Geochus puncticollis, Broun, 1893, 1367

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 : 29

GeOchUs pUncticOllis Broun, 1893 ( Figs. 15 , 17 )

Geochus puncticollis Broun 1893b: 1367 . Type locality: Moeraki Gorge.

Type Depository. BMNH : LT, 1 PLT.

Distribution. New Zealand (DN).

Remarks. Broun referred to four specimens that were the basis of this species. We located two in the Broun collection (BMNH), one of which we designate as the lectotype to stabilize the epithet, with the other becoming a paralectotype. There were an additional two specimens, labeled as variants, in the Broun collection (BMNH) that we considered not to be part of the syntype series.

This species can be distinguished from other Geochus except the G. pyriformis group by the strongly punctate elytra, which have the width of the punctures wider than the interstriae. Unlike G. pyriformis , the pronotum is oval in dorsal view and not closely appressed to the elytra.

Type Material Examined. Lectotype, here designated ( BMNH): card-mounted, “2390. [in Broun’s hand]// New Zealand. [red underline] Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482.// Otago // Geochus puncticollis [in Broun’s hand]” . Paralectotype: 1 ( BMNH), same but mounted dorsally, and “Moeraki [in Broun’s hand]” .

Figures

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.