Mecinus variabilis (Rosenhauer)

Caldara, Roberto & Fogato, Valter, 2013, Systematics of the weevil genus <i> Mecinus </ i> Germar, 1821 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). I. Taxonomic treatment of the species, Zootaxa 3654 (1), pp. 1-105 : 20-21

7. Mecinus variabilis (Rosenhauer)

Figs 6 , 48–49 , 113

Gymnetron variabile Rosenhauer, 1856: 297 . H. Brisout de Barneville, 1862: 634. Desbrochers des Loges, 1893: 47. Rey, 1894: 74. Reitter, 1907: 23. Peyerimhoff, 1911: 310. Hustache, 1931: 410, 419. Hoffmann, 1958: 1279, 1291. Tempère, 1975: 654.

Mecinus variabilis (Rosenhauer) . Caldara, 2001: 183.

Gymnetron sanguinipes Chevrolat, 1859: 389 . H. Brisout de Barneville, 1862: 635.

Gymnetron bellum Reitter, 1872: 185 ; 1907: 23.

Gymnetron variabile var. simplex Ragusa, 1908: 177 . Porta, 1932: 284 (infrasubspecific name).

Type locality. Algeciras (Andalusia, Spain).

Type series. This species was described from specimens collected in Andalusia. In Desbrochers des Loges' collection (MNHN) we examined three male syntypes all labelled “Thiere Andalusiens Rosenhauer”, one of them bearing also the following label “Algeciras / variabilis [sic] Rsh.” (lectotype here designated).

Synonyms. Gymnetron sanguinipes was described from specimens collected near Alger ( Poupillier ). We examined four of them (collection Chevrolat, NHRS) labelled respectively: “ Alger, ... [illegible word] / Typus” (a female with prothorax detached from elytra, lectotype here designated); “ Paratypus “ without other indications (male, paralectotype); “carduorum (?) [sic], Chv., Alger / Allotypus ” (one male and another specimen without the rostrum, whose sex we did not determine; paralectotypes). We can confirm the synonymy of this species with M. variabilis already reported by other authors.

Reitter (1872) described Gymnetron bellum from specimens from Oran ( Algeria), which we did not examine. However, subsequently Reitter (1907) synonymized this species with M. variabilis . We agree with this opinion after the study of some specimens labelled as G. bellum by Reitter.

The variety simplex , described from specimens of M. variabilis , having the elytra completely reddish and collected in Sicily (Palermo, Ficuzza), is unequivocally of an infrasubspecific rank (ICZN 1999 Art. 45.6.1) and therefore is unavailable (ICZN 1999 Art. 45.5).

