Pseudomelactus acutus (Faust)

Kuschel, Guillermo, 2008, Curculionoidea (weevils) of New Caledonia and Vanuatu: Basal families and some Curculionidae, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 197, pp. 99-250 : 124-125

Pseudomelactus acutus (Faust)

Fig. 10

Melactus acutus Faust, 1889: 62 .

Pseudomelactus acutus – Heller 1916: 312.

DESCRIPTION. — Besides the characters listed in the key, P. acutus differs fom the other two species in having the last three ventrites, at least medially, black, in having distinct granules also on elytra, a complete basal rim on pronotum, much broader tarsi, and elytra mottled with black spots.

Length: 6.8-11.2 mm.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Four syntypes present. Lectotype female, 11.2 x 5.0 mm, ‘ N. Caled. [Mont d’Or], Siewers, acutus Faust, Coll. J Faust’, SMT.D. Paralectotypes: 1 male, 2 females, SMT. D. Identified specimens with BPBM, IRSN, NZAC, QMBA, SMT.D, SRFP .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. Baie de Prony , Dumbéa Valley , Hauteur des Sources , La Coulée , 3 km E of La Coulée, Lake Yaté , Mont d’Or , Nouméa , Plaine des Lacs (Chutes de la Madeleine, La Capture), Riv des Pirogues. 56 specimens .

HOSTPLANTS. — Grevillea (Proteaceae) for a series of specimens collected by G. Kuschel and M. Wanat.

REMARKS. — Because of relatively large size (10 mm), and the description of Otiorhynchus artensis Montrouzier (1861) agreeing to a good extent with P. acutus , I am inclined to believe that it might have been this species were it not for the author having said that the elytra of the species from Île d’Art were ‘très convexes’ ‘ P. acutus is not yet known from the northwest half of New Caledonia. Montrouzier’s unique specimen could not be located, presumed lost. I know of no insect collection from Art I. since Montrouzier was there in the early 1850’s.