Ebenacobius curvisetis Haran, 2022

Haran, Julien, Benoit, Laure, Procheş, Şerban & Kergoat, Gael J., 2022, Ebenacobius Haran, a new southern African genus of flower weevils (Coleoptera: Curculioninae: Derelomini) associated with dicotyledonous plants, European Journal of Taxonomy 818 (1), pp. 1-54 : 14-16

Ebenacobius curvisetis Haran gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3DD9C8C6-8783-49E7-B92E-4938BC82263C

Figs 2A , 4A , 6A

Differential diagnosis

Ebenacobius curvisetis Haran gen. et sp. nov. can be distinguished by the combination of simple claws and long erect setae on dorsum. It is also the sole species of the genus with apex of elytra forming an acute expansion.

Etymology

This species is named in reference to the peculiar downcurved setae on its dorsum.

Material examined

Holotype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; “S. Afr. [REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA]; Limpopo Prov; Meletse Reserve 1003m; 24.36S – 27.39E ” “ 24- 26.11.2014. E-Y:3953. At light, bushveld; Leg. Ruth Müller ” “Holotype; Ebenacobius curvisetis Haran 2022 ”; TMSA .

Paratypes REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Limpopo Province • 1 spec.; Meletse Reserve , at center; 24°36′ S, 39°13′ E; 2 Dec. 2015; E. Seamark leg.; TMSA • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; D’Nyala Nature Reserve , Ellisras ; 23°45′ S, 27°49′ E; 24–26 Sep. 1990; R. Oberprieler leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceeding; CBGP • 1 ♂; Lapalala Wilderness ; 23°53′ S, 28°20′ E; 10–11 Jan. 1991; R. Oberprieler leg.; SANC • 2 ♂♂; Mogol Nature Reserve , Ellisras District; 23°58′ S, 27°45′ E; 19–23 Nov. 1979; S.J. van Tonder and C. Kok leg.; light trap; SANC • 2 ♀♀; Waterberg, Geelhoutbush farm ; 24°22′ S, 27°34′ E; 10 Oct. 1995; Endrödy-Younga & Bellamy leg.; pyrethrum fogging of Peltophorum africanum ; E-Y:3161; TMSA • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 7 Oct. 1995; Endrödy-Younga & Bellamy leg.; UV light; E-Y:3154; TMSA • 1 ♀; Nylsvley Meteorological station ; 24°40′ S, 28°42′ E; 25 Sep. 1975; Endrödy-Younga leg.; sifted litter; E-Y: 916; TMSA • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 27 Jan. 1976; Endrödy-Younga leg.; sifted litter; E-Y:1015; TMSA • 1 ♀; Kwalata; Jan. 2011; at light; Ş. Procheş leg.; no. 2371 ; CBGP.

Description

Male

BODY LENGTH. 3.2–3.5 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument pale brown; vestiture of elytra made of rows of erect setae, downcurved in apical half, as long as interstria width and of rows of short recumbent setae, each interstria with a row of long and two rows of short setae laterally; setae not concealing the integument.

HEAD. Rostrum as long as prothorax in lateral view, moderately downcurved, in dorsal view covered with suberect setae up to apex; antennae inserted at apical 1/4 of length; head capsule densely covered with erect setae in dorsal view, with row of longer setae along dorsal margin of eyes; eyes slightly convex, moderately exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with segment 1 elongate, 2 × longer than wide, as long as 2+3, 4 isodiametric, 5–7 wider than long.

PROTHORAX. Wider than long (W:L ratio: 1.37), widest in basal half, sides rounded, narrowed in apical ½; integument shiny, with coarse punctures, space between punctures micropunctate, as wide as or narrower than diameter of larger punctures; setae oriented toward scutellar shield.

ELYTRA. Sides slightly convex, widest near middle of length (W:L ratio: 0.64); humeri raised, forming a carina at base on interstria 7; each elytron separately acuminate apically; striae as wide or slightly narrower than interstriae, interstriae flat, 1–3 convex apicad, 9 entirely convex; scutellar shield rounded, bearing setae.

ABDOMEN. Underside mostly covered with short whitish scales.

LEGS. Profemora moderately thickened in middle; protibiae straight in basal ⅔, downcurved apically; all tibiae armed with a strong apical mucro; claws simple.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W:L ratio: 0.26), 2 × as long as apodemes, widest at base, narrowing from base to basal ⅓ of length, from there widening apicad, constricted before apex, apex flat; in lateral view curvature stronger in basal ⅓, narrowing apicad in apical 1/4 ( Fig. 6A ).

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females can be distinguished by their rostrum which is longer than prothorax and narrower in ♀♀, as long as prothorax and thicker in ♂♂. Antennal insertion located at apical ⅓ in ♀♀ and at apical 1/ 4 in ♂♂.

Life history

Ebenacobius curvisetis gen. et sp. nov. was collected with light traps and by sifting leaf litter. The host plant is unknown, two specimens were recorded once on the Fabaceae Peltophorum africanum Sond. Adults were collected from September to January.

Distribution

This species occurs in the Republic of South Africa where it seems restricted to the Limpopo Province.

Figures

Fig. 2. A–I. Habitus of males of Ebenacobius Haran gen. nov. in dorsal view (part 1). A. E. curvisetis Haran gen. et sp. nov. B. E. rectirostris Haran gen. et sp. nov. C. E. duplicatus Haran gen. et sp. nov. D. E. grobbelaarae Haran gen. et sp. nov. E. E. costalis (Fåhraeus, 1844) gen. et comb. nov. F. E. thoracicus Haran gen. et sp. nov. G. E. xhosa Haran gen. et sp. nov. H. E. san Haran gen. et sp. nov. I. E. kuscheli Haran gen. et sp. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. A–J. Habitus of males of Ebenacobius Haran gen. nov. in lateral view (part 1). A. E. curvisetis Haran gen. et sp. nov. B. E. thoracicus Haran gen. et sp. nov. C. E. rectirostris Haran gen. et sp. nov. D. E. xhosa Haran gen. et sp. nov. E. E. duplicatus Haran gen. et sp. nov. F. E. san Haran gen. et sp. nov. G. E. grobbelaarae Haran gen. et sp. nov. H. E. kuscheli Haran gen. et sp. nov. I. E. costalis (Fåhraeus, 1844) gen. et comb. nov. J. E. mulanjensis Haran gen. et sp. nov. A–J = not to scale.

Fig. 6 (part 1). A–I. Male genitalia of Ebenacobius Haran gen. nov., penis in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view.A. E. curvisetis Haran gen. et sp. nov.B. E. rectirostrisHaran gen. et sp. nov.C. E. duplicatus Haran gen. et sp. nov. D. E. grobbelaarae Haran gen. et sp. nov. E. E. costalis (Fåhraeus, 1844) gen. et comb. nov. F. E. thoracicus Haran gen. et sp. nov. G. E. xhosa Haran gen. et sp. nov. H. E. san Haran gen. et sp. nov. I. E. kuscheli Haran gen. et sp. nov. A–I = not to scale.