Curculio gyongyiae, Szénási, 2022

Szénási, Valentin, 2022, A new species of the genus Curculio Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Hungary and the Balkan Peninsula, Zootaxa 5162 (5), pp. 583-592 : 584-590

Curculio gyongyiae sp. nov.

( Fig. 1a–d , 2a–c, j , 3b, e, h )

Type series. Holotype male: Hungary, Komárom-Esztergom county: Esztergom, Kincses-hill , coord.: 47°46’29.56” N, 18°46’09.17” E, 12. 08. 2020., at light, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, HNHM) . Paratypes: Hungary, Fejér county: Csákvár, Gém-hill , coord.: 47°23’02.18” N, 18°23’08.27” E, 06.09.2021., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Csákvár, Kerek-hill , coord.: 47°23’50.73” N, 18°26’29.74” E, 06.09.2021., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási (1 male, PCVS) ; Szár , Nagy-Szőlő-hill, coord.: 47°28’50.43” N, 18°32’30.20” E, 06.09.2021., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Komárom-Esztergom county: Esztergom, Kincses-hill , coord.: 47°46’29.56” N, 18°46’09.17” E, 19.08.2019., at light, leg.: V. Szénási (1 male, PCVS) , 20.08.2019., at light, leg.: V. Szénási (1 male, 1 female, PCVS) , 15. 05. 2020., at light, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, PCVS) , 12. 08. 2020., at light, leg.: V. Szénási. (4 males, PCVS) ; Esztergom , Nagy-Strázsa-hill, coord.: 47°44’30.24” N, 18°45’42.73” E, 21.08.2021., beaten, at light, leg.: V. Szénási (1 male, 2 females, PCVS) ; Gyermely, Kecske-kő , coord.: 47°35’52.55” N, 18°37’09.47” E, 24.08.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 male, PCVS) , coord.: 47°35’50.45” N, 18°37’09.39” E, 24.08.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Lábatlan, Nagy-Pisznice , coord.: 47°41’50.98” N, 18°30’02.99” E, 26.08.2021., beaten leg.: B. Krajcsovszky, V. Szénási (1 male, PCVS) ; Süttő, Asszony-hill , coord.: 47°42’54.04” N, 18°26’00.13” E, 02.09.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási, B. Krajcsovszky (1 female, PCVS) , coord.: 47°42’51.60” N, 18°25’57.81” E, 02.09.2021., beaten leg.: B. Krajcsovszky, V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Szárliget, Hajagos , coord.: 47°30’52.17” N, 18°30’18.12” E, 06.09.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Tardos, Alsó-Látó-hill , coord.: 47°41’05.97” N, 18°25’50.84” E, 24.08.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) , coord.: 47°41’16.37” N, 18°25’52.64” E, 24.08.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Tardos, Szél-hill , coord.: 47°40’11.41” N, 18°26’47.04” E, 24.08.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Vértestolna, Pes-kő , coord.: 47°36’15.61” N, 18°28’15.14” E, 24.08.2021., beaten leg.: V. Szénási (1 female, PCVS) ; Pest county: Budakeszi, near Hárs-hill , coord.: 47°32’03.56” N, 18°54’27.66” E, 08. 09. 2021., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) ; Csobánka, Ziribár , coord.: 47°38’50.93” N, 18°55’50.43” E, 09. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, PCVS) ; Fót, Somlyó-hill , coord.: 47°37’39.40” N, 19°12’37.99” E, 03. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (3 females, PCVS) , Fót, Somlyó-hill , coord.: 47°37’44.59” N, 19°12’34.85” E, 03. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, PCVS) ; Nagykovácsi, Nagy-Szénás , coord.: 47°35’16.43” N, 18°52’40.98” E, 28. 08. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, 2 females, PCVS) ; Nagykovácsi, Remete-hill , coord.: 47°33’46.67” N, 18°55’05.84” E, 07. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male PCVS) ; Nagymaros, Erdőszél street, coord.: 47°46’39.87” N, 18°56’23.51” E, 14. 08. 2020., at light, leg.: A. Kotán, N. Rahmé (1 male, PCVS) ; Nagymaros, Rigó-hill , coord.: 47°46’30.71” N, 18°56’19.52” E, 26. 08. 2020., at light, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) ; Páty, Mézes-hill , coord.: 47°30’52.29” N, 18°51’13.17” E, 29. 08. 2021., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) , coord.: 47°30’54.05” N, 18°51’15.13” E, 29. 08. 2021., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) ; Perbál, near Zajnát , coord.: 47°35’47.64” N, 18°49’10.59” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási, A. Novák. (1 female, PCVS) , Perbál, near Zajnát , coord.: 47°35’49.02” N, 18°49’17.72” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) ; Pilisborosjenő, Nagy-Kevély , coord.: 47°37’24.88” N, 18°58’46.11” E, 24. 08. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (2 males, 2 females, PCVS) ; Pilisszántó, Pilistető , coord.: 47°40’43.36” N, 18°52’52.49” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, PCVS) , coord.: 47°40’44.30” N, 18°52’52.06” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (2 females, PCVS) , coord.: 47°40’46.14” N, 18°52’50.13” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) , coord.: 47°40’47.11” N, 18°52’46.15” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) , coord.: 47°40’46.94” N, 18°52’44.19” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) , coord.: 47°40’45.45” N, 18°52’42.94” E, 02. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, 2 females, PCVS) ; Pilisszentiván, Kisszénás , coord.: 47°36’21.37” N, 18°52’08.31” E, 08. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) ; Pomáz, Kő-hill , coord.: 47°40’24.32” N, 19°01’03.80” E, 04. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, PCVS) ,.: 47°40’22.86” N, 19°00’55.89” E, 04. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 female, PCVS) ; Vác, Naszály , near quarry, coord.: 47°50’15.85” N, 19°07’00.14” E, 03. 09. 2020., beaten, leg.: V. Szénási. (1 male, 1 female, PCVS) ; Croatia: VučjaDraga , 25.07.2005., leg.: K. Székely (1 female, PCAP) ; Sveti Juraj , 20.08.2001., leg.: G. Seres, det A. Podlussány, 2002, as Curculio elephas (Gyll.) , (1 male, PCAP) ; Dalmatia [no further data] (1 female, HNHM) ; Greece: Agios Fotini, Vermio Mt. , 767 m., coord.: 47°42,356’ N, 21°59,621’ E, 03.08.2011., leg.: S. Ilniczky (1 female, PCSI) .

