Nephius argus, Grebennikov, 2018

Grebennikov, Vasily V., 2018, Dryophthorinae weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of the forest floor in Southeast Asia: DNA analysis of two new Nephius from Vietnam and Taiwan suggests non-monophyly of Stromboscerini, Zootaxa 4500 (3), pp. 381-387 : 385-386

Nephius argus sp. nov.

Figs 2A–K

Diagnostic description. Holotype male ( Fig. 2 ); length between anterior edge of pronotum and elytral apex 5.95 mm; body background color (not considering whitish pilosity) black ( Figs 2A–D ); rostrum in lateral view more curved ( Fig. 2C ); eyes ventrally clearly separated ( Fig. 2E ); central longitudinal groove on pronotum absent ( Fig. 2A ); disk of pronotum nearly smooth, with only occasional shallow and small punctures separated by smooth areas 2–3 times their diameter ( Fig. 2A ); elytra widest at middle ( Fig. 2A ); odd interstriae about twice as wide and high, as even interstriae ( Fig. 2A ); interstriae 2 and 3 at elytral apex each with sizable hemispherical projection ( Fig. 2A ); male genitalia as in Figs 2H–K ; DNA data as in Table 2.

Material examined. Holotype male ( CNC): “ VIETNAM, Tam Dao, N 2127'48" E10538'46", 16.v.2012, 1229m, sift06, V.Grebennikov, “CNCCOLVG00004402.

Distribution. Known only from the Tam Dao Mountains, northern Vietnam. Elevation: 1,229 m.

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latinized Greek mythical name of an Argonaut, co-builder (with the goddess Athena) of Argo; noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Nephius argus sp. nov., holotype. A–D: habitus, dorsal (A), ventral (B), lateral (C), fronto-lateral (D); E: eyes, ventral; F: antenna, G: tarsus; H–J: aedeagus, dorsal (H), ventral (I), lateral (J); K: sternite 9.