Redescription. Male. Length 1.5 mm. Body: moderately long, oval, moderately slender ( Fig. 6 ). Rostrum: black with reddish apex, moderately short (Rl/Pl 0.77), subcylindrical; in lateral view weakly curved, weakly narrowed at apical third ( Fig. 48 ); in dorsal view with subparallel sides, with moderately visible scrobes, moderately striate-punctured in basal two thirds, in basal half with recumbent to subrecumbent, sparse, whitish, moderately long (l/w 5–8), seta-like scales. Head: frons as wide as rostrum at base, without fovea; eyes weakly convex. Antennae: reddish with blackish brown club, inserted at middle of rostrum; scape short, 3.5x longer than wide; funicle distinctly longer than scape, segment 1 2.5x longer than wide, distinctly stouter and twice as long as segment 2, which is 1.3x longer than wide, segment 3 about as long as wide, segments 4 and 5 gradually more transverse; club short, oval, segment 1 almost glabrous. Pronotum: black, with dense, variable in size, slightly irregular punctures, intervals between punctures smooth and shining, clearly visible between recumbent to erect, sparse, whitish, long to very long (l/w 8–12), seta-like scales; weakly transverse (Pw/Pl 1.25), with weakly rounded sides, with weakly prominent apical constriction, widest in basal half, moderately convex. Elytra: reddish except interstria 1 in basal half, interstria 2, interstriae 3 and 4 in apical half (Y-inverted pattern) and interstriae 9 and 10, which are black; moderately long (El/Ew 1.42), at base weakly concave, slightly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.23), with subparallel sides in basal two thirds, weakly convex on disc; interstriae clearly visible between suberect, sparse, whitish, long to very long (1.0–1.5x as long as width of interstria; l/w 8–12), seta-like scales, which are arranged in a single row; striae moderately visible, as wide as half of interstriae, with a row of scales weakly thinner and slightly shorter than those covering interstriae. Legs: moderately stout, with recumbent to suberect sparse, whitish, seta-like scales, which are slightly shorter than width of tibia; femora reddish, unarmed; tibiae reddish, moderately slender, protibiae with apical part of ventral surface weakly directed outward; unci blackish, stout, all equal in length; tarsi reddish, tarsomere 1 1.5x longer than wide, tarsomere 2 about as long as wide, tarsomere 3 bilobed and somewhat wider than tarsomere 2, onychium slightly shorter than tarsomeres 1–3 taken together; claws blackish, equal in length, fused in basal half. Venter: metasternum black, shining, ill punctured, clearly visible between subrecumbent, sparse, whitish, long, hair-like scales; mesothoracic epimera and meso- and metathoracic episterna with sparse, whitish, mostly seta-like scales and some wider scales. Abdomen black with brown ventrite 5, shining, with sparse and irregular (in size and disposition) punctures, which are clearly visible between recumbent to subrecumbent, sparse, whitish, hair-like scales; ventrites length ratio 1–2/3–4 1.53. Penis: fig. 113.

Female. As in male except rostrum slightly longer (Rl/Pl 0.81) and more curved ( Fig. 49 ), smooth and shining. Sternite 8 and spermatheca: as in M. caucasicus ( Figs 145 and 158 .

Variability. Length 1.4–1.8 mm. The black vittae forming the pattern of the elytral integument vary in width both on disc and at sides in some specimens the elytra are mostly reddish and in others the elytra are almost completely blackish. Pronotum and elytra are slightly variable in width and the curvature of the sides.

Remarks and comparative notes. This species is closely related to M. caucasicus , from which it differs mainly by the smaller size, epimera and episterna covered less densely with narrow scales, rostrum poorly sexually dimorphic, pronotum with more rounded sides and widest toward middle, scales of elytral interstriae longer and usually arranged more irregularly, tooth of profemora almost indistinct, and by the shape of the penis. M. variabilis may also be confused with M. haemorrhoidalis and M. seriatus . It differs from these species mainly by the shape of the rostrum, which is similar in length in both sexes, pronotum and elytra narrower, and by the shape of the penis.

Biological notes. This species was collected in Algeria on Plantago lagopus L. and P. serraria L. ( Peyerimhoff 1911). Similarly Tempère (1975) in France and Sprick (2001) in Spain and Malta reported to have collected M. variabilis on P. lagopus L., on which the adult has been collected in Sardinia (R. Caldara pers. obs.).

Distribution. Southern Portugal, southern Spain and Canary Islands, France including Corsica, central and southern Italy including Sardinia and Sicily, Malta, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya.