Description. Male. Body length 6.5 mm. Body elongate, in lateral view convex; integument dark brown; antennae, tarsomeres and rostrum reddish brown; apex of the rostrum piceous ( Figs 1a–b ).

Head moderately convex; punctures small, with smaller narrow elongate ochraceous (upper part of the head) and dirty whitish (lower part of the head) scales; eyes medium sized, scarcely convex. Frons broad shallow and elongate, with scarcely visible interocular pit. Rostrum length 2.5 mm, relatively short, 0.38 × body length, 1.2 × pronotum length; cylindrical, broad at base and moderately tapering to apex; dorsally with three fine carinae extending from frons to antennal insertion; from antennal insertion to apex with sparse and shallow punctures, shiny, evenly curved to apex. Scape length 1.4 mm, thin, inserted in apical half of rostrum, almost straight, apex sparsely covered with thin elongate whitish setae; antennal segments covered with longer elongate recumbent and semierect whitish setae; segment I 0.4 mm, 3.0 × as long as wide, II 0.3 mm, 3.5 × as long as wide, III 0.3 mm, 2.5 × as long as wide, IV 0.2 mm, 2.0 × as long as wide, V 1.5 mm, 2 × as long as wide, VI 0.2 mm. 1.5 × as long as wide, VII 2 mm, 1.75 × longer than wide; club 0.5 mm, oval, covered with dense whitish recumbent hairs and few erect setae; scape 0.85 × as long as antennal segments.

Pronotum length 2.1 mm, width 2.5 mm (PL/PW 0.84), widest at middle; sides evenly rounded; anterior margin narrower than the strikingly wide base, which is slightly narrower than base of elytra. Dorsum lacking longitudinal median carina, disc and sides with dense fine punctures, covered by narrow elongate ochraceous scales, which on sides are whitish, wider, denser and truncated.

Elytra. length 4.0 mm, width 3.1 mm; elongate (EL/EW 1.29), widest at base; in lateral view convex, evenly sloping towards posterior tip. Humerus weakly developed, rounded. Interstriae 2–3 × wider than striae, flat, with narrow elongate whitish scales mixed with wider, truncated ochraceous scales resulting in a marbled pattern. Striae deep, with obvious punctures and well visible, wider recumbent whitish scales. Elytral sutural comb at the base of elytral declivity poorly developed, scarcely prominent. Scutellar shield longer than broad, clothed with wider, whitish scales, not filling the whole shield pit.

Legs. Length of hind femur 2.5 mm; all femora with small acute teeth, and clothed by narrow elongate whitishochraceous scales. All tibiae with medium-sized acute uncus.

Venter. Whole venter and abdominal ventrites I–III clothed with narrow elongate truncated pale scales. Apex of ventrite V shallowly truncate. Mesosternal intercoxal process prominent, clothed with narrow elongate white scales.

Male terminalia ( Figs 2a–c, j , 3b ). Pygidium with relatively deep punctures, with short pale hair-like setae, and long dense pale setae at apex. Spiculum gastrale bilobed, stout, almost straight ( Fig. 2j ). Median lobe of penis evenly thick ( Figs 2a, b ), with thin margins in ventral view; apex with curved sides tapering to acute point ( Fig. 2c ); length about equal to that of apodemes; moderately thick, with deflected apex in lateral view. Tegmen ( Fig. 3b ) oval, with thicker parameres; manubrium slightly curved.

