Socotractus angusticollis ( Taschenberg, 1883 ) Colonnelli, 2014

Colonnelli, Enzo, 2014, Apionidae, Nanophyidae, Brachyceridae and Curculionidae except Scolytinae (Coleoptera) from Socotra Island, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 295-422 : 371-372

Socotractus angusticollis ( Taschenberg, 1883) comb. nov.

( Figs 85–88 )

Systates angusticollis Taschenberg, 1881: 179 ; GAHAN (1903): 283; PERRIN (2000): 423; WRANIK (2003): 362.

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE (here designated): J (4.5 mm, MLUH), ‘ Wadi Kischen // 25.’ [handwritten] , ‘ Lectotypus ♂ // Systates angusticollis Taschenberg, 1883 // E.Colonnelli des., 2012’ [red, partly printed], ‘ Socotractus // angusticollis Taschenberg // E. Colonnelli det., 2012’ [white, partly printed]. The specimen ( Fig. 85 ) is placed after the collection label of Fig. 87 , and although TASCHENBERG (1883) in the original description did not report any locality, it actually comes from ‘Wadi Kischen’ ( Fig. 86 ), presently wadi Qishn, (12º34′N, 54º02′E).

Material examined (318 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Al Haghier Mts. , Scant Mt. env., 12°34.6′N 54°01.5′E, 1450 m, 12.–13.xi.2010, 91 spec., P. Hlaváč leg. (87 NMPC 4 ECRI) ; same label data, 22 spec., J. Bezděk leg. (20 NMPC, 2 ECRI) ; same label data, 15 spec., L. Purchart leg. (12 NMPC, 3 ECRI) ; same label data, 9 spec., J. Hájek leg. (7 NMPC, 2 ECRI) ; same label data, 51 spec., J. Batelka leg. (45 JBPC, 6 ECRI) ; same locality, evergreen montane woodland, 16.-18.vi.2012, 39 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. (36 NMPC, 4 ECRI) ; Al Haghier Mts. , W slopes, Skant area, 12°33.52′N 54°00.01′E, 900–1240 m, on Cephalocroton socotranus , 2.ii.2003, 1 spec., P. Kabátek leg.( NMPC) ; Hagher Mts. , Scant, 12°34.557′N 54°01.514′E, 1300-1500 m, 7.-8.vi.2010, 4 spec., V.Hula & J. Niedobová leg. (3 NMPC, 1 ECRI) ; Al Haghier Mts. , wadi Madar, 12°33.2′N 54°00.4′E, 1180–1230 m, 12.–14.xi.2010, 11 spec., J. Bezděk leg. (9 NMPC, 2 ECRI) ; same label data, 21 spec., P. Hlaváč leg. (10 NMPC, 11 ECRI) ; same locality, 13.–14.xi.2010, 6 spec., L. Purchart leg. (5 NMPC, 1 ECRI) ; same locality, 1170 m, montane shrubland with Cephalocroton socotranus , 18.vi.2012, 10 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. (8 NMPC, 2 ECRI) ; Dixam plateau, Sirhin area, 12°31′08″N 53°59′09″E, 812 m, 1.–2.xii.2003, 2 spec., P. Kabátek leg. ( NMPC) ; Dixam plateau, Tudhen, 1135 m, shrubland with Commiphora planifrons , 18.–22.vi.2012, 35 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula ,

P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. (30 NMPC, 5 ECRI) ; Homhil protected area, 12°34″27′N 54°18′32″E, 364 m, 1 spec., P. Kabátek leg. ( NMPC) .

Taxonomy. This species is here moved from Systates Gerstaecker, 1871 to Socotractus gen. nov. as Socotractus angusticollis ( Taschenberg, 1883) , comb. nov., and selected as the type species of Socotractus gen. nov.

Variability. It appears to be a rather common weevil in the mountain range of Socotra, the variation of which, apart from the size, is rather low. Males have depressed elytra with almost even intervals, whereas females ( Fig. 89 ) have feebly convex elytra and intervals with more or less developed, but always visible blunt tubercles on apical third.

Male genitalia. Aedeagus as depicted in Fig. 88 .

Body length 4.3–6.2 mm.

Collection circumstances. The species is very common on Leucas hagghierensis Al-Gifri & Cortés-Burns (Lamiaceae) in Hagher mountains (J. Hájek, pers. comm.). One specimen was collected on Cephalocroton socotranus Balf. f. ( Euphorbiaceae ).

Distribution. Endemic to Socotra Island.

Figures

Figs 85–91. 85–89 – Socotractus angusticollis (Taschenberg): 85 – habitus of the male lectotype; 86 – locality label borne by the lectotype; 87 – collection label after which is placed the lectotype; 88 –aedeagus of a male from Wadi Madar in dorsal view; 89 – habitus of a female from Scant Mt. 90–91 – Socotractus peteri sp. nov., holotype: 90 – habitus; 91 – aedeagus in dorsal view.