Ebenacobius tsonga Haran, 2022

Haran, Julien, Benoit, Laure, Procheş, Şerban & Kergoat, Gael J., 2022, Ebenacobius Haran, a new southern African genus of flower weevils (Coleoptera: Curculioninae: Derelomini) associated with dicotyledonous plants, European Journal of Taxonomy 818 (1), pp. 1-54 : 40-41

Ebenacobius tsonga Haran gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:828D39B0-FDC2-4558-84AD-54A406B54E7B

Figs 3D , 5E , 6M

Differential diagnosis

Ebenacobius tsonga gen. et sp. nov. can be distinguished by the following combination of features: simple claws, prothorax and elytra similarly pale brown, with two longitudinal dark bands on prothorax not reaching apical margin and elytra with a row of recumbent and subcontiguous setae on interstriae 5–10 of elytra. This species is closely related to E. pedi gen. et sp. nov. and E. hippopotamorum gen. et sp. nov. but in both species setae on elytra are minute, not forming a row of subcontiguous setae laterally. The body of penis in Ebenacobius tsonga is also much shorter (W:L ratio: 0.5; Fig. 6M ) than in E. pedi and E. hippopotamorum (W:L ratio at least 0.40; Fig. 6L, N ).

Etymology

This species name is dedicated to the Tsonga people, inhabitants of the north-eastern provinces of the Republic of South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalalnga). These peoples share this land with the Pedi peoples, as do E. tsonga gen. et sp. nov. and E. pedi gen. et sp. nov., apparently on the same host plant.

Type material

Holotype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; “S. Afr [REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA]; Limpopo Prov; Meletse NatRes ; 1003m; 24.36S – 27.39E ” “ 13.ii.2016; E-Y: 3986; Sifting forest litter; Leg. Ruth Müller ” “Holotype; Ebenacobius tsonga ; Haran 2022”; TMSA.

Paratype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Mpumalanga Province • 1 ♂; Mbombela [formerly Nelspruit]; 25°30′02.7″ S, 30°57′16.5″ E; 4 Apr. 2018; J. Haran leg.; on flowers of Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Codd (Apocynaceae) ; JHAR00838_0101 ; CBGP.

Description

Male

BODY LENGTH. 3.0 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument pale brown, head reddish; prothorax with 2 longitudinal dark bands on each side of the median line, not reaching apical margin of prothorax, bands sometimes interrupted in middle of length; dark pattern on elytra generally forming elongated dots on interstriae 3 and 5, one before and one beyond middle of length on interstriae 3 and one near basal ¼ and one near middle of length on interstriae 5, dark dots sometimes contiguous on interstriae 5 or almost absent on elytra; dorsum (prothorax + elytra) with recumbent setae, subcontiguous and forming rows on interstriae, more distinct on interstriae 5–10.

HEAD. Rostrum as long as prothorax in lateral view, more downcurved in basal ⅓ than in apical ⅔; underside with a row of setae, as long as 2 nd segment of funicle, integument forming a small tubercle before apex; in dorsal view covered with short recumbent and non-contiguous setae; antennae inserted near apical 1/4 of length; head capsule coarsely punctate in dorsal view, with recumbent whitish setae, as long as diameter of punctures; eyes convex, exceeding the lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with first segment 1.5 × longer than wide, as long as 2–4, 3–7 wider than long.

PROTHORAX. Wider than long (W:L ratio: 1.27), widest near base, slightly narrower there than elytra at humeral angles; sides straight or slightly convex, moderately converging apicad, abruptly converging in apical 1/5, apical constriction as long as width of funicle at apex; integument densely punctate, space between punctures smooth, shiny, at most 2 × wider than diameter of punctures; setae of larger punctures shorter than diameter of punctures in the central area; prosternal process short, not exceeding the level of procoxae.

ELYTRA. Sides slightly convex, widest near middle of length (W:L ratio: 0.75); humeri raised; apex jointly rounded; striae with punctures well aligned, 1.5–2 × narrower than interstriae; interstriae slightly convex, 1, 3 and 5 slightly more convex apically, 9 entirely convex; scutellar shield rounded, glabrous.

ABDOMEN. Underside covered with recumbent whitish setae, not contiguous.

LEGS. Profemora strongly thickened near middle of length, smooth internally; protibiae with external margin straight, meso- and metatibiae slightly curved outward in apical half; tibiae armed with a small apical mucro; claws simple.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis short (W:L ratio: 0.50), 0.7 × as long as apodemes; sides slightly convex in dorsal view, widest near middle of length, apex acute; in lateral view curvature stronger near middle of length, width narrowing apicad in apical ⅓ ( Fig. 6M ).

Sexual dimorphism

Female specimens were not available in this species.

Remarks

Ebenacobius tsonga gen. et sp. nov. is very close to E. pedi gen. et sp. nov. and was found in sympatry with it, see remarks section under that species for details. Only two males were available for this description, more variability in pattern on dorsum can be expected with the examination of longer series.

Life history

Ebenacobius tsonga gen. et sp. nov. was collected on flowers of Acokanthera oblongifolia (Apocynaceae) together with E. pedi gen. et sp. nov. See life history section under than species for details. Adults were collected in February and April.

Distribution

Republic of South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces).

Figures

Fig. 3. A–I. Habitus of males of Ebenacobius Haran gen. nov. in dorsal view (part 2). A. E. mulanjensis Haran gen. et sp. nov. B. E. hessei Haran gen. et sp. nov. C. E. pedi Haran gen. et sp. nov. D. E. tsonga Haran gen. et sp. nov. E. E. hippopotamorum Haran gen. et sp. nov. F. E. incognitus (Hesse, 1929) gen. et comb. nov. G. E. oberprieleri Haran gen. et sp. nov. H. E. turneri (Marshall, 1935) gen. et comb. nov. I. E. rhodesianus (Hesse, 1929) gen. et comb. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 5. A–H. Habitus of males of Ebenacobius Haran gen. nov. in lateral view (part 2). A. E. hessei Haran gen. et sp. nov. B. E. incognitus (Hesse, 1929) gen. et comb. nov. C. E. pedi Haran gen. et sp. nov. D. E. oberprieleri Haran gen. et sp. nov. E. E. tsonga Haran gen. et sp. nov. F. E. turneri (Marshall, 1935) gen. et comb. nov. G. E. hippopotamorum Haran gen. et sp. nov. H. E. rhodesianus (Hesse, 1929) gen. et comb. nov. A–H = not to scale.

Fig. 6 (part 1). A–I. Male genitalia of Ebenacobius Haran gen. nov., penis in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view.A. E. curvisetis Haran gen. et sp. nov.B. E. rectirostrisHaran gen. et sp. nov.C. E. duplicatus Haran gen. et sp. nov. D. E. grobbelaarae Haran gen. et sp. nov. E. E. costalis (Fåhraeus, 1844) gen. et comb. nov. F. E. thoracicus Haran gen. et sp. nov. G. E. xhosa Haran gen. et sp. nov. H. E. san Haran gen. et sp. nov. I. E. kuscheli Haran gen. et sp. nov. A–I = not to scale.