Ischnopterapion (Ischnopterapion)

Morris, Michael G., Sw, London & Dt, Dorset, 2011, The Apionidae (Coleoptera) of the Canary Islands, with particular reference to the contribution of T. Vernon Wollaston, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 51 (1), pp. 157-182 : 179

Ischnopterapion (Ischnopterapion) sp.

( Fig. 14 )

A species found abundantly in the Pinar de Chio region of Tenerife in June 1999 was thought to be I. plumbeomicans . However, M. A. Alonso-Zarazaga (in litt.) has pointed out that this identification is unlikely, as that species is monophagous on Lotus creticus . The weevils were shaken from moribund plants of a species of Lotus identified as L. campylocladus , and occurred with smaller numbers of Tychius colonnellii Caldara, 1991 (= T. filirostris Wollaston, 1854 ) ( Curculionidae ). W. Suppantschitsch (in litt.) has also taken this species and suggested that, as specimens differ somewhat from typical I. plumbeomicans , it may represent an undescribed species; further study is indicated. The same species also occurred in abundance on Lotus spartioides at Cortijo de la Tirma, Gran Canaria, in January 2004 and less abundantly at on Lotus sp. at Epina, La Gomera, 27–29 April 2008 (current author’s records).

Figures

Figs. 13–14. Habitus of the Apionidae of Canary Islands. 13 – Catapion austrinum (Wollaston, 1864), holotype, Wollaston Coll. (BMNH); 14 – Ischnopterapion sp., author’s Coll.