Smicronyx guineanus Voss, 1956

Haran, Julien, 2018, A review of the genus Smicronyx Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae) in tropical Africa, Zootaxa 4508 (2), pp. 267-287 : 283-284

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.9
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:47E77D58-680A-411E-884F-955EE996F42F
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5996818
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A72C87E1-FFB0-5F73-FF5C-CFB7A71E926A
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Smicronyx guineanus Voss, 1956
status

Treatment

Smicronyx guineanus Voss, 1956 View in CoL

Figs 2C View FIGURE 2 , 4G View FIGURE 4 , 5O View FIGURE 5

Smicronyx guineanus Voss, 1956: 628 View in CoL –629

Material examined. Burkina-Faso, Bobo-Dioulasso, 1956, in nest of birds (1♀, MNHN). Cameroun, Garoua , 26.xi.1974 (1♀, CBGP) . Chad, moyen chari, Fort Archambault Bakaré ou Soungoul , v.1904, J. Decorse leg. (1♂, MNHN) . Ethiopia, Wollo province, Kobbo & Waldia , 16.viii.1989, Striga hermonthica, C. Parker (3♂, 1♀, BMNH); “Asteromariam”, Tsedeke , 22.xi.1982, ex. Striga sp., Abate coll. (3♂, 1♀, BMNH). Gambia, Sololo , 8.x.1982, on Striga, S. Sagnia (2♂, 2♀, BMNH). Mali, Suigima, SB 179A, 14.1666 N, 7.2332 W, 17.viii. 2013, 160 m, aerial sampling helium balloons with glue trap, LMVR/NIAID/NIH (1♂, 2♀, NMNH) ; Suigima , SB178A, 14.1666 N, 7.2332 W, 17.viii. 2013, 120 m, aerial sampling helium balloons with glue trap, LMVR/NIAID/NIH (1♂, NMNH) ; Suigima , SB410A, 14.1666 N, 7.2332 W, 27.viii. 2014, 190 m, aerial sampling helium balloons with glue trap, LMVR/NIAID/NIH (1♂, NMNH) . Niger, Birni N’Konni , 14.ix.1985, Striga hermonthica, R. H. Markham (1♂, BMNH) ; Madarounfa , 11.x.1986, Striga aspera, K. van Elsen (1♀, BMNH) ; Magaria, 11.ix.1985, Striga gesnerioides, R. H. Markham (1♂, 2♀, BMNH); Maradi, 5.i.1986, Striga hermonthica, K. van Elsen (1♂, 3♀, BMNH); region of Zinder, from Maradi to Dungass, Mission Tilho , viii.1910, R. Gaillard leg. (1♀, MNHN) ; region of Zinder, Sultanat of Damaghèrim, Dungass, Mission Tilho , x.1910, R. Gaillard leg. (1♀, MNHN) ; Tabla , 15.ix.2017, M. Garba leg., on Striga hermonthica , JHAR00519_0101 (1♂, CBGP) ; no locality, x.1986 – ii.1987, ex. Striga hermonthica, K. van Eslen (4♂, 3♀, BMNH). Senegal, Dahra , 24.ix.1986, P. Bruneau de Miré leg., light trap (1♀, CBGP) ; Fatick, 9.x.2017, on Striga hermonthica parasite of maize plantation, J. Haran leg., JHAR00444 (2♂, CBGP) ; Kedougou, 27.ix.1981, P. Bruneau de Miré leg., light trap (1♂, 2♀, CBGP); Saint Louis, 1906, G. Melou leg. (1♀, MNHN) ; Thies, Bombay road, 16.xi.1983, Striga hermonthica, D.J. Greathead coll. (2♂, 5♀, BMNH); 1984, Striga on millet plants (1♀, BMNH) . Sudan, Kassala Province, 1982, Striga hermonthica (2♂, 1♀, BMNH). West Africa (no locality), emerged xii.1985 – i.1986, reared ex galls of Striga gesnerioides, R. H. Markham (10♂, 9♀, BMNH) .

Diagnosis (♂). Body length 2.5–2.7 mm. Colour. Body integument black, tibiae dark reddish; vestiture of elytra consisting of rounded or moderately longer than wide, recumbent, slightly overlapping scales, almost concealing integument, and series of semi-erect elongate scales on all interstriae; scales of elytra light brown, with patches of pale grey and white, usually paler on humeri and on basal half of the sides. Head. Rostrum moderately downcurved in lateral view, slightly longer than head capsule + prothorax; antennae inserted near or beyond middle. Prothorax. Slightly wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.05), sides greatly rounded, widest slightly behind middle, constricted apically, with a spot of whitish scales near scutellum, scales of sides more dense and more white. Elytra. Subparallel in basal two-thirds, rounded toward apex in apical third, widest near middle (w/l ratio: 0.58). Legs. Femora clavate, armed with distinct ventral tooth; tibiae straight, slightly bisinuate ventrally near basal third. Genitalia. Penis very elongate (w/l ratio: 0.2), sides concave, expanding in apical half and converging near apex, apex acuminate, moderately curved in lateral view, curvature stronger in apical third ( Fig. 5O View FIGURE 5 ).

Life history. Larvae of S. guineanus have been reared from galls and seed capsules of Striga hermonthica , S. gesnerioides and S. aspera parasites of corn, millet and sorghum. Adults are found in large numbers on stems and flowers of S. hermonthica , S. gesnerioides ( Anderson and Cox, 1997) and Alectra vogelii Benth (Otiodobiga 1997). Adults were collected or emerged from host plants from July to February.

Distribution. West Africa, eastward through sub-Saharan Africa to Ethiopia and Tanzania ( Anderson and Cox 1997). Locations of the material examined: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Niger, and Senegal.

Discussion. Smicronyx guineanus is closest to S. buchnerae (see discussion on that species for diagnostic characters). Smicronyx guineanus is sympatric with Afrosmicronyx umbrinus Hustache and these species are often recorded on the same host plant. Both species have a similar general appearance, but S. guineanus is much smaller (below 3 mm, while A. umbrinus has a size of 3.8–4.0 mm) and has unarmed tibiae ( A. umbrinus has a distinct ventral tooth on tibiae). One specimen of this species (JHAR00519_0101) was sequenced for the standard barcode (mitochondrial COI, genbank accession number: MH898572 View Materials ).