Moreobaris deplanata (Roelofs)

Prena, Jens, Yang, Jiani, Ren, Li, Wang, Zhiliang, Liu, Ning & Zhang, Runzhi, 2014, Nomenclatural changes, new country records and range extensions of Baridinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from China, Zootaxa 3841 (3), pp. 339-363 : 348-349

Moreobaris deplanata (Roelofs)

( Figs. 10 , 22 )

Baris deplanata Roelofs 1875: 183 .

Lectotype female, designated here, Japan without precise locality, Roelofs Collection ( RBINS). Transferred from Baris to Moreobaris by Morimoto & Yoshihara (1996).

Acythopeus patruelis Voss 1958: 84 .

Holotype Kuatun [Guadun], Fujian, China ( NHRS); not examined, ID based on description and PT in AKMB. New synonymy.

Diagnosis. Moreobaris deplanata is small (2.8–4.0 mm), dark brown to black and relatively inconspicuous. Species of Moreobaris generally have a basally slightly constricted profemur (like Nespilobaris ), a characteristically grooved prosternum, a curved rostrum without a basal hump and the thoracic sterna form an almost continuous plane. These generic characters are not always readily visible in small species, such as M. deplanata , but almost all males in this genus have conspicuous folds, tubercles or spines immediately in front of the procoxae. The genus is relatively diverse and several described species are currently placed in Baris and Acythopeus . A few other small species occur in the subtropical zones of the Asian mainland but have a much shorter rostrum than M. deplanata . Morimoto & Miyakawa (1985) recognized two very similar species in Japan.

Notes. We received three syntypes from the Roelofs Collection (RBINS) and designated the one with attached identification label as lectoype. The other two are Pellobaris melancholica (Roelofs) and Moreobaris cf. repandirostris (Zaslavskij) . Further syntypes of the Lewis Collection are in the BMNH. Two R. Hiller specimens in the NKMB are Psilarthroides czerskyi (Zaslavskij) but probably not syntypes. Voss (1958) described Acythopeus patruelis from Fujian without comparing it to material from other regions. The specimens from Japan and the Asian mainland are morphologically identical and placed here in synonymy.

Distribution. The species has been reported from Japan ( Roelofs 1875), the Korean Peninsula ( Nakayama 1929) and China ( Chu & Sung 1935). We have seen specimens from the Chinese administrative areas of Fujian, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Zhejiang.

Biology. Moreobaris deplanata is associated with Morus alba and M. australis (Moraceae) . Eggs are laid under the cork layer of branches in March/April, when the temperature rises above 15 °C. The larva feeds on cambium and pupates after ca. six weeks. Newly eclosed adults remain either in their pupal cell or overwinter under plant debris. The weevil feeds on buds, leaf petioles and new growth, and it is considered a major pest in E Asia ( Paik & Paik 1976; Hill 1987; Zhen et al. 1990).

Material examined. CHINA. Fujian: Guadun, 5.vi.1937, 7.iv.1938 ( AKMB 2). Jiangsu: Fengxian, 1.vi.1983 ( IZCAS 2) ; Nanjing, 1934 ( IZCAS 1) ; Tan-Yang, 7.v.1919 ( IZCAS 1) ; Shanghai, 28.iv.1937 ( AKMB 1) ; Shanghai, no date ( IZCAS 1). Sichuan: Luding, Ganzi, vii.2009 ( IZCAS 1). Zhejiang: Agricultural University Hangzhou, 1.viii.1973 ( IZCAS 8) ; Linhai, 1.iv.1988 ( IZCAS 54) ; Qiliting,Tianmushuyuan, 29.vi.2006 ( IZCAS 1) ; West Tianmu Moutains, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 20.vii.1998 ( IZCAS 1), 19.vi.2012 ( ZAFU 2) ; Zhenjiang City, Institute of Sericulture, X/1988 ( IZCAS 9). JAPAN. Ishiuawa Pref., Ichiose Makusan, 7.viii.1973 ( IZCAS 1) ; Kochi Pref., 9.iv.1955 ( CWOB 1). Without precise locality ( MNKB 1, RBINS 1).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 12. Dorsal and lateral habitus images. 9, Mimophilus tragicus, 7.8 mm, West Garo Hills (India). 10, Moreobaris deplanata, 3.9 mm, Linhai (Zhejiang). 11, Pellobaris melancholica, 3.7 mm, Taipingshien (Anhui). 12, Psilarthroides czerskyi, 2.9 mm, Zhouzhi Houzhenzi (Shanxi).

FIGURES 21 – 22. Map of mainland China and surrounding countries showing distribution of Psilarthroides czerskyi, Mimophilus tragicus, Moreobaris deplanata and Ulobaris kuchenbeisseri.