Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) pseudosetosulus, Baviera, Cosimo & Magnano, Luigi, 2010

Baviera, Cosimo & Magnano, Luigi, 2010, Contribution to the knowledge of the weevil subgenus Arammichnus Gozis, genus Otiorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Sicily and the Sicilian islands, Zootaxa 2432, pp. 45-58 : 49-51

Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) pseudosetosulus sp. n.

Fig. 3 (A–C)

Type material. Holotype: female, labeled “Sicilia, Messina, Monti Nebrodi, lago Trearie, 1435m, 15.IV.2005, leg. Baviera C.” Spermatheca and spiculum ventrale dissected and mounted in Euparal. ( CMME)

Diagnosis. Closely related to Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) striatosetosus Boheman 1843 from which it can be differentiated by the much narrower punctures of the pronotum, a smaller size, the stocky shape of the elytra, and erect setae on the prothorax and elytra.

Description. Holotype – Body length 6 mm, maximum elytral width 2.5 mm. Body black, legs dark brown. Rostrum 1.5x as long as wide. Posterior margin of epistome widely rounded and keeled. Frons poorly defined, anteriorly folded downwards, with shallow punctures on sides, mesally knurled. Lateral sides of frons convergent towards the eyes, with a longitudinal impression in the middle and dense punctures on sides; each head puncture with a white setae, 3– 4 x longer than the diameter of a puncture, backwardly directed and raised on tegument. Scape slightly clavate and curved; funicular joints as follows: I and II similar in length, 2x longer than apical width; III 1.5x as long as wide, IV–VII as long as wide. Antennal club fusiform, 1.3x longer than wide and slightly shorter than funicular joints V to VII. Head 2x longer than wide, eyes slightly convex, separated by distance slightly shorter than interantennal space and wider than maximum diameter of an eye. Prothorax ( Fig. 5 B) as long as wide; lateral margins strongly rounded; surface of disc with dense punctures mesally directed, with narrow and convex intervals; with a smooth and shiny small central area, sides of prothorax with granules of the same size of the dorsal punctures; with white setae, erected on disk, recumbent at sides, 4– 5 x longer than diameter of the punctures. Elytra ( Fig. 6 B) elliptical, 1.8x longer than wide; punctures of striae deep, rounded, separated from each other by distance similar to its diameter. Interstriae flattened, 2x as wide as striae, with a median row of tooth-like coarse granules, on which are inserted white setae, as long as interstriae width; anterior margin of the strial punctures with very short white setae. Urosternites I to IV smooth and shiny, with sparse punctures; V with dense minute punctures; punctures with 3– 4 x longer than wide, recumbent, white setae. Protibiae straight and dorsally expanded at their extreme apex. Femora unarmed. Spiculum ventrale with the fork-like apex not much expanded and apodeme about 4 time longer than it, spermatheca C-like with the basis slighlty inflated and notched ( Fig. 3 B–C).

Etymology. The new species takes its name from its similarity with Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) setosulus .

Distribution. A single specimen is known, collected under stones not far from the shores of Lake Trearie (Nebrodi Mountains).

Comparative notes. The new species differs as follows from other closely related species.

Otiorhynchus vagans : prothorax strongly rounded on sides and dorsally slightly convex, punctures small, mesally directed, separated from each other by distance 0.5x its diameter, elytral setae short, less dense than in O. striatosetosus , and erected to 45°. Anterior tibiae straight. Apex of mesophallus parallel-sided and rather regularly curved, spermatheca very abruptly bent in the middle with its base quite regularly widening and only slightly incised, spiculum ventrale with apex strongly and palette-like expanded, apodeme about 3 times longer than the dilated apex ( Figs. 1 B–C and 2B–C).

Otiorhynchus pseudosetosulus : prothorax moderately laterally expanded, dorsally convex, punctures very small and dense, with convex intervals; elytra with long, erect and sparse setae. Anterior tibiae straight. Spermatheca C-shaped, quite regularly bent in the middle with its base rather abruptly inflated and clearly notched, spiculum ventrale with forked apex only slightly expanded, its apodeme about 4 times longer than the dilated apex ( Fig. 3 B–C). Male unknown.

Otiorhynchus striatosetosus Boheman : prothorax strongly rounded at sides, dorsally convex, punctures large, mesally directed, separated from each other by distance shorter than 0.5x its diameter; elytra with long, dense, semi-erected setae. Male anterior tibiae straight. Apex of mesophallus parallel-sided and blunt, spermatheca not very abruptly bent in the middle with its base regularly widening and clearly notched, spiculum ventrale with apex strongly and palette-like expanded, its apodeme about 2.5 times longer than the expanded apex.

Otiorhynchus lacertosus Pesarini : prothorax rounded on sides, dorsally flattened, punctures small, mesally directed, separated from each other by distance similar to its diameter; elytra with short, sparse, semi-erect setae. Legs unusually long and strong, front tibiae curved towards the apex. Anterior tibiae straight. Apex of mesophallus slightly dilated at sides and straight. Female unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) vagans sp. n. Holotype male: (A) habitus; (B) aedeagus, apex; (C) aedeagus.

FIGURE 3. Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) pseudosetosulus sp. n. Holotype female: A habitus; B spermatheca; C spiculum ventrale.

FIGURE 5. Pronotal punctuation and setation of the new species: A: O. adrianus sp. n.; B: O. pseudosetosulus sp. n.; C: O. vagans sp. n.

FIGURE 6. Elytral punctuation and setation of new species of Otiorhynchus: A: O. adrianus sp. n.; B: O. pseudosetosulus sp. n.; C: O. vagans sp. n.