Non-type specimens examined. PORTUGAL: Évora, Serra da Ossa, Estremoz , 17.V.1974, Wittmer leg. (1, NHMB) ; Faro, Aljezur , 31.III.1996, Stüben leg. (1, PSCM) ; Faro, Montes de Alvor , 16.VI.1980, Russell leg. (1, RBCS) ; Faro, Barragem do Arade , 12.V.1994, Bayer & Winkelmann legg. (3, CBCB) ; Faro, Carrapateira , 1.IV.1996, Stüben leg. (1, PSCM) ; Faro, Monte Gordo Coast , 11.V.1994, Bayer & Winkelmann legg. (1, CBCB) ; Faro, Sierra de Monchique, St. Martinho , 9.V.1994, Bayer & Winkelmann legg. (4, HWCB) ; Faro, Sierra do Caldeirao , 10.V.1966, Abraham & Bacchus legg. (2, BMNH) ; Lisboa, Setúbal, Grandola, Costa de Santo André , 27.III.1996, Stüben leg. (1, PSCM) . SPAIN: Andalucía, Cádiz, Algar , E Jerez, 22.IV.1963, Goodings leg. (2, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Algeciras , 29.V.1934, Koch leg. (15, MSNM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Algeciras, Playa Getares , 12.VI.1988, de Ferrer leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Chiclana , 30.IV.2000, Coello leg. (4, USCA) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Jimena , 25.VI.1987, de Ferrer leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Los Barrios cruce Facinas , 24.V.1992, Vela leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Rio Alberite, Alcalá de los Gazules , 2.V.1992, AlonsoZarazaga leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Ojen , 12.V.1984, de Ferrer leg. (3, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, San Roque , 14.VII.1984, de Ferrer leg. (2, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Tarifa , 26.IV.1980, Meregalli leg. (5, MMCT) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Tarifa, Punta Paloma , 22.III.1981, Alonso-Zarazaga leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Cádiz, Ubrique , 15.V.1982, de Ferrer leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Córdoba, Montoro , R. Arenosillo , 11.V.1967, Bacchus & Levey legg. (3, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Córdoba , 13.V.1967, Bacchus & Levey legg. (3, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Jaén, Carr. Valenzuela-Porcuna, Rio Salado , 6.V.1982, Alonso-Zarazaga leg. (2, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Málaga , 4.V.1990, Strejček leg. (1, JSCP) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Campillos , 19.V.1967, Bacchus & Levey legg. (6, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Pantano Agujer , 18.IV.1981. Bastazo & Vela legg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Ronda , 19.V.1967, Bacchus & Levey legg. (1, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Sierra de Ronda, 8.V.1980, Meregalli leg. (10. MMCT) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Ronda, Atajate , 25.IV.1980, Meregalli leg. (1, MMCT) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Ronda, Porto del Viento , 1000 m, 25.V.1990, Bastazo & Vela legg. (4, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Málaga, Villanueva del Rosario , 14.V.1988, Alonso-Zarazaga leg. (1, AZCM) ; Andalucía, Sevilla, Arroyo de Stetes Arroyos , 15.V.1967, Bacchus & Levey legg. (3, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Sevilla, Lora del Rio , 15.V.1967, Bacchus & Levey legg. (1, BMNH) ; Andalucía, Sevilla, Laguna del Candilejo, Lebrija , 12.IV.1981, Alonso-Zarazaga leg. (1, AZCM) ; Cataluña, Gerona, Figueras , 2.V.2003, Kresl leg. (2, RBCS) ; Cataluña, Gerona, San Pedro Pescador , 11.V.1988, on Plantago lagopus, Sprick leg. (2, PSCH) ; Cataluña, Roda de Bara , NE Tarragona, 7.VI.1997, Białooki leg. (1, PBCS) ; Comunidad Valenciana, Valencia, Alto de Tona, Caroch hill, 1126 m, 24.VI.1997, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS) ; Navarra, Bardenas Reales, Valtierra , 15.V.2008, Ugarte & Salgueira legg. (7, USCA) . Spain (Balearic Islands): Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca , Son Espanyolet , 19.IV.1993, Pierotti leg. (1, GOCA) ; Mallorca, Porto Petro , 9.VI.1971, Sieber leg. (1, MHNG) . Spain (Canary Islands): Tenerife , La Esperanza, 23.III.1994, Schön leg. (1, RBCS) . ITALY: Toscana, Livorno , 4.IV.1972, Meregalli leg. (1, MMCT) ; Puglia, Bari, Adelfia , 