Oberprielerius uniformis ( Voss, 1974 ) Hlaváč & Borovec, 2022

Hlaváč, Peter & Borovec, Roman, 2022, Oberprielerius, a new genus for Anchonidium uniformeVoss, 1974, a microphthalmic species of Rhythirrinini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cyclominae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 5196 (1), pp. 128-134 : 132-134

Oberprielerius uniformis ( Voss, 1974) , comb. nov.

Anchonidium uniforme Voss 1974: 461 (original description). Osella et al. 1998: 236 (catalogue).

Aparopionella uniformis (Voss) : Grebennikov, 2018: 229 (note).

Type material. Holotype: 5 labels: “ S. Afr. Cape Prov / Cape Town, Table / Mnt. Alt 2400 ft / 18.XII 50. No 84” [white, printed and handwritten], “Swedish South Africa / Expedition / 1950-1951 / Brinck–Rudebeck” [white, printed], “ Anchonidium / uniforme n. sp. / Holotypus / E. Voss det., 1969” [white, printed and handwritten], “Zool. Mus. Lund Sweeden / Type No. 808: 1–2 / Curculionidae ” [white, printed and handwritten], “ MZLU / 2021 / 004” [green, printed] ( MZLU) . Paratype: 1 ex.: 5 labels: “ S. Afr. Cape Prov / Cape Town , Table / Mnt. Alt / 18.XII 50. No 84” [white, printed], “ Swedish South Africa / Expedition / 1950-1951 / Brinck—Rudebeck ” [white, printed], “ Sieved in debris” [white, printed], “Type No. 808: 2” [white, printed] // “ MZLU / 2021 / 005” [green, printed] ( MZLU) .

Other material. 146 ex.: 1 label “ South Africa, W. Cape / Table Mts. NP, Wynberg–Bat cave / env., 33°59.2′ S, 18°24.2′ E, 730 m / 6.xi.2019, P. Bulirsch lgt.” [white, printed] ( ANIC, BMNH, CMNC, RBSC, SANC, TMSA) .

Redescription. Body length 1.91–2.63 mm. Body covered by rounded appressed plumose scales, but their structure is in some specimens difficult to recognize. Erect setae on elytra narrowly subspatulate, slightly shorter than width of one interstria, distance between two setae about twice as long as length of one seta. Setae on pronotum as long as elytral ones, slightly narrower, setae on head and rostrum about half as long as those on elytra. Legs and antennae except for clubs with very fine, erect, moderately long setae; clubs finely densely setose.

Rostrum 1.78–1.89 × as long as wide at base, at base 1.01–1.06 × wider than in apical portion. Vertex regularly domed.

Scapes 1.1–1.2 × as long as funicle, in basal half slender, in apical half evenly broadening apicad, at apex 0.6–0.7 × as wide as clubs; funicle segments 1 2.4–2.6 × as long as wide and 1.8–2.0 × as long as segment 2, this is 1.5–1.7 × as long as wide; segments 3–7 isodiametric; clubs 1.7–1.8 × as long as wide, spindle-shaped, segment 1 longest, occupying about half of length of club.

Prothorax 1.18–1.22 × as long as wide, widest slightly before midlength, with slightly rounded sides, disc regularly domed, ventral scales finely regularly densely punctured. Pronotum in profile almost flat.

Elytra 1.61–1.69 × as long as wide, widest at about midlength, apically narrowly tapering, at base slightly wider than base of pronotum. Striae conspicuous, coarsely punctate, spaces between punctures slightly deeper than interstriae. Elytra in profile weakly convex.

Tarsi with segment 2 1.4–1.5 × as wide as long, segment 3 1.2–1.3 × as wide as long and 1.1–1.2 × as wide as 2; onychium 3 × as long as segment 3, evenly broadened apicad.

Penis about twice as long as wide, subparallel-sided, apically broadly rounded with distinctly prominent, narrowly rounded tip; in profile distinctly curved, evenly tapering apicad and basad, apex elongate, very thin, short, slightly curved.

Spermatheca with cornu moderately long, regularly curved; ramus about twice as long as wide, subparallelsided and collum very small, hump-shaped.

Natural history. The newly collected specimens were sifted from a depression in the relatively flat top area of Table Mountain, which is covered with mountain fynbos and patches of forest. The cool and humid microclimate of the depression is in strong contrast to its surroundings ( Figs 10–11 ) (J. Janák and P. Bulirsch, pers. comm.).

Remarks. Voss based the description of the species on three specimens, the holotype and two paratypes, all from the same locality. The holotype is 2.16 mm long and well preserved except for missing the right middle leg and right metatarsus. It has not been dissected and its sex is undetermined.

Figures

FIGURES 10, 11. Habitat of Oberprielerius uniformis on Table Mountain. 10. General view. 11. Collecting site (photo: Jiří Janák).