899 // Museum Paris / ex Coll. / R. Oberthur (1 ♁, 1 ♀ MNHN) ;— Markazi Province: IRAN occ. / MARKAZI / Kuhhâ-ye Zâgros Mts. / Michael Kođťál leg. // Arak / 1,900 m / N34°03.2’ E49°42.9 ’ / 1.v.2006 (1 ♁ MK) ;— Razavi Khorasan Province: Khorasan / Kűh-e-Sorkh (West) / 40km N Bardeskan (Pass) / 28.5.200 8 1,800 –1,900 m / leg. Mühle (8 ♁♁, 10 ♀♀ CGE) [teste C. Germann];— Tehran Province: Teheran / 5.XI.74 / Kerim // Ex. Musaeo / Desbrochers, 1914 / Museum Paris (1 ♁ MNHN; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ MSNG); N-Iran: Prov. Tehran Karaj / university of agriculture / 35°47’97”N 51°00’25”E 1,360 m / 30.IV.2010 leg. A. Skale (37) (1 ♁ AS) ; PERSIA / Tehran / vi. 1936 / A.C. Trott / damaging / hollyhocks, N° 7 // Pres. by / Imp. Inst. Ent. / B.M. 1936–514 (5 ♁♁, 1 ♀ BMNH) ;— West Azerbaijan Province: Iran / Azerbaidjan / M. Descamps rec. // Rezaiyeh / 23 24 – IV – 1964 // Museum Paris / 1968 / Col. A. Hoffmann (1 ♁ MNHN) . IRAQ — Kurdistan: IQ-Kurd.: Sulaimaniyah, Pira Magrun c. 900 m / c. 20 km N Sulaimamiyah / 25.iv.2014 M.I. Russell (4 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀ MR; 2 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ CG) . KAZAKHSTAN — Jambyl Region : Syr Darja Gebt. 16 / Tal Talass Výl. / Fischer u. Willberg (1 ♁ MW) ;— Turkistan Region: Baydibek Distr.: West Tien-Shan / Karatu Mts. / Bajzhansaj / 26–27.V.1990 / V. Karasjov (1 ♁ CG; 1 ♀ MW) . KYRGYZSTAN — Chuy Region : Kyrgyzstan: Chüy r . / 42°41’N / 75°53’E 1350 m / ca 50 km E of Tokmok / 13.06.200 3 / Roman Królik leg. (2 ♁♁, 1 ♀ CG; 6 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ MW); Kyrgyzstan / 42°41’N / 75°53’E / ca 50 km E of Tokmok / (prov. Chüy) / 13.06.200 3 / Roland Dobosz leg. (1 ♁ MW) ;— Sughd Region: Kirgizia mer. occ. / Turkestan Mts. / M. Košťál lgt. // Vorukh p. Isfara 5 km E / m 1,700 / 10.vi.1987 (1 ♁, 1 ♀ MK) . SYRIA — Hama Governatorate: Syria occ. / Jabal an Nuşayrîyah Mts. / Michael Kođťál leg. // Maşyâf env. / 400 m / N35°06.6’ E36°25.8’ / 15.iv.2009 (1 ♁, 1 ♀ MK) . TURKEY — Black Sea: Amasya 24–26.5. / 420/ 900 m // 1970 Türkei / W. Wittmer (1 ♁ MW) ; Turquie d’Asie / Amasia [= Amasya] (7 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ MNHN) ; Turkey: Gümüşhane: / W of Kelkit: 5 km to / Şiran 14.VI.2009 / F. Angelini leg. (1 ♁, 1 ♀ AS; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ BMNH; 8 ♁♁, 12 ♀♀ CG; 2 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ CMNC; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ FS; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ MK; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ MNHN; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ MR; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ MSNG; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ MW; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ RCA; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ ZMHB); TR (Bayburt) – m 1,675 / = 5 km NE of Örence / 40.09.18 N 40.24.44 E / 7.VI.2003 E. Colonnelli (1 ♁, 1 ♀ EC) ;— Central Anatolia: Althea / Turquie / Felahieh (Kayseri) / 22-VI-1966 / G. Remaudiere (4 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ MNHN) ; TR – road 260 / 73 km E Kayseri / 11.VI.2007 Tronci (1 ♀ EC) ; Turchia / Göreme / 19-VII-1988 / F. Sacco leg. (2 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀ FS) ; Turkey 38°37’N / 34°52’E / Ortahisar / nr. Göreme / prov. Nevşehir / 17– 19.06.2000 / Roland Dobosz leg. (2 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ MW) ; TR (Yozgat) – m 1,520 / ~ 7 km NNW of Yozgat / 39°49’48”N 34°44’63”E / 12.VII.2007 – E. Colonnelli (1 ♁, 1 ♀ CG); Turchia / Yozgat / 9-VII-1975 / F. Sacco legit (1 ♁, 2 ♀♀ FS); Turchia Yozgat E25 / 62 km E Kirikkale / m 750 9-VII-1975 / F. Sacco legit (2 ♁♁, 1 ♀ CG);— Eastern Anatolia Region : Turcia (Erzincan) / ad Refahiye / 1,300 m 18.VI.1994 / leg. A. Warchalowski (1 ♀ MW); TR (Erzincan) – m 1,900 / 15 km W Aşkale / 39.50.22N 40.34.25E / 6.VI.2002 – E. Colonnelli (2 ♁♁ CG); TR (Erzincan) – m 1,450, near Pelitli / 39°35’07” N 39°56’67” E / 10.VII.2007 – E. Colonnelli (1 ♁, 1 ♀ EC) ; TR (Erzincan) – Alpköy / 15 km N Keman – m 1,150 / 39.37.32N 39.10.40E / 12.V.2000 – E. Colonnelli (1 ♁ EC) ; Turkey (prov. Tunceli) / 39°11’N / 39°29’E / 10 km NW of Tunceli / 18.06.200 2 / Roland Dobosz leg. (1 ♀ MW) ; Turkey (prov. Malatya) / 38°12’N / 37°55’E / 12 km NE of Doganşehir / 01.06.200 2 / Roland Dobosz leg. (1 ♁ MW) ;— Mediterranean Region: S Turkey 16.5.199 0 / vil. Antakia: 1,000 m / Amanus Mts. / lg. A. Warchalowski (2 ♁♁, 1 ♀ CG; 2 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ MW); Turcia (Hatay) / Amanus Mts. 1,000 m / ad Belen 15.5.199 3 / leg. A. Warchalowski (1 ♁ MW) ;— Southeastern Anatolia Region: Turkey (prov. Mardin) / 37°21’N / 40°51’E 1115 m / Hop Geçidi / 8 km NE of Mardin / 04– 05.06.2002 / Roland Dobosz leg. (1 ♁, 1 ♀ MW) . UZBEKISTAN — Samarkand Region : Uzbekistan: Serawshan / Aman-Kutan 2,000 m / 1.06.199 6 S. Bajdak leg. (1 ♁ CG).