15.I.2000, Osella leg. (1, GOCA) ; Puglia, Taranto, Circ. Mar Piccolo , 11.IV.1977, Montemurro leg. (2, LDCC) ; Calabria, Catanzaro, Cotronei , 4.V.1975, Meregalli leg. (2, MMCT) ; Calabria, Reggio Calabria , Melito P.S., V.1957 (2, LMCP; 3, GOCA) ; Basilicata, Matera, Nova Siri , V.1957 (4, GOCA; 1, LMCP) ; Basilicata, Matera, Policoro, Bosco Pantano , 18.IV.1978, Colonnelli leg. (1, HWCB) ; Basilicata, Matera, Policoro , 26.VI.1988, Angelini leg. (1, GOCA) . ITALY (Sardinia): Cagliari, Collostrai , 5.VI.1987, Bellò leg. (1, GOCA) ; Cagliari, Monte dei Sette Fratelli , IX.1990, Fancello leg. (1, PACF) ; Cagliari, Quartu S. Elena , X.1999, Fancello leg. (1, PACF) ; Cagliari, Siliqua , 30.V.1987, Bellò leg. (1, GOCA) ; Carbonia-Iglesias, Isola S. Antioco, Cannai , 2.VI.1997, Pierotti leg. (5, GOCA) ; Nuoro, Tertenia , 6.XI.1992, Bellò leg. (1, GOCA) ; Olbia-Tempio, Bassacutena , 23.V.1993, Colonna leg. (2, GOCA) ; Olbia-Tempio, Golfo Aranci , 20.VI.1978, Mourglia leg. (1, MMCT) ; Olbia-Tempio, Isola Maddalena , 18.VI.1989, Osella leg. (8, GOCA) ; Olbia-Tempio, Isola Molara , 13.IX.1987, Osella leg. (1, GOCA) ; OlbiaTempio, San Teodoro , 19.V.1994, Osella leg. (3, GOCA) ; Oristano, Flumentorgiu , 28.IV.1990, Bellò leg. (3, GOCA) ; Sassari, Porto Conte , 5.VI.1975, Bartolozzi leg. (1, PACF) . ITALY (Sicily): Palermo, Altofonte , V.1976, Canepari leg. (1, CPCM) ; Palermo, Pollina river, contrada Altopiano , 5.II.1975, Romano leg. (1, CBCM) ; Palermo, Piano Zucchi , 26.VI.1973, Bucciarelli leg. (3, CPCM) ; Siracusa, Lentini , 24.II.1926, Schatzmayr leg. (1, MSNM) ; Trapani, R.N. O. “ Zingaro ”, 22.IV.2003, Baviera leg. (1, CBCM) ; Trapani, Calatafimi , 23.V.2010, Diotti leg. (3, LDCC) ; Trapani, Pantelleria Isle , 28.IV.1991. Osella leg. (10. GOCA) ; Trapani, Pantelleria Isle, Scauri , 22.IV.2009, Monzini leg. (2, SMCM) . Malta: Wied il-Għasel, 2.IV.1996, Mifsud leg. (1, DMCM) ; Mdina, WestBongiemma , 4.IV.1993, on Plantago lagopus, Sprick leg. (1, PSCH) . GREECE: Attica, Reitter leg. (1, GOCA) ; Attica, Anavisos , 28.VI.1986, Rieger leg. (1, NHMB) ; Attica, Athina Akropolis , 19.IV.1990, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS) ; Celtral Greece, Halkis , 5.V.1987, Angelov leg. (1, GOCA) ; Central Greece, Eubea, Nea Artaki , 18.IX.1982, Sette leg. (3, GOCA) ; West Greece, Ilia, Kaiáfa , 27.IV.1994, Colonnelli leg. (1, ECCR) ; Peloponnese, Taigetos Mt., Asafigion , 14.VI.1974, Horák & Svihla legg. (1, OVCK) ; Peloponnese, Githion, Skoutari , 18.IV.1987, Riedel leg. (2, ARCK) ; Rhodos, Kolimbia , strand, 6.IV.2007, Winkelmann leg. (6, HWCB) . MOROCCO: 40 km S Larache , 23.IV.1989, Zool. Mus. Copenh. Exp. (1, ZMUC) ; Rabat , forêt de Mamora, 25.IV.1989, Zool. Mus. Copenh. Exp (1, ZMUC) ; Tanger , V.1901, Buchet leg. (2, MNHN) . ALGERIA: Alger, Sidi Feredj , 8.VII.1980, Strejček leg. (1, JSCP) ; Annaba, Oued Mafrag , 2.VII.1979, Doguet leg. (1, GOCA) ; Bordj-Bou-Arreridj, 26.IV.1978, Meregalli leg. (1, MMCT) ; Bouīra, 10.VI.1971, Hoffer & Horát legg. (1, OVCK) ; Atlas tellien Mts. , Bouīra, 4.V.1987, leg. Strejček (2, JSCP) ; Guelma, Djebel Hahouna , 1.VI.1979, Doguet leg. (1, GOCA) ; Souk Ahras, 26.V.1980, Sama & Magnani legg. (1, GOCA) ; Tifrit Naīt , El Hadu, forest, 11.V.1983, Osella leg. (1, GOCA) ; Tipasa, 11.V.1987, Kuban leg. (1, NHMB) ; Tipasa, Djebel Chenoa , 11.V.1987, Strejček leg. (2, JSCP) ; Tipasa, Oued Nador , 11.V.1987, Strejček leg. (2, JSCP) ; Grande Kabylie , 9 km E Yakouren, 930 m, 13.V.1988, Besuchet & Löbl legg. (3, MHNG) . TUNISIA: Sousse or., Friguia , 30 km SSW Hammamet, 13.V.2006, Kresl leg. (10. PKCJ) ; Beja, Teboursouk , 5 km NW road for Beja, 21.V.2010, Angelini leg. (3, FACF) ; Teboursouk , 2.V.1998, Borovec leg. (1, RBCS) . LIBYA: Tripolitania, Azizia , 10.III.1926, Schatzmayr leg. (1, MSNM) ; Tripolitania, Aden, Suani Ben , 15.III.1926, Schatzmayr leg. (20. MSNM) ; Tripoli, 27.II.1926, Schatzmayr leg. (1, MSNM) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Habitus of (1) Mecinus pascuorum; (2) M. ictericus; (3) M. latiusculus; (4) M. caucasicus; (5) M. ludyi; (6) M. variabilis; (7) M. haemorrhoidalis; (8) M. seriatus; (9) M. sanctus. Not to the same scale.

