Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz, 1894

Haran, Julien M., 2021, The Smicronychini of southern Africa (Coleoptera, Curculionidae): Review of the tribe and description of 12 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 735, pp. 34-73 : 65

Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz, 1894

Figs 2F , 4F , 5O ; Table 1

Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz, 1894: 170 .

Differential diagnosis

Smicronyx lutulentus is morphologically similar to S. fallax and S. albosquamosus . It can be distinguished from these species by its elytra pattern, bearing broad and rounded scales, and its short penis body.

Material examined

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 6 specs; KwaZulu-Natal Province, Umhlanga ; 12 Apr. 2018; population bred at SASRI on Parthenium hysterophorus ; JHAR00911 ; ethanol coll. CBGP .

Diagnosis

BODY LENGTH. 1.6–2.0 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument black, rostrum black or dark brown, antennae and tarsi dark brown; vestiture of elytra generally consisting of rounded, grey-brown scales, isodiametric or slightly longer than wide, with a few scattered white scales; white scales concentrated on humeri, on sides and at base of median line near scutellum on prothorax.

HEAD. Rostrum in lateral view downcurved at base and almost straight over the rest of length; slightly longer than head capsule + prothorax.

PROTHORAX. Isodiametric (w/l ratio: 1), sides slightly rounded in basal ¾, constricted apically, widest slightly behind middle of length.

ELYTRA. Subparallel in basal two thirds (w/l ratio: 0.70), rounded toward apex in apical third.

LEGS. Femora moderately clavate, unarmed, tibiae straight.

GENITALIA. Body of penis moderately elongate (w/l ratio: 0.43), as long as apodemes, sides straight, subparallel, moderately and regularly curved in lateral view ( Fig. 5O ).

Life history

Smicronyx lutulentus develops in the seeds of the capsules of Parthenium hysterophorus L. ( Asteraceae ; Dhileepan et al. 1996).

Distribution

United States of America (Texas; Anderson 1962); introduced as a biocontrol agent of Parthenium in Australia ( Dhileepan et al. 1996) and in the Republic of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal Province; Strathie et al. 2011).

Figures

Fig. 2. Habitus of species of Smicronychini from southern Africa (Part 2). A. Smicronyx san sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC), bred from Chironia baccifera L. B. S. san sp. nov., ♂, paratype (CBGP), specimen bred from Orphium frutescens L. (E. Mey). C. S. san sp. nov., ♂, paratype (CBGP), specimen bred from Sebaea Sol. ex R.Br. sp. D. Smicronyx drakensbergensis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (TMSA). E. Smicronyx zonatus Haran, 2018, ♂, paratype (CBGP), specimen from the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa.F. Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz, 1894, ♂ (CBGP). G. Smicronyx albosquamosus Wollaston, 1854, ♂ (CBGP), specimen from Israel. H. Smicronyx namibicus Haran, 2018, ♂ (MNHN), specimen from Tanzania. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Head and prothorax in lateral view of species of Smicronyx from southern Africa (Part 2). A. Smicronyx paucisquamis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). B. Smicronyx fallax (Gyllenhal, 1836), ♂, neotype (NHRS). C. Smicronyx australis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). D. Smicronyx san sp. nov., ♂, bred from Chironia baccifera L., holotype (SAMC). E. Smicronyx drakensbergensis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (TMSA). F. Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz, 1894, ♂ (CBGP). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 5 (opposite page). Penis of Smicronyx from southern Africa, in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view. A. Sharpia madibai sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). B. Afrosmicronyx cycnii sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). C. Afrosmicronyx louwi sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). D. Afrosmicronyx marshalli sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SANC). E. Afrosmicronyx nebulosipennis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (BMNH). F. Smicronyx similis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SANC). G. Smicronyx pseudocoecus sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). H. Smicronyx paucisquamis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). I. Smicronyx fallax (Gyllenhal, 1836), ♂, neotype (NHRS). J. Smicronyx australis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC). K. Smicronyx pauperculus Wollaston, 1864, ♂, specimen from Tanzania. L. Smicronyx san sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAMC), bred from Chironia baccifera L. M. Smicronyx drakensbergensis sp. nov., ♂, holotype (TMSA). N. Smicronyx zonatus Haran, 2018, ♂, paratype (CBGP), specimen from the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. O. Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz, 1894, ♂ (CBGP). P. Smicronyx namibicus Haran, 2018, ♂, holotype (MNHN), specimen from Tanzania. Scale bars: 100 μm.