Etymology. The name—from the Latin adjective “celatus”, hidden—refers to the discovery of this species found “hidden” in many collections under the name Rhopalapion longirostre ( Olivier, 1807) .

Description (Ƌ ♀). Lb: ♁ 2.54–3.65 mm (3.41 mm) [3.03 mm], ♀ 2.66–3.87 mm [3.07 mm]. Body integument black; apical tibial mucrones, coxae and trochanters dark brown to piceous. Body scales narrowly triangular with truncate apex ( Fig. 12 ); only scales on rostrum, forehead, antennae, median areas of metaventrite, ventrite 1 and ventrite 5 and on protibiae more or less piliform with more or less pointed apex.

Male rostrum as in Figs. 21–22 ; in dorsal view, mesorostral dilatation rounded, sometimes just perceptible; prorostrum with straight sides slightly narrowing from mesorostral dilatation forward; in profile, rostrum distinctly and regularly curved; Lr: 0.78–1.20 mm (1.13 mm) [0.95 mm]; Lpr: 0.54–0.83 mm (0.76 mm) [0.65 mm]; Lmtr: 0.21–0.39 mm (0.38 mm) [0.31 mm]; Wmsr: 0.20–0.29 mm (0.25 mm) [0.24 mm]; Lr/Wmsr: 3.38–4.72 (4.52) [4.00]; Lr/Lp: 1.22–1.51 (1.41) [1.32]; Lb/Lr: 2.86–3.45 (3.02) [3.18]. Female rostrum as in Figs. 23–24 ; in dorsal view, prorostrum with parallel sides, not widened apically; Lr: 1.41–2.32 mm [1.84 mm]; Lpr: 1.05–1.78 mm [1.37 mm]; Lmtr: 0.36–0.60 mm [0.47 mm]; Wmsr: 0.18–0.25 mm [0.20 mm]; Lr/Wmsr: 4.70–10.72 [9.00]; Lr/Lp: 2.04– 2.80 [2.44]; Lb/Lr: 1.46–2.05 [1.69]. Forehead strongly, densely punctate; punctures round, 22–27 µm in diameter, separated by less than one third of their diameter, never confluent to form striolae ; interspaces shiny. Antennae ( Figs. 30–31 ) inserted at basal 0.26–0.34 (0.34) [0.31] (♁) or 0.22–0.28 (0.25) (♀) of rostrum; La: ♁ 0.85–1.22 mm (1.17 mm) [1.02 mm], ♀ 1.06–1.47 mm [1.25 mm]; Lc: ♁ 0.31–0.47 mm (0.42 mm) [0.37 mm], ♀ 0.30–0.46 mm [0.38 mm]; La/Lpr: ♁ 1.33–1.75 (1.54) [1.56], ♀ 0.77–1.07 [0.90]; La/Lc: ♁ 2.51–3.03 (2.79) [2.77], ♀ 2.79–3.73 [3.22].

Prothorax ( Figs. 8–9 ) just transverse, very rarely isodiametric, widest at middle; disc fairly strongly, densely punctate; punctures round, 20–27 µm in diameter, separated by less than one third of their diameter, never confluent to form striolae , interspaces shiny; Lp: ♁ 0.60–0.88 mm (0.80 mm) [0.72 mm], ♀ 0.62–0.94 mm [0.75 mm]; Wp: ♁ 0.63–0.91 mm (0.85 mm) [0.76 mm], ♀ 0.66–0.95 mm [0.77 mm]; Lp/Wp: ♁ 0.89–1.00 (0.94) [0.95], ♀ 0.86–1.00 [0.96]. Scutellum subquadrate to slightly longer than wide; microreticulate, but rather bright. Elytra ( Figs. 8–9 ), in dorsal view, with weakly rounded sides, almost sub-parallel, weakly widening backwards; on elytral disc, intervals 3.5–4.0 times as wide as striae; Le: ♁ 1.80–2.62 mm (2.39 mm) [2.12 mm], ♀ 1.90–2.77 mm [2.17 mm]; We: ♁ 0.97–1.49 mm (1.33 mm) [1.16 mm], ♀ 1.01–1.50 mm [1.17 mm]; Le/We: ♁ 1.71–2.01 (1.80) [1.84], ♀ 1.77–2.05 [1.86]. Legs with femora robust, rather swollen, 2.55–2.77 (♁), 3.04–3.07 (♀) times as long as wide; male protibiae ( Fig. 32 ) unarmed; male meso- and metatibiae ( Figs. 33–34 ) with well developed, blunt, oblique apical mucro; tarsi moderately elongate; 1 st segment 1.75–2.13 times as long as wide; 2 nd 1.10–1.40 times as long as wide, 0.75–0.82 times as long as 1 st; 3 rd 0.92–1.08 times as long as wide, with lobes well-developed, 0.92–1.18 times as long as 2 nd; onychium 1.50–1.81 times as long as 2nd segment.

