29. Tychius obrieni Jiang & Caldara n. sp. Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7AC17E3A-DF0E-4184-987A-C2DAB65A5A1D

(Figures 93–96, 215–218, 293–294, 332, 345, 357, 388, 423–424, 452, 479)

Material examined. Holotype, male, CHINA: Xinjiang: Tulufan, (20–140 m), 24-VI-1958, leg Guang Wang (IOZCAS) . Paratypes, same data as holotype (96 IOZCAS; 2 ASUCOB).

Diagnostic description. Length 1.95–2.50 mm (Fig. 93–96). Vestiture on dorsum grayish brown, either unicolorous or feebly bicoloured on elytra. Rostrum (Fig. 215–218) short (Rl/Rw 4.46–4.62 in male, 4.62–4.85 in female; Rl/Pl 0.83–0.84 in male, 0.82–0.85 in female), moderately stout, weakly curved in lateral view, poorly sexually dimorphic. Pronotum (Pw/Pl 1.03–1.13) subparallel-sided from base to distal third, slightly wider than long. Elytra suboval (Ew/Pw 1.33–1.40; El/Ew 1.48–1.64), with slightly rounded sides in basal half. Femora (Fig. 293–294) unarmed, tibiae (Fig. 332) without sexual characters. Third tarsomere moderately wider than second tarsomere (Fig. 345). Claws (Fig. 357) with robust medial teeth as long as 2/3 length of claw, separated from claw from base. Male genitalia: body of penis (Fig. 388) in dorsal view moderately stout at basal half, with sides very slightly rounded, then narrowed and parallel-sided, slightly narrow apically, with subacutely pointed tip (Fig. 423–424), in lateral view moderately curved and with rectilinear apical part, slightly shorter than apodeme. Female genitalia: spermatheca see Fig. 452; spiculum ventrale (Fig. 479) with arms almost joined for their whole length.

Remarks and comparative notes. This species is characterized by the rostrum being weakly curved in lateral view and poorly sexually dimorphic. In the female the rostrum is of the same width from the antennal insertion to the apex. The body of penis in dorsal view is moderately stout in the basal half, with sides very slightly rounded, then narrowed and parallel, slightly narrow apically and with subacutely pointed tip. In lateral view the penis is moderately curved and with rectilinear apical part, slightly shorter than the apodeme.

Etymology. We name this species after our friend Prof. Charles O’Brien, “the weevil man”, who dedicated his life to weevil taxonomy and who recently passed away. We will remember him forever.

Biology. No data are available.

Distribution. China (XIN).