Phlyctinus, Schoenherr, 1826

Haran, Julien M., Hansen, Steffan, Benoit, Laure & Addison, Pia, 2020, Description of five new species in the genus Phlyctinus Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae): a first step in deciphering the P. callosus complex, European Journal of Taxonomy 669 (669), pp. 1-29 : 24-25

Key to species of Phlyctinus

1. Ventrites 1 and 5 of male with erect golden setae forming two circular tufts ( Fig. 3B ); cavity of ventrite 5 extending over apical ⁴⁄5 of length, ventrites 2–4 with elongate tubercles at base of scales; external margin of eyes round, surface slightly conical in dorsal view ( Fig. 1B ). On Asteraceae in coastal habitats .............................................................................. Phlyctinus grootbosensis sp. nov.

– Ventrites 1 and 5 of male with setae more or less erect but not forming dense tufts ( Fig. 3A, C ), cavity of ventrite 5 extending only over apical ⅔ of length, integument of ventrites 2–4 smooth, lacking elongate tubercles at base of scales; external margin of eyes rounded, surface slightly conical or strongly conical in dorsal view ( Fig. 1A, E ) ................................................................................ 2

2. Cavity of ventrite 5 of male with erect setae along whole length of median area ( Fig. 3C ); body length> 7 mm; elytra of female with large tubercles and usually a contrasting transverse pale band on declivity ( Fig. 1C ); scales on prothorax dense, concealing integument, leaving only tubercles at base of setae and median carina visible; body of penis short, 0.5 × as long as apodemes; endophallus with a sclerotised plate forming a square angle below base of body of penis ( Fig. 2C ). Polyphagous, in inland valleys of Worcester region ................................................ Phlyctinus xerophilus sp. nov.

– Cavity of ventrite 5 of male lacking erect setae in middle, or only present in basal half ( Fig. 3A, D ); body length <7 mm; elytra of female with no or only small tubercles and transverse, pale, contrasting or indistinct band on declivity ( Fig. 1A , D–F); scales on prothorax usually scattered, not concealing integument between tubercles and punctures; body of penis longer, more than 0.6× as long as apodemes; endophallus lacking sclerotised plate ( Fig. 2A , D–F) ........................................ 3

3. Scales on elytra always consisting of a mixture of wide and very narrow, hair-like ones ( Fig. 3E ); elytral declivity always with small but distinct tubercles on interstriae 3–5–7; eyes strongly protruding, surface conical in dorsal view ( Fig. 1A ); prothorax with 2 slight cuticular depressions on each side of median line; in female, transverse band of elytra generally extending over all interstriae. Polyphagous, widespread across the Western Cape province and introduced overseas ..................... .............................................................................................. Phlyctinus callosus ( Schoenherr, 1826)

– Scales of elytra only elliptical in 95% of specimens ( Fig. 3F ); elytra with tubercles on declivity absent or very reduced on interstriae 3–5–7; eyes very protruding, with a conical surface, or not, in dorsal view ( Fig. 1 D–F); prothorax regularly convex, without cuticular depression; in female transverse band of elytra generally reduced to interstriae 1–3 ( Fig. 1D, F ) or lacking ( Fig. 1E ). Coastal habitats of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve ........................................................................... 4

4. Body integument covered with homogeneous greyish scales, a few paler spots scattered on elytra ( Fig. 1E ); eye margin round in dorsal view, or angled ( Fig. 1E ); body of penis widest near base, sides almost straight, converging apicad ( Fig. 2E ) ......................................... Phlyctinus littoralis sp. nov.

– Body integument covered with brown, black or pearly green scales forming more or less contrasting patterns ( Fig. 1D, F ); eyes protruding, surface distinctly conical in dorsal view ( Fig. 1D, F ); body of penis with sides convex, widest near basal ½ or near middle of length ( Fig. 2D, F ) ....................... 5

5. Integument of prothorax with a smooth, shiny and very distinct carina in middle of length; vestiture of elytra forming a few ill-defined paler spots in addition to transverse band, this not always visible ( Fig. 1F ); erect scales on ventrites 1–4 shorter than claws; copulatory sclerite with setae at base of left arm ( Fig. 2F ) .................................................................................. Phlyctinus aloevorus sp. nov.

– Integument of prothorax densely punctate, lacking longitudinal carina; vestiture of elytra with contrasting scattered pale spots in addition to transverse band ( Fig. 1D ); erect scales on ventrites 1–4 longer than claws; copulatory sclerite lacking setae at base of left arm ( Fig. 2D ) ...................... .......................................................................................................... Phlyctinus planithorax sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 3 (opposite page). A–B. Ventrites of males of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826 (left: ventrites 1–5, right: ventrite 5). A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. C–D. Ventrite 5. C. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. D. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov. E–F. Vestiture of basal right side of elytra. E. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826) (left). F. P. littoralis Haran sp. nov. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 1 (opposite page). Habitus of species of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826 males (left) and females (right). A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. C. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. D. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. E. P. littoralis Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. F. P. aloevorus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. Scale bars = 3 mm .

Fig. 2. Penis of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826, in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view, and copulatory sclerite (top right). A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. C. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. D. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. E. P. littoralis Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. F. P. aloevorus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. Scale bars = 500 µm. Copulatory sclerite not to scale.