Smicronyx zambianus Haran, 2018

Haran, Julien, 2018, A review of the genus Smicronyx Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae) in tropical Africa, Zootaxa 4508 (2), pp. 267-287 : 273

Smicronyx zambianus Haran , sp. n.

Figs 1E , 3E , 5E

Material examined. Holotype ♂: ‘ Holotype [Red label]’ ‘ Zambia: Western Pr. 3.8 km E Namushakende, 1100m, 15°26’54’’S 23°15’37’’E. 29.XI.2010, Zambezian. Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-26 ’ ‘ Smicronyx zambianus Haran sp. n. ’ (CMNC). Paratypes. Data as for holotype (4♂, CMNC; 1♂, CBGP; 1♂, MNHN); Zambia, Western Pr., 7.6 km S Ushaa, 1050 m, 15°01’13’’S 23°16’34’’E, 2.xii.2010, degraded Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-33 (1♂, 4♀, CMNC; 1♀, CBGP); 2.5 km E Namushakende, 1100m, 15°26’40’’S 23°14’57’’E, 19.xi.2010, Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-04 (1♂, 2♀, CMNC); 2.5 km E Namushakende, 1100m, 15°26’40’’S 23°14’57’’E, 30.xi.2010, Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-04 (1♂, SAMC); Western Pr., 7 km S Mukokwa, 110 m, 15°37’58’’S 23°18’57’’E, 1.xii.2010, Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-31 (1♀, BMNH); Central Pr., 6.5 km N Chunga, 1100m, 14°59’40’’S 26°01’11’’E, 4.xii.2010, open central Zambezian & Miobo woodland, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-43 (1♀, CMNC).

Description. Body length 1.9–2.1 mm. Colour. Body integument black on mature specimens, antennae and legs paler red; vestiture of elytra consisting of recumbent, slightly longer than wide, brownish and greyish scales, usually darker in basal half of interstriae 1–2, and spots of white or pale grey on humeri and along basal half of interstria 3; vestiture of prothorax consisting of greyish recumbent and elongate scales oriented toward median line except along apical margin, median line and sides of prothorax with white or pale grey scales. Head. Rostrum as long as head capsule plus prothorax, moderately and regularly downcurved, slightly longer and more downcurved in ♀ than in ♂, densely covered by scales and punctate between base and antennal insertion, punctures and vestiture less dense beyond antennal insertion, smooth at apex; antennae inserted near middle of length (♀) or near apical 1/3 (♂); transverse furrow at base of rostrum shiny; head capsule with slight scale cover near base of rostrum; eyes flat, subcontiguous on ventral side; antennae dark reddish, scape pale red, slightly bisinuate near base, moderately clavate at apex, segment 1 elongate, as long as 2+3, 2–4 quadrate, 5–7 wider than long.

Prothorax. Slightly wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.10), widest near middle, narrowed at apex, sides rounded; integument punctuate and granulate, concealed by scales. Elytra. Sides subparallel in basal two-thirds, rounded in apical third, widest near middle (w/l ratio: 0.70); humeri raised; striae much narrower that interstriae, interstriae flat, wide and reticulate, apex of interstria 5 with small declivital callosity followed by moderate depression; scutellum small but visible, glabrous. Abdomen. Underside mostly covered with non-overlapping greyish scales.

Legs. Reddish, covered with whitish elongate scales; femora moderately clavate, bearing small tooth on ventral side; tibiae straight, slightly bisinuate in basal third. Genitalia. Penis short (w/l ratio: 0.66), sides slightly converging from base to apical 1/4, strongly converging at apex, apex acuminate and bearing setae on sides, curvature in lateral view regular ( Fig.5E ).

Life history. The host plant is unknown; specimens were collected at lights in November and December.

Distribution. Zambia, Western and Central provinces.

Discussion. Smicronyx zambianus belongs to the S. remaudierei specie group (see discussion on S. remaudierei ). Within this species group, it can be distinguished from all species by its dark integument and by its short elytra of w/l ratio: 0.70 (integuments reddish and w/l ratio of elytra above 0.64 in other species: S. adjamati , S. bisignatus , S. crassithorax and S. remaudierei ).

Name derivation. Named in reference to the country where all specimens of this species were found.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of species of Smicronyx from tropical Africa (Part 1). A. Smicronyx bisignatus Hoffmann, holotype ♂. B. S. remaudierei Hoffmann, holotype ♂. C. S. adjamati, sp. n., holotype ♂. D. S. crassithorax sp. n., paratype ♀. E. S. zambianus sp. n. holotype ♂. F. S. syriacus Faust, specimen from Israel (♂). G. S. gossypii Marshall, holotype ♂. H. S. albosquamosus Wollaston, specimen from Israel (♂). I. S. pauperculus Wollaston, specimen from Tanzania (♂). J. S. rufus sp. n., holotype ♂. K. S. zonatus sp. n., holotype ♂. L. S. kenyanus sp. n., holotype ♂. Scale bars (A to L): 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Head and prothorax in lateral view of species of Smicronyx from tropical Africa (Part 1). A. Smicronyx bisignatus Hoffmann, holotype ♂. B. S. remaudierei Hoffmann, holotype ♂. C. S. adjamati, sp. n., holotype ♂. D. S. crassithorax sp. n., paratype ♀. E. S. zambianus sp. n. holotype ♂. F. S. syriacus Faust, specimen from Israel (♂). G. S. gossypii Marshall, holotype ♂. H. S. albosquamosus Wollaston, specimen from Israel (♂).

FIGURE 5. Penis of Smicronyx from tropical Africa, in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view. A. Smicronyx bisignatus Hoffmann, holotype ♂. B. S. remaudierei Hoffmann, holotype ♂. C. S. adjamati, sp. n., holotype ♂. D. S. crassithorax sp. n., paratype ♀. E. S. zambianus sp. n. holotype ♂. F. S. syriacus Faust, specimen from Israel (♂). G. S. gossypii Marshall, holotype ♂. H. S. albosquamosus Wollaston, specimen from Israel (♂). I. S. pauperculus Wollaston, specimen from Tanzania (♂). J. S. rufus sp. n., holotype ♂. K. S. zonatus sp. n., holotype ♂. L. S. kenyanus sp. n., holotype ♂. M. S. namibicus sp. n., holotype ♂. N. S. kiboanus Voss, paratype ♂. O. S. guineanus Voss, specimen from Senegal (♂). P. S. buchnerae sp. n., holotype ♂. Scale bars (A to N): 100 µm.