Athesapeuta albisquama (Zaslavskij) Zaslavskij, 2014

Prena, Jens, Yang, Jiani, Ren, Li, Wang, Zhiliang, Liu, Ning & Zhang, Runzhi, 2014, Nomenclatural changes, new country records and range extensions of Baridinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from China, Zootaxa 3841 (3), pp. 339-363 : 341-343

Athesapeuta albisquama (Zaslavskij) , new combination

( Figs. 2 , 18 )

Baris albisquama Zaslavskij 1956: 349 .

Two syntypes from Beijing, China ( ZIM); examined. Erroneously placed in Anthinobaris by Prena (2011).

Baris ljaodunensis Zaslavskij 1956: 350 .

Holotype from Sju-Ian [Suqian], Ljaodun [Laodun], China ( ZIM); examined. Erroneously placed in Anthinobaris by Prena (2011). New synonymy.

Diagnosis. Athesapeuta Faust includes species with a long first desmomere, relatively smooth and slender rostrum, large pygidium without transverse carina, porrect mandibles and thick sclerite in the internal sac. Athesapeuta albisquama is 3.9–5.5 mm long and may be recognized by the color pattern, in particular the bare rhombic fleck on the elytral disk ( Fig. 2 ). However, the genus has many morphologically similar species in this size range and needs revision. The similar Athesapeuta inornata (Voss) comb. n. (here transferred from Baris Germar ) is smaller and occurs in Yunnan.

Distribution. The species is known from the Chinese administrative areas of Beijing, Guangxi, Ljaodun and Shanxi ( Fig. 18 ).

Notes. Baris albisquama and B. ljaodunensis were described based on subtle differences in vestiture, which do not hold when more material is included. Their distinctness was already questioned by Zaslavskij (1956). We transfer the species to Athesapeuta Faust based on Morimoto & Yoshihara (1996) and the characteristic endophallic sclerite. Zena Pascoe is likely to be a senior synonym of Athesapeuta but we have not seen the type species, Z. cynethioides Pascoe.

Biology. The life history of A. albisquama is unknown. The closely related A. oryzae Marshall has been reported as a “serious pest of rice” ( Marshall 1916), but pest status and host association have not been confirmed by other sources. Pajni (1989) reported A. vinculata Faust , another closely related species, from rice. We observed the latter species in a rice field and, in large numbers, on Cyperus in adjacent wasteland but did not find the larvae. The only confirmed plant associations for species of Athesapeuta are sedges: Cyperus for Athesapeuta cyperi Marshall , Carex for A. amoena Voss and A. gracilis (Voss) comb. n. (here transferred from Eumycterus ), and an unidentified sedge for A. ulvae Zimmerman ( Marshall 1928; Zimmerman 1942; J. Prena, unpubl. data).

Material examined. CHINA. Beijing: Beijing, VIII/1907 ( ZIN 2). Guanxi: Yangshuo, Guilin, 14.vii.1992 ( IZCAS 1). Ljaodun: Suqian, 3.–4.vii.1901 ( ZIN 1). Shanxi: Taibaishan National Forest Park, 30.v.1952 ( IZCAS 1); Wugong, Xianyang, 1960s ( IZCAS 2).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Dorsal and lateral habitus images. 1, Acythogaster babaulti, 4.1 mm, Medog (Tibet). 2, Athesapeuta albisquama, 3.9 mm, Beijing. 3, Baris artemisiae, 3.6 mm, Beijing. 4, Baris pilosa, 3.8 mm, Yalujiang (Heilongjiang).

FIGURES 17 – 18. Map of mainland China and surrounding countries showing distribution of Acythogaster babaulti, Baris artemisiae, Nespilobaris inflatirostris, Athesapeuta albisquama and Pellobaris melancholica.