Mecinus sicardi Hustache, 1920
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.939.50612 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B2397011-4888-4712-880E-1069C943AD33 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1F9A5873-FBF6-5574-AD9C-89CC02C7F8FB |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Mecinus sicardi Hustache, 1920 |
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Mecinus sicardi Hustache, 1920
Material examined.
6 L3 larvae and 1 pupa, France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Alpes Maritimes, road Èze-La Turbie, 20.07.2014, on Antirrhinum latifolium Mill. stems, lgt. and det. R. Caldara. Accession numbers of sequenced specimen MN992007.
Description of mature larva
(Figures 25A-D View Figure 25 , 26A-F View Figure 26 ). Measurements (in mm). Body length: 2.71-3.75. Body width (abdominal segments I-II): 1.10-1.25. Head width: 0.60-0.65.
Body (Figure 25A-D View Figure 25 ) yellowish, slender. All thoracic segments almost equal in length. Abdominal segments I-V of almost equal length; segments VI-IX decreasing gradually to the terminal body part; segment X reduced to three anal lobes of those lateral are the largest, and dorsal the smallest (sometimes absent). Chaetotaxy weakly developed, setae capilliform, variable in length, yellow. Prothorax (Figure 25B View Figure 25 ) with ten prns of unequal length (seven medium length, three short); two medium ps and one medium eus. Meso- and metathorax (Figure 25B View Figure 25 ) with one very short prs, three pds, different in length (pds1,3 very short, pds2 medium); one short as, three short ss, one medium long eps, one medium long ps and one medium eus. Pedal area with five pda, different in length. Abdominal segments I-VIII (Figure 25C, D View Figure 25 ) with one short prs, four pds of different length (pds1,2,4 short, pds3 medium; all pds on segments VI-VIII very long, equal in length) arranged along the posterior margin, one short and one medium ss, two medium eps, one medium ps, one medium lsts and two relatively long eus. Abdominal segment IX (Figure 25D View Figure 25 ) with three very long ds, all located close to the posterior margin, one medium ps and two medium sts. Each of lateral anal lobe with two minute setae.
Head capsule (Figures 25A View Figure 25 , 26A-F View Figure 26 ) yellow, distinctly narrowed bilaterally. Des1-3,5 equal in length, des4 twice shorter than other des. Fs1,4,5 long, equal in length, fs3 medium. Les1 and les2 medium, equal in length; two ves short; four pes spine-like (Figure 26A View Figure 26 ). Two stemmata of different size. Antennae (Figure 26B View Figure 26 ) with sensorium (Se) conical, twice as long as wide, located medially, and three sensilla of different types: one sa and two sb. Clypeus (Figure 26C View Figure 26 ) trapezium-shaped, anterior margin slightly concave; two medium cls, located posteromedially; clss clearly visible. Labrum (Figure 26C View Figure 26 ) close to semi-circular, anterior margin sinuate; lrs1-3 almost equal in length. Epipharynx (Figure 26D View Figure 26 ) with three rod-shaped als of almost equal length; two medium, finger-like ams; one medium, finger-like mes; surface smooth; labral rods short and relatively wide. Mandibles (Figure 26E View Figure 26 ) conical, wide, with small protuberance in the middle of the cutting edge; both mds capilliform, medium, equal in length, placed transversely. Maxilla (Figure 26F View Figure 26 ) with one stps and two pfs of equal length; mbs short; mala with six rod-like dms of almost equal size, five vms different in size. Maxillary palpi: basal palpomere slightly wider than distal, both of almost equal length. Prelabium (Figure 26F View Figure 26 ) cup-like with one long prms; ligula with three minute ligs; premental sclerite clearly visible, cup-shaped, posterior extension with acute apex. Labial palpi two-segmented; basal palpomere distinctly wider than distal, both of almost equal length. Postlabium (Figure 26F View Figure 26 ) with three pms; pms1 and pms3 short, pms2 three times as long as pms1.
Description of pupa
(Figure 27A-C View Figure 27 ). Measurements (in mm). Head width: 0.60-0.70. Body width: 1.75-2.00. Body length: 3.75-4.50.
Body elongated, white. Rostrum moderately slender, about 3.5 times as long as wide, reaching up to mesocoxae. Antennae elongated. Pronotum 1.8 times as wide as long. Urogomphi (ur) slender, conical, with sclerotised apex, both directed outside, distinctly reaching outline of the body (Figure 27A-C View Figure 27 ).
Chaetotaxy setae medium or elongated. Head with one vs, two sos and two os. Rostrum with one pas. Setae on head and rostrum straight, as long as those on prothorax (Figure 27A View Figure 27 ). Pronotum with two as, two sls, two ls, one ds and four pls. Dorsal parts of meso- and metathorax with three setae equal in length setae placed medially. Abdominal segments I-VIII with three very short setae ventrally and two setae laterally. Dorsal parts of abdominal segments I-VII with six setae growing gradually from segment I to VII (d1 placed anteromedially, d2-5 placed posteromedially, d6 posterolaterally); segment VIII with five elongated setae dorsally. Abdominal segment IX with two micro-setae ventrally.
Biological notes.
The host plant of this species, at least in Côte d’Azur, is Antirrhinum latifolium Mill. As reported by Caldara and Fogato (2013), larvae feed on the larger stems of the plant and dig tunnels, causing at most very small lateral deformations. They pupate in summer, and adults stay inside the plant until the spring of the following year. Before pupation, however, the mature larvae leave the main tunnel, which runs longitudinally, and produce a small oblique tunnel that ends just in proximity of the external cuticle of the stem. Therefore, when leaving their cells, adults have only to bore a thin layer, although in the meantime, the plant has become dry and hard.
Remarks and comparative notes.
The adults of this rare species, with a narrow range of distribution - in fact, it is known in a few localities of southeastern Spain, eastern and southern France, and north-western Italy - differ from the other species studied here by the black elytra instead of blue. Due to this character, this species may be superficially confused with M. pyraster , from which it is easily distinguishable by the elytral vestiture composed of scales that are uniformly arranged and are all recumbent. The rostrum (in dorsal view) is distinctly wider, and the pronotum has sides slightly more rounded and is usually widest towards the middle. Finally, ventrite 5 of the male lacks a tuft of hairs, and the shape of the penis is different.
The larvae of this species differ from the others of the group by the abdominal segments I-VIII with two ss (instead of three) and asperities covering only the posterior part of postlabium, whereas pupae differ in having the rostrum with only one sls (instead of two) and without rs and the pronotum with four pls (instead of three).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.