Anthonomus (Persexarthrus) variabilis (Hoffmann)

Košťál, Michael, 2014, Revision of the subgenus Persexarthrus Voss of the genus Anthonomus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Anthonomini), Zootaxa 3785 (4), pp. 561-574 : 570-571

Anthonomus (Persexarthrus) variabilis (Hoffmann)

Figs 7 , 11, 18, 19

Neobradybatus variabilis Hoffmann, 1963: 94 . Dieckmann, 1968: 493.

Type locality. Navabgan ( Iran).

Type series. This species was described based on four specimens from Iran. In the collection of Hoffmann ( MNHN), there are three males with locality labels corresponding to the original description except the year of collection “1961” which Hoffmann mistakenly cites as 1962. They bear handwritten labels “ Neobradybatus variabilis ...” and should be considered as syntypes (see below) of the nominotypical form. Moreover, there is one female each of Hoffmann´s varieties with the same collecting data bearing original handwritten labels “ Neobradybatus variabilis v. obliteratus ...”, “ Neobradybatus variabilis v. pallidus ... / TYPE [red handwritten]” and “ Neobradybatus variabilis v. ruficollis ... / TYPE [red printed]”. One male of the nominotypical type has red-printed label “ TYPE ”, two other males “ PARATYPE ”. As Hoffmann gives in the original description no reference to any holotype, I decided in accordance with Articles 73.1.1. and 73.2. of the Code ( ICZN 1999) to designate a male specimen labeled as “ TYPE ” as a lectotype of Noebradybatus variabilis Hoffmann. I dissected genitalia of this specimen. The lectotype is 2.85 mm long, completely preserved and labeled “Navabgan 1200 m 16.III.61 IRAN G.REMAUDIERE / s Amygdalus reuteri / Neobradybatus variabilis m. A. Hoffmann det. / TYPE [red printed] / MUSEUM PARIS 1968 col. A. HOFFMANN / Michael Košťál reprep. 2013 / LECTOTYPUS Neobradybatus variabilis Hoffmann Michael Košťál des. 2013”. The other two males with identical labeling except for evidently mistaken “Pseudobradybatus...” instead of “ Neobradybatus ...” were designated as paralectotypes. In the Smreczyński collection ( ISZP), there is one male with the identical original labeling as the two paralectotypes. I designated it as a paralectotype as well. In the same collection, there is one female of each of Hoffmann´s varieties with the same collecting data bearing handwritten labels “ Neobradybatus variabilis v. pallidus ...” and “ Neobradybatus variabilis v. ruficollis ...” and a red printed label “ PARATYPE ”.

Synonyms. According to Article 45.6.3. of the Code ( ICZN 1999), Neobradybatus varabilis v. obliteratus , N. variabilis v. pallidus and N. variabilis v. ruficollis should be regarded as infrasubspecific and hence unavailable.

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 18 ). Length 2.4– 3.2 mm. Body, rostrum, head, antennae, pronotum, legs and venter as in A. brevispinus . Elytra: As in A. brevispinus , but anterior elytral band formed by densely arranged whitish seta-like scales broader and often nearly confluent with posterior band, forming whitish very broad band. Penis: Fig. 7 a–c. Plates of sternite IX: Fig. 7 d.

Female ( Fig. 19 ). Length 2.8–3.5 mm. As in female of A. brevispinus . Spermatheca: Fig. 11.

Variability. The integument varies considerably from yellow to reddish brown. Elytral bands are very variable. More commonly the anterior band is very broad, but some specimens have separated bands as in A. brevispinus . The variability of the legs is as in A. brevispinus .

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the small sharp profemoral tooth without an emargination between the tooth and femoral apex, smaller size (2.4–3.5 mm) and narrow tarsomere 3, which is only slightly wider than tarsomere 2.

Comparative notes. The most closely related species is A. brevispinus , from which A. variabilis differs only by smaller size, on average narrower apex of penis, less sclerotized lobes of plates of sternite IX and spermatheca with weakly developed ramus and nodulus as well as smaller corpus in relation to cornu. The anterior elytral band in males is formed by densely arranged whitish seta-like broad scales and often is nearly confluent with the posterior band. The similarity of the two species, which differ only in body size and slight, questionably significant differences in genitalia and elytral pattern, is reminiscent of other sibling species in the genus, e.g. A. pomorum (Herbst) and A. humeralis (Panzer) or A. rufus Gyllenhal and A. commutatus Dieckmann , which have different host plants ( Dieckmann 1968; 1975) suggesting an isopatric speciation of these species. I could confirm different host plants in Iran (Khaneh Zenyan), where I collected A. brevispinus and A. variabilis in one place on two different Prunus species.

Biological notes. This species was collected in Iran from “ Amygdalus reuteri ” ( Hoffmann 1963). Also in Iran, I collected this species in Khaneh Zanyen from P. eburnea (Spach) Aitchison and in Morgab env. on shrubby species, which was either P. erioclada Bornmüller or P. lycioides (Spach) C. K. Schneider (I. Mehregan pers. comm.). Beetles were always collected by beating Prunus , which were after the middle of their blossoming or were with small fruits.

Distribution. Iran. Record from Izmir, Turkey ( Dieckmann 1968) requires confirmation.

Non-type specimens examined. IRAN: Qorveh env., 1700 m, 35°10.3’N 48°54.9, 17.V.2013, Košťál leg. (1 ♂, 1 ♀ KO); Kazeroun, V.1959, Remaudiere leg. (1 ♂, MNHN); Ardakan env., 2300 m, 30°22.0’N 51°46.9’E, 6.V.2008, Košťál leg. (1 ♀ KO); Khaneh Zenyan pr. Shiraz, 2000 m, 29°36.7’N 52°16.3’E, 26.IV.2006, Košťál leg. (1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ KO); Morghab env., 2250 m, 30°23.4’N 53°11.0’E, 13.V.2013, Košťál leg. (1 ♂ KO); Navabgan (Darab), 1200 m, 16.III.1961, Remaudiere leg. (3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ MNHN); Rayen 15 km W, 3000 m, 29°33.3’N 57°18.3’E, 24.IV.2006, Košťál leg. (3 ♂♂, 1♀ KO).

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 8. Male genitalia: penis in ventrodorsal (a) and lateral (b) view, apex of penis in dorsoventral view (c) and plates of sternite IX (d) of (5) Anthonomus baudueri; (6) A. brevispinus; (7) A. variabilis; (8) A. behnei.

FIGURES 14 – 22. Habitus of (14) Anthonomus baudueri ♂, (15) idem ♀; (16) A. brevispinus ♂, (17) idem ♀; (18) A. variabilis ♂, (19) idem ♀.