Description of female. ( Figs 1c–d ). Same as male, but slightly larger and wider. Rostrum less curved.All tibiae with hardly visible small acute uncus. Pygidium with short dense pale setae at apex.

Female genitalia ( Figs 3e, h ). Spiculum ventrale thin, spatulate ( Fig. 3e ). Spermatheca nearly C-shaped; cornu thickened, narrowing towards apex; ramus and collum swollen, oblique ( Fig. 3h ).

Variability. Males: BL: 5.2–7.3 (average 6.5), BW: 2.5–3.6 (average 3.1), BH: 2.1–3.1 (average 2.7). Females BL: 5.45–7.55 (average 6.7), BW: 2.5–3.65 (average 3.2), BH: 2.2–3.25 (average 2.8). The specimens examined are morphologically uniform, only the elytral pattern is slightly variable.

Remarks and comparative notes. Curculio gyongyiae males ( Figs 1a–b ) can be separated from males of the similar Curculio elephas (Gyllenhal, 1836) ( Figs 1l–j ), and Curculio propinquus (Desbrochers, 1868) ( Figs 1e–f ) by the shorter rostrum, wider pronotum, and shorter antennal segments. All antennal segments of C. elephas , and C. propinquus are at least 2.0 × longer than wide, while segment VI of C. gyongyiae is 1.5 × longer than wide. The median lobe of the penis is clearly different among the three species. The penis of C. gyongyiae is evenly thick to near the apex ( Figs 2a–c ), the curved sides acutely tapering. The penis of C. elephas ( Figs 2g –i ) has slightly arched sides and is widest in the middle, the apex is triangular with an acute point. The penis of C. propinquus widens evenly to the apical third, the apex then abruptly tapering to an acute point ( Figs 2d–f ). Curculio gyongyiae females ( Figs 1c–d ) differ from females of C. elephas ( Figs 1k–l ) and C. propinquus ( Figs 1g –h ) by the shorter rostrum. The RL/PL of females of C. gyongyiae is 1.2, of C. elephas is 3.28, and of C. propinquus is 2.12. Furthermore, all antennal segments of C. elephas and C. propinquus are more than 2 × longer than wide, as in the males.

Distribution. Croatia, Greece, Hungary.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the author’s wife, Mrs. Gyöngyi Demeter Szénásiné.

Bionomy. All specimens of Curculio gyongyiae sp. n. were collected in the Hungarian Medium mountains ( Fig. 4a–b ) at elevations between 275 m and 520 m a. s. l. in late summer-early autumn by mainly beating downy oaks ( Quercus pubescens Willd. ) growing as forest on the limestone-dolomite rocks, and loess ( Fig. 5a–d ). The species during this period lives together with the following Coleoptera species: Curculio elephas (Gyllenhal, 1835) , C. glandium Marsham, 1802 , C. pellitus (Boheman, 1843) , C. propinquus (Desbrochers des Loges, 1868) , and Deroplia genei (Aragona, 1830) . The new species is extremely rare, present in very small numbers in its habitat.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of Curculio species. Curculio gyongyiae a, b holotype male dorsal and lateral view; c, d paratype female dorsal and lateral view; C. propinquus: e, f non type male dorsal and lateral view; g, h non type female dorsal and lateral view; C. elephas: i, j non type male dorsal and lateral view; k, l non type female dorsal and lateral view. Scale bar: 5 mm. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Male terminalia of Curculio species. Penis median lobe ventral, lateral view and median lobe tip of Curculio gyongyiae: a, b, c; C. propinquus; d, e, f; C. elephas; g, h, i. Spiculum gastrale of C. gyongyiae: j; C. propinquus: k. Scale bar: 1 mm. Not to scale: c, f, i.

FIGURE 3. Male terminalia of Curculio species. Spiculum gastrale of C. elephas; a. Tegmen of C. gyongyiae: b; C. propinquus; c; C. elephas: d. Female genitalia of Curculio species. Spiculum ventrale of C. gyongyiae: e; C. propinquus: f; C. elephas: g. Spermatheca of C. gyongyiae: h; C. propinquus: i; C. elephas: j. Scale bar: 1 mm, (except h, i, j: 0.3 mm).

FIGURE 4. Distributional maps of Curculio gyongyiae in Hungary. Detailed distributional map of C. gyongyiae in Hungary: a; general distributional map of C. gyongyiae in Hungary: b.

FIGURE 5. Habitats of Curculio gyongyiae in Hungary. Pilisszántó, Pilistető: a; Pilisborosjenő, Nagy-Kevély: b; Vértestolna, Pes-kő: c–d.