Pereskiophaga brasiliensis Anderson

Anderson, Robert S., 2015, Pereskiophaga Brasiliensis Anderson, A New Genus And Species Of Cryptorhynchinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Associated With Primitive Cacti Of The Genus Pereskia Miller (Cactaceae) In Brazil, The Coleopterists Bulletin 4, pp. 670-673 : 672

Pereskiophaga brasiliensis Anderson , new species

( Figs. 1–5)

Paterson et al. 2011 (as Curculionidae sp.) Paterson et al. 2014 (as Cryptorhynchus sp. )

Description. Length, male 3.8–4.7 mm; female 4.2–5.0 mm. Width, male 1.9–2.5 mm; female 2.1–2.7 mm. Cuticle brown to black, matte. Vestiture of scattered, generally sparse, suberect to erect black, brown, or white somewhat translucent, rather broad scales; some erect scales concentrated in tufts on pronotum and elytra. Vertex deeply, densely punctate, individual punctures coalescent. Frons between, below, and above eyes with dense, erect, clavate, dirty brownish white scales. Rostrum with distinct median carina in male extending to immediately basal point of antennal insertion; carina less distinct in female, limited to very base of rostrum. Pronotum with erect, black scales concentrated in 4 variously developed clumps arranged transversely across middle. Elytra with scales sparse but concentrated, paler in basal ¼ of elytral length, otherwise scattered but black, erect, concentrated in small tufts on intervals 3 and 5 near base, just anterior to midlength and at apex of declivity (scales extending onto adjacent intervals in some specimens). Scutellar shield distinct, with dense, white scales. Abdomen with ventrite 5 of male and female with 3 small, distinct, deep pits, one at middle and one in each posterolateral corner. Male genitalia with penis slightly ventrally arcuate, pedon about 3–4 times width, apex broadly rounded, not distinctly produced; internal sac with no evident sclerotization. Female with bursa copulatrix and vagina lacking any internal sclerotization, spermatheca c-shaped, duct rather short, joined to venter at confluence of vagina and bursa copulatrix; distal gonocoxite with distinct apical stylus, tergite 8 slender, tapered towards apex, apex with 4 broadly rounded, blunt teeth, 2 laterally directed, other 2 conjoined at middle.

Derivation of Name. Named after the country of Brazil.

Type Locality. Santa Catarina / Parana, Brazil (laboratory reared from wild-collected stock) .

Specimens Examined. HOLOTYPE male, labelled BRAZIL: Santa Catarina-Parana / mixed origin lab culture/2012–2014, collectors unknown/ collected from/ Pereskia aculeata Mill. ( MZSP) . Paratypes 25 ♂♂, 20 ♀♀, labelled as holotype from same culture ( ANIC, ASUHIC, BMNH, CNCI, CWOB, SMNK each 1♂ 1♀; MZSP, SANC, USNM each 2♂♂ 1♀; CMNC 13♂♂ 11♀♀) .

All specimens examined are from a mixed laboratory culture started using larvae and adults collected at the following locations: BRAZIL, Paraná State, between Curitiba and Paranagua on BR277 , S 25°32.521′ W 49°03.624′ ; BRAZIL, Santa Catarina State, Penha , S 26°45.743′ W 48°38.838′ ; BRAZIL, Santa Catarina State, Penha , S 26°46.005′ W 48°38.458′ ; BRAZIL, Santa Catarina State, Praia do Grant , S 26°41.881′ W 48°40.772′ .

Natural History. Although the degree of host plant specificity has not been confirmed, there is a clear association between P. brasiliensis and P. aculeata . Eggs are laid into dry, woody parts of the plant such as into bark of mature stems or the base of thorns. The egg is inserted into the plant and then covered with frass that forms a hard covering. The larvae then bore into the stem, feeding on vascular tissue and pith. Pupation takes place within the stem in a pupal chamber constructed from dry plant fibers. The adults feed on young shoot tips and leaves of P. aculeata .