FIGURES 43–57. Rostrum in lateral view of (43) Mecinus pascuorum, male; (44) idem, female; (45) M. ictericus, female; (46) M. caucasicus, male; (47) idem, female; (48) Mecinus variabilis, male; (49) idem, female; (50) M. haemorrhoidalis, male; (51) idem, female; (52) M. seriatus, female; (53) M. longulus, female; (54) M. tychioides, male; (55) M. labilis, male; (56) idem, female; (57) M. plantaginis, male. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 108–120. Penis in dorsal and lateral view of (108) Mecinus pascuorum; (109) M. crassifemur; (110) M. ictericus; (111) M. latiusculus; (112) M. caucasicus; (113) M. variabilis; (114) M. tychioides; (115) M. haemorrhoidalis; (116) M. longulus; (117) M. labilis; (118) M. plantaginis; (119) M. alboscutellatus alboscutellatus; (120) M. paratychioides. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 144–156. Sternite 8 of (144) Mecinus pascuorum; (145) M. caucasicus; (146) M. marina; (147) M. reichei; (148) M. humeralis; (149) M. circulatus; (150) M. pyraster; (151) M. simus; (152) M. collaris; (153) M. janthinus; (154) M. lixoides; (155) M. sicardi; (156) M. heydenii. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 157–171. Spermatheca of (157) Mecinus pascuorum; (158) M. caucasicus; (159) M. haemorrhoidalis; (160) M. labilis; (161) M. marina; (162) M. elongatus; (163) M. reichei; (164) M. circulatus; (165) M. pyraster; (166) M. simus; (167) M. comosus; (168) M. lixoides; (169) M. janthinus; (170) M. heydenii; (171) M. collaris. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.