Male sternite IX as in Fig. 38 . Tegmen ( Figs. 39–40 ) with apical membranous lobes long, subrectangular, not folded at base, separated by deep median notch; suprafenestral sclerites with 2–6 long outer setae (usually 5) and 1 shorter inner seta (occasionally 0). Penis ( Figs. 45–48 ), in ventral view, symmetrical, with parallel sides from base to ostium then quite sharply constricted to apex. Female genitalia as in Figs. 54–58 .

Remarks. Except for some cases, the specimens examined come from separate populations represented by a few, or sometimes, single specimens. Understandably, therefore, such a fragmented sample does not allow significant conclusions to be drawn about inter- and intrapopulational variability of this species. Despite this, it is possible to observe that southernmost populations, in particular those from Iran, have larger body and vestiture composed of lighter and denser scales. Elytra, in dorsal view, are parallel in western populations and slightly rounded in the remaining ones.

Distribution. Palaearctic Region: Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan ( Fig. 64 ).

Bionomy. The little information we have about the bionomy of this species has been inferred from studied material and from some Michael Košťál’s direct observations (pers. comm.). Rhopalapion celatum n. sp. seems to prefer xeric or xerothermophilous habitats from low elevations, 400 m a.s.l., to mountains up to 2,150 m a.s.l. Adults are active from April to July on plants of Alcea sp. ( Fig. 61 ) apparently very similar to A. digitata .

Figures

FIGURE 64. Southeastern distribution of Rhopalapion longirostre in the Palaearctic Region and distribution of Rhopalapion celatum n. sp. (? = no exact locality).

FIGURES 6–9. Habitus. 6–7: Rhopalapion longirostre, 6: ♁, 7: ♀, both from Turkey: Istanbul.—8–9: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., 8: ♁ holotype, 9: ♀ paratype, both from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus. Scale bar: 2 mm.

FIGURES 10–12. Dorsal scales. 10–11: Rhopalapion longirostre, 10: ♁, from Turkey: Istanbul; 11: ♁, from Afghanistan: Goudgé Konti—12: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., ♁ paratype, from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus.

FIGURES 13–24. Head in dorsal and lateral view. 13–20: Rhopalapion longirostre, 13–14: ♁, 15–16: ♀, both from Turkey: Is- tanbul; 17–18: ♁, 19–20: ♀, both from Israel: Ha Yarden Park.—21–24: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., 21–22: ♁ paratype, 23–24: ♀ paratype, both from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus. Scale bar: 2 mm.

FIGURES 25–34. Antenna and apex of male pro-, meso- and metatibiae. 25–29: Rhopalapion longirostre, 25, 27–29: ♁, 26: ♀, both from Turkey: Istanbul.—30–34: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., 30, 32–34: ♁ paratype, 31: ♀ paratype, both from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus.

FIGURES 35–40. Sternite IX and tegmen in dorsal and lateral view. 35–37: Rhopalapion longirostre, ♁, from Turkey: Istan- bul.—38–40: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., ♁ paratype, from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus.

FIGURES 41–48. Penis and penal apex in ventral and lateral view. 41–44: Rhopalapion longirostre, from Turkey: Istanbul.— 45–48: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., holotype, from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus.

FIGURES 49–58. Sternite VIII, gonocoxites in ventral and lateral view, styli and spermatheca. 49–53: Rhopalapion longirostre, from Turkey: Istanbul.—54–58: Rhopalapion celatum n. sp., paratype, from Iran: vic. tomb of Cyrus.

FIGURES 60–63. Habitat and host plant of Rhopalapion celatum n. sp. 60: Iran: Shul pr. Shiraz.—61–63: Alcea sp. (Photos M. Košťál).