Aspidiotes (Phaenognathus) candani, Erbey, Mahmut & Gürler, Yasin, 2014

Erbey, Mahmut & Gürler, Yasin, 2014, A new species of the genus Aspidiotes Schoenherr, 1847 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Tanymecini) from Middle Anatolia (Turkey), Zootaxa 3847 (1), pp. 133-138 : 134-137

Aspidiotes (Phaenognathus) candani sp. nov.

Material examined. Holotype: ♀, ZMGU Ent. (Fig. a–b), 25.V.2013, Kırbaşı, Beypazarı-Ankara/ TURKEY, Y. Gürler leg., 715 m, 40°02'71''N / 31°52'66''E; Paratype: 14♀♀, ZMGU Ent. 2013, 25.V.2013, Kırbaşı, Beypazarı- Ankara/ TURKEY, Y. Gürler leg., 715 m, 40°02'71''N / 31°52'66''E; 2♀♀, ZMGU Ent., 25.V.2013, Beypazarı- Ankara/ TURKEY, Y. Gürler, 504 m, 40°04'16''N / 31°52'84''E; 1♀, ZMGU Ent., 16.VI.2013, Uluköy, Beypazarı- Ankara/ TURKEY, Y. Gürler leg., 570 m, 40°7'26''N / 31°38'98''E; 7♂♂, ZMGU Ent. 2013, 25.V.2013, Kırbaşı, Beypazarı-Ankara/ TURKEY, Y. Gürler leg., 715 m, 40°02'71''N / 31°52'66''E; 1♂, ZMGU Ent., 25.V.2013, Beypazarı-Ankara/ TURKEY, Y. Gürler, 504 m, 40°04'16''N / 31°52'84''E.

Description. Body length (pronotum + elytra): ♂: 5.32–6.98 mm, ♀: 5.62–7.28 mm. Prothorax: length: ♂: 1.70–2.12 mm, ♀: 1.80–2.30 mm, width: ♂: 2.30–2.86 mm, ♀: 2.32–2.96 mm. Elytra: length: ♂: 3.62–4.86 mm, ♀: 3.82–4.98 mm, width: ♂: 2.65–3.90 mm, ♀: 270– 3.98 mm.

Body elongate-oval, color black, completely covered with metallic greenish scales ( Fig. 2 a–d), head oval, densely covered with scales, frons depressed, with a longitudinal sulcus ( Fig. 2 c, e), eyes oval, large, distinctly convex, inferior margin narrower than dorsal one ( Fig. 2 a, h), tibiae and tarsi dark ferrugineous ( Fig. 2 ı, i).

Rostrum ( Fig. 2 e, 3a) elongate, length of rostrum more than twice width, with deep median longitudinal sulcus and one adjacent keel on each side, densely covered with scales and setae.

Antenna ( Fig. 2 f) black, covered with yellowish hairs, scape long, basally curved, gradually widened from base to apex, reaching margin of eyes, first segment of funicule slightly longer than second, I and II segments longer than others.

Prothorax ( Fig. 2 g, 3b) in dorsal view slightly transverse, hind margin wider than front margin, sides rounded, widest at middle, disc of pronotum with dense shiny scales and short suberect setae, postocular lobes weakly developed ( Fig. 2 h).

Elytra ( Fig. 2 a–d) elongate-oval, striae formed by row of separate punctures, interstria flat, wide on disc, erect setae in three or four irregular rows, apical part of setae bifurcate ( Fig. 3 c–d).

Legs long and thin, femora black, untoothed, tibiae and tarsi dark ferrugineous, fore tibiae slightly incurved at apex in male ( Fig. 2 ı), straight in female ( Fig. 2 i), internal denticulation absent, claws free.

