Geochus plagiatus, Broun, 1893, 1365

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 : 28-29

GeOchUs plagiatUs Broun, 1893 ( Figs. 13A–C , 15–16 )

Geochus plagiatus Broun 1893b: 1365 . Type locality: Moeraki, Waterhouse Bush.

Type Depository. BMNH: LT .

Distribution. New Zealand (DN).

Remarks. Broun indicated that he based this name on a pair of specimens. However, only one was located in the Broun collection (BMNH), which we designate as the lectotype to stabilize the epithet. There were also four additional specimens located in the Broun collection (BMNH); two were labeled as variants that we consider not part of the syntype series. One specimen from Moeraki in NZAC collected after the publication date was not a syntype.

This species forms a species group with G. apicalis and G. certus . These species have the tubercles on the elytra arranged in a transverse line along the top of the elytral declivity, with tubercles on interstriae 5 and 7 being larger than on other interstriae. In addition, the bases of interstriae 2 and 4 are variably swollen. Strial punctures on the disc are large and irregularly arranged.

Type Material Examined. Lectotype, here designated ( BMNH): card-mounted, “2389. [in Broun’s hand]// New Zealand. [red underline] Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482.// Otago // Geochus plagiatus [in Broun’s hand]”.

Figures

Fig. 13. Male terminalia, confocal microscope images. Geochus plagiatus: A) Aedeagus, dorsal view, B) Aedeagus, lateral view, C) Sternites VIII (with spiculum gastrale) and IX (arrow). G. rufipictus: D) Aedeagus, dorsal view, E) Aedeagus, lateral view, F) Sternites VIII (with spiculum gastrale) and IX (arrow).

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

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