Pandeleteius platensis Brèthes

Howden, Anne T., 2011, On some species of Pandeleteius Schoenherr, 1834, in South America south of the tenth parallel (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Entiminae: Tanymecini), Zootaxa 2977, pp. 50-60 : 54-56

Pandeleteius platensis Brèthes

Figs. 3, 4, 10–15, 23

Pandeleteius platensis Brèthes, 1913:192 . Lectotype here designated: male, labeled “Bs. Aires/ 2.XI. [1]912/ AZH, Repreparo M. Viana, I.1960 " and with my lectotype label. Lectotype at MACN and examined in 1982.

Diagnosis. Integument of teneral specimens tan, darkening with age to black; vestiture with maximum color patterns of tan, gray, white, rust and black scales; older specimens often black with oily appearance concealing features of dorsal surface. Sexes similar in size, appearance. Elytral interval 3 with abrupt conical swelling at apical declivity; interval 5 sometimes slightly enlarged just before declivity; intervals 5 and 6 each terminating in an abrupt, pronounced conical apical umbo on slope of declivity. Aedeagus abruptly widened at basal two-thirds; apex of aedeagus truncate, slightly reflexed; ventral surface of aedeagus smooth.

Supplementary descriptive information. Males, length 3.4–4.3 mm, width l.3–l. 7 mm; females, length 3.3– 5.0 mm, width 1.4–2.0 mm. Dorsal setae very fine, inconspicuous, uniserial on elytral intervals. Rostrum parallelsided, longer than head. Epistoma width less than half that of anterior edge of rostrum, apex of epistoma separated from interantennal line by width of two to four scales; posterior margin low, sides slightly rounded. Scrobe reaching ventral surface of rostrum. Prothorax with sides rounded between distinct basal and apical constrictions; median line not marked; transverse depression each side of median line vague to distinct. Elytron with interval 3 with abrupt conical swelling at apical declivity; interval 5 sometimes slightly enlarged just before declivity; intervals 5 and 6 terminating in abrupt, pronounced conical apical umbo on slope of declivity; elytron of male with sides almost parallel, as much as 1.2 times longer than wide; elytra of female with sides 1.2–1.4 times longer than wide, sides slightly inflated. Procoxae of male separated by slightly less than widest part of antennal club; procoxae of female only slightly more widely separated. Profemur abruptly and greatly enlarged; inner edge with straight row of very small denticles, fewer denticles on ventral surface; denticles obsolete on females. Protibia straight to near apex, thence slightly curved inwards. Protarsi with modified scales on dorsal surface of tarsomeres l, 2, and 3. Male genitalia: aedeagus abruptly widened at basal two-thirds; 1.2–1.3 mm long, approximately as long as first four abdominal segments; dorsolateral edges with fine carina for most of length of aedeagus, dorsum paler, less sclerotized; in dorsal view with slight, distinct projection from ventral surface approximately at middle; ventral surface smooth, shiny. Apex of aedeagus blunt, transverse, appearing round when tilted, slightly reflexed. Internal sac of aedeagus membranous, with minute spicules visible in older specimens; membrane partially enclosing sclerotized structure of half its length; distal third emergent, tubular, divided into two stout arms. Tegmen with pair of dorsal processes. Sternite 9 ( Fig. 12 ) teneral ( Uruguay). Female genitalia: coxites with ventral baculus 0.8–1.0 mm long; vagina with proximal blades 0.4–0.6 mm long; number and definition of blades indefinite, at least one lateral pair; some specimens with two parallel rows of minute spicules visible ventrad of blades; lacking bursal and vaginal sclerites; spermathecal duct approximately 1.0 mm long. Sternite 8 1.0– 1.3 mm long.

Specimens examined. More than 400 specimens, at least 200 of each sex. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Conleñe: Palermo (Buenos Aires), the type locality. Chaco: Corzuela; La Escondida; Laguna Oca. Chaco de Santiago. Córdoba: Alta Gracia la Granja; Dep. de Calamuchita “El Sauce”; Capilla del Monte; Córdoba, Huerta Grande; Los Cocos; Sierras de Córdoba. Entre Rios: Villaguay. Formosa: Pirané. Jujuy: Pampa Blanca. Salta: Cabra Corral ; Cerro San Bernardo; General Ballivian; Lomas de Olmedo; Tartagal; Viñaco. San Luis: Arizona; Lavaisse-Estancia Don Roberto. Santa Fé: Estancia la Noria; Florencia. Tucuman: Las Cejas; Horca Molle. Santiago del Estero: Chaco de Añatuya/Tentina. BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Achira; Agua Clara Cemetery; Buena Vista; Pampagrande; Warnes. BRAZIL. Bahía: (Soure) Diamantina; Soure (Nova Soure). Paraíba: Condado. Pernambuco:?Serra de Comunati. Sao Paulo: Cantareira. PARAGUAY. Itapuá: (?Pto.) S. Lorenzo. La Cordillera: San Bernardino. Paraguarí: Ybycuí. Presidente Hayes: N. B. Acerval. URUGUAY. Paysandú: Ciudad Paysandú; Puerto Pepe Ají; Río Uruguay-Barra Arroyo Guaviyu. Río Negro: Arroyo Zanja Honda; Blanquea “Pinguino”; Puntas del Arroyo Negro.

This species is known from five countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—comprising 22 states and 46 localities ( Fig. 23).

Notes on type series. The lectotype is mounted on a card and is missing its head. There is a male paralectotype in the Hustache Collection (MNHN) labeled “Cotypus”, “Bs. Aires/X.24.912". This specimen is also missing its head as well as parts of its legs. Brèthes described the species well and cites the locality as “Trouve a Palermo (Bs. Aires)”. The Palermo district is near the Rio de La Plata, north of central Buenos Aires but within the city limits.

Biology. Specimens of Pandeleteius platensis were recorded from five genera and nine species of shrubs and trees here listed with location of collection.

Fabaceae

Acacia caven (Mol.) Mol. ; Argentina, Capilla del Monte. Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.; Uruguay, Arroyo Zanja Hond., Río Negro. Acacia furcatispina Burkart ; Argentina, Cabra Corral. Mimosa farinosa Griseb. ; Argentina, Viñaco.

Polygonaceae

Piptadenia corylifolia Griseb. ; Argentina, Pampa Blanca.

Anacardiaceae

Schinopsis haenkeana Engles ; Argentina, Cabra Corral. Schinopsis quebracho-colorado (Schlldl.); Argentina, Capilla del Monte. Schinus johnstonii F. A. Barkley ; Argentina, Capilla del Monte. Schinus sp.; Uruguay, Puntas del Arroyo Negro, Rio Negro.

Teneral specimens of P. platensis were also collected by Wayne E. Clark on Mimosa and Acacia near the cotton fields of Condado, Paraiba, Brazil.

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 15. Pandeleteius platensis (Brèthes): 10 – 12, male genitalia, aedeagus extruded (Argentina); 11, dorsal view genitalia (Brazil); 12, sternite 9 (Uruguay). 13 – 15, female: 13, genitalia (Argentina); 14, same but more mature; 15, sternite 8 (Argentina).