Kyklioacalles anthyllis

Stüben, Peter E. & Astrin, Jonas J., 2010, Molecular phylogeny of the weevil genus Kyklioacalles Stüben, with descriptions of a new subgenus Glaberacalles and two new species (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), Zootaxa 2662, pp. 28-52 : 40-43

Kyklioacalles anthyllis

1*. Pronotum with channel-like, connected, deep cavities (Fig. 23); 2*. Base of elytra always with a light-coloured (beige) border (Fig. 23); 3* Tarsi of forelegs (in both sexes) with short brushes of hairs;

4*. Aedeagus/endophallus: Flank plates (fp) rounded on both sides of the central structure ( Fig. 27 ).

For the placement of the new Kyklioacalles species among the known 40 species of the Western Palaeartic, see the current pictorial key to the species of Kyklioacalles teter-barbarus group (Stüben 2004: 82). Kyklioacalles plantapilosus must be placed here via the series of digits 1-7-10-11 as the alternative to Kyklioacalles bupleuri Stüben, 2004 .

Description. Length. 3.95–6.40 mm (without rostrum).

Head & Rostrum. Eyes rounded ovally towards front and acuminate towards underside of rostrum. Rostrum of males dark brown, reaching 3/4 length of pronotum, closely covered with scales between base and insertion of antenna and finely punctuated towards apex; rostrum of females clearly longer, slender, shiny and even more finely punctuated. The last, continuously broadened and trapezoidal funicles form a single unit wih the club (i.e., club not clearly separated from funicles).

Pronotum. 1,19x–1,27x as wide as long; widest at the end of the first fourth or first third of the pronotum; rounded laterally towards the fore-margin more strongly than towards the base; with a channel-like depression at the sides directly behind the fore-margin. In lateral view contour-line of pronotum and of the elytra forms a uniform bend; disc of pronotum weakly arched, flat behind fore-margin, without a channel on the disc or with humps at the sides. The integument consists of dirty white, beige and—often dominating—black spots of tiny scales, which completely disguise the integument. Black spots of scales are always visible in front of the base and behind the fore-margin (but the whole pronotum can also be black); there is sometimes a cross of beige scales on the disc of pronotum. Pronotum with numerous fine punctures and with a single tiny, raised and very short bristle inside the dimple; the space between these dimples always covered with shiny and overlapping scales.

Elytra. Cylindrical; 1,20x–1,42x as long as wide; widest in front of the middle, at the end of the second fifth of the elytra; with sides parting towards the base in the middle, only slightly rounded or with more parallel sides (without "shoulders”), short-ovally rounded towards the apex. Contour-line of elytra flatter behind the base in lateral view, the contour-line of the elytral slope forming an arc towards the apex. The shiny and predominantly black integument with its beige spots consists of tiny, overlapping scales so that the integument is not visible. The beige and scattered spots often contrast strongly and give the elytra a pied appearance. Always with a bright spot directly in front of the middle on the 3rd interval (excluding the suture stripe); the most extensive beige spots are between the apex and the middle of the elytra. Striae on the disc and at the sides of elytra as wide as intervals (they look like small channels, if they are shrouded by scales) and their circular punctures not deep; their distances range from the half the diameter of the punctures themselves to the full diameter. Intervals are only on the elytral slope (and in front of the apex) and are wider than striae, flat, and only a little bit arched behind the base, here - on the 2nd and 4th interval - with flat humps; all intervals with some tiny, raised and very short bristles (looking like powder).

Legs. Short; the marginal front femora reach fore-margin of the eyes, the hind femora clearly ending in front of the elytral apex. They are covered with predominantly beige and dark brown scales, disguising the integument. The very long brushes of hairs under the tarsus of forelegs are characteristic and remarkable for the male of this species (cf. ‘ derivatio nominis ’; female with normal, short brushes of hairs):

Ve n te r. 2nd sternite a little bit shorter than 1st sternite and longer than sternite 3 and 4 altogether.

Female genitalia. See Fig. 31.

Aedeagus. See Fig. 25 .

Etymology. The species name refers to the brushes of hairs under the tarsus of forelegs (male).

Ecology. The first specimen of Kyklioacalles plantapilosus , a male, was discovered by W. Starke ( Germany: Warendorf) in 2001. He found it on the south-facing slope of the Sierra Nevada ( Spain: Prov. Almería) near the small village of Bayárcal. Together with L. Behne (Müncheberg, 2005) and J.J. Astrin (Bonn, 2007), we again sifted this species with some other Cryptorhynchinae under trees and bushes above Bayárcal at an altitude of 1300–1500 m. However, a correlation to a host-plant could not be observed at first. Siftings under Euphorbia characias produced significantly more specimens (Fig. 30). We suppose that this Euphorbiaceae is the host plant of Kyklioacalles plantapilosus —just like Euphorbia nicaeensis from Sierra Almadén (South Spain)is demonstrably a host plant of the sister taxon Kyklioacalles bupleuri (see biology of K. almadensis syn. nov., Stüben 2004: 81).

Distribution. This species is so far only known from Sierra Nevada, southern Spain (Fig. 30).

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 29. Male genitalia of the new and related species; 30. Loci typici and host plants of the new species; 31 – 32. Female genitalia.