Male genitalia. Aedeagus in lateral view distinctly curved, median lobe straight in middle, narrowed towards apex, in dorsal view elongate, nearly parallel-sided, narrowed to apex, ostium distinct, rounded, apex with sclerotised line ( Fig. 4 a–b), tegmen ring like, basally located, parameres dorsal, manubrium long and thin ( Fig. 4 c), sternite 9 (spiculum gastrale) thin, curved behind middle, connected to two symmetrical plates ( Fig. 4 d).

Female genitalia. Spermatheca hook-like, cornu short, folded basally, basal part of spermatheca wide, well sclerotised, ramus long and with two lobes (giving it a segmented appearance), nodule short and narrowed ( Fig. 4 e), ovipositor long, stylus short and cylindrical, color dark, bearing 3–4 short erect setae at apex ( Fig. 4 f), spiculum long, rod-like, abdominal sternum 8 V-shaped ( Fig. 4 g).

Diagnosis and discussion. Aspidiotes candani sp. nov. is related to A. anatolicus ( Colonnelli, 1978) . The new species differs primarily from A. anatolicus in eye shape, form of pronotum, form of setae on disc of elytra, surface morphology of scales, structure of aedeagus (in dorsal view) and form of spermatheca. In A. candani the eyes are elongate-oval ( Fig. 2 a, h), the apical margin of the pronotum is straight ( Fig. 2 g, 3b), the setae on the disc of elytra are erect and apically bifurcate ( Fig. 3 c–d), the surface of the scales has large, distinct granules ( Fig. 3 e–f), aedeagus (in dorsal view) has an apical sclerotised line and the ostium is oval ( Fig. 4 b), the spermathecal cornu is short and folded basally, ramus has two lobes that look like segments ( Fig. 4 e). In A. anatolicus (according to Sanchez-Ruiz and Alonso-Zarazaga, 1994), the eyes are round, the apical margin of the pronotum is oval, the setae on disc of elytra are suberect, curved basally, simple apically, aedeagus (in dorsal view) lacks a sclerotised line, the ostium is indented and “w” shaped, spermathecal cornu is long and not folded, the ramus is simple. According to Sanchez-Ruiz and Alonso-Zarazaga (1994), Aspidiotes Schoenherr, 1847 includes two subgenera ( Phaenognathus Schoenherr and Aspidiotes Schoenherr ). The subgenus Phaenognathus Schoenherr is recognized by the aedeagus with flagellum long and slender, spermatheca with long ramus. It contains the Eastern Mediterranean species A. anatolicus and A. thalassinus . The subgenus Aspidiotes Schoenherr is recognized by the aedeagus with flagellum short, robust, and spermatheca with short ramus. It includes the Western Mediterranean species A. cottyi , A. larbii , A. gonzalezi and A. westringii . Aspidiotes candani should be considered within the A. (Phaenognathus) anatolicus group due to its long aedeagal flagellum, and spermatheca with long ramus.

Derivation of name. Patronymic, recognizing Selami Candan, our teacher, and a great assistance to our educations.

Habitat. All specimens were collected on Gramineae and Althaea (Malvaceae) . The weevils were collected mostly in May with one specimen in June.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Aspidiotes candani sp. nov., Holotype, female, a—Lateral view, b—Dorsal view; paratype, male, c—Lateral view, d—Dorsal view, e—Rostrum, female, f—Antenna, female, g—Pronotum, female, h—Eye and postocular lobe, female, ı—Fore-tibia, male, i—Fore-tibia, female.

FIGURE 3. Aspidiotes (Phaenognathus) candani sp. nov., scanning electron microscope micrograph; a—Sulcus on rostrum, b—Pronotum, c, d—Setae on disc elytra, e, f—Surface morphology of scales.

FIGURE 4. Male and female genitalia: a—Aedeagus (lateral view), b—Aedeagus (dorsal view), c—sternite 9 (spiculum gastrale), d-Tegmen with parameres (paratype, male); e—Spermatheca, f—Ovipositor, stylus (apical part), g—Spiculum and abdominal sternum 8 (paratype, female).