Geochus variegatus, Broun, 1914

Leschen, Richard A. B., Davis, Steven, Brown, Samuel D. J., Brav-Cubitt, Talia & Buckley, Thomas R., 2022, The Enigmatic Dead-Leaf Miner Geochus Broun (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Phylogenetic Placement, a New Species, and Lectotype Designations, The Coleopterists Bulletin 76 (1), pp. 1-35 : 31-32

GeOchUs variegatUs Broun, 1914 ( Fig. 16 )

Geochus variegatus Broun 1914b: 223 . Type localities: Mount Hutt and Pudding Hill.

Type Depository. BMNH : LT, 1 PLT.

Distribution. New Zealand (MC).

Remarks. Broun stated that he had based his description on two specimens, one from each of the type localities. These specimens were located in the Broun collection (BMNH), one of which we designate as the lectotype, to stabilize the epithet, with the other becoming a paralectotype. Also in the Broun collection were four variants.

We place this species into a species group with G. posticalis .

Type Material Examined. Lectotype, here designated ( BMNH): card-mounted, “3615 [in Broun’s hand]// New Zealand. [red underline] Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482.//Pudding Hill. 4.5.1912. [in Broun’s hand]// Geochus variegatus [in Broun’s hand]” . Paralectotype ( BMNH): same, “3615. [in Broun’s hand]// Mount Hutt. 30.3.1912. [in Broun’s hand]” .

KEY TO GEOCHUS SPECIES GROUPS ( Figs. 15–17 )

Note: The following key is modified from an unpublished key by Guillermo Kuschel, to which we added the Lord Howe Island species. Monotypic groups are indicated by an asterisk.

1. Tarsus with 5 tarsomeres, ultimate tarsomere bearing claws ...... * G. kuscheli , new species

1′. Tarsus with 3 tarsomeres, ultimate tarsomere lacking claws ………………………………. 2

2. Elytral margins carinate …………… G. tibialis group ( G. tibialis , G. lateralis , G. marginatus , G. nigripes )

2′. Elytral margins not carinate ......................... 3

3. Elytra evenly convex or only slightly uneven, without tubercules ....................................... 4

3′. Elytra nodose or tuberculate ...................... 10

4. Pronotum dull; densely, coarsely punctate, without a glabrous median line ................... 5

4′. Pronotum shiny; usually with fine, scattered punctures. If more densely and coarsely punctate, then with glabrous median line or carina............................................................7

5. Pronotum and elytra jointly pyriform, with a continuous outline. Pronotum without carina ...................................................................... 6

5′. Pronotum and elytra stoutly oval. Outline bro- ken between elytra and pronotum. Pronotum with a fine median carina ........ * G. puncticollis

6. Elytral surface flat, contiguous with surface of the pronotal disc ....... * G. howensis group

6′. Elytral surface convex, not contiguous with surface of the pronotal disc ..... G. pyriformis group ( G. pyriformis , G. suffusus )

7. Meso- and metatibiae indistinctly angulate, dorsal margin evenly curved, no wider in middle than at apex ........................................... 8

7′. Meso- and metatibiae angulate, with a strong tooth on the dorsal margin, middle of tibia much wider than apex. .................................. 9

8. Pronotum shallowly and sparsely punctured, setae sparse and usually confined to lateral and anterior margins. Setae of elytra appressed, arising from interstriae ...... G. similis group ( G. similis , G. convexus , G. setiger )

8′. Pronotum with punctures deeper and denser, setae evenly covering disc and arising from the center of each puncture. Elytra with recumbent setae arising from strial punctures ................................................. * G. rugulosus

9. Elytra nearly circular in dorsal view, curvature of lateral margins even along length of lateral margin. Elytral interstriae somewhat convex. Antennal club blackish, contrasting with a pale reddish-brown funicle ……* G. sulcatus

9′. Elytra roughly heptagonal in dorsal view, lateral margins with increased curvature at 1/4 and 3/4 length of elytra (behind humeral an- gles and in front of apex). Elytral interstriae flat. Antennal club color same as that of funicle ............ G. politus group ( G. distinguens , G. pictulus , G. politus , G. squamosus )

10. Tibiae distinctly angulate. Tubercles not in V-shaped position, in a nearly straight transverse alignment. Rostrum with epifrons not raised .......................................................... 11

10′. Tibiae not angulate. Tubercles in V-shaped position. Rostrum with the epifrons strongly raised ………… G. inaequalis group ( G. frontalis , G. inaequalis , G. morosus , G. nodosus )

11. Pronotum densely punctate .......................... 12

11′. Pronotum more shiny, less densely punctate .................. G. plagiatus group ( G. apicalis , G. certus , G. plagiatus )

12. Elytra with tubercles arranged in a transverse line above declivity, lacking tubercles on the disc. Pronotum ovate, with a medial carina on the anterior half of the disc ……………… G. posticalis group ( G. posticalis , G. variegatus )

12′. Elytra with tubercles on disc, as well as above declivity. Pronotum conical, disc evenly punctured, no carina present in the anterior half ................................................... * G. rufipictus

Figures

Fig. 16. Dorsal habitus photographs of representatives of the type series or holotypes of Geochus arranged into informal groups.

Fig. 15. Elytral outlines for representatives of each of the Geochus species groups.

Fig. 17. Dorsal habitus photographs of representatives of the type series or holotypes of Geochus arranged into informal groups.