Smicronyx syriacus Faust, 1887

Haran, Julien, 2018, A review of the genus Smicronyx Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae) in tropical Africa, Zootaxa 4508 (2), pp. 267-287 : 277

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.9
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:47E77D58-680A-411E-884F-955EE996F42F
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5996800
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A72C87E1-FFAA-5F68-FF5C-CEB4A0C19705
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Smicronyx syriacus Faust, 1887
status

Treatment

Smicronyx syriacus Faust, 1887 View in CoL

Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 , 3F View FIGURE 3 , 5F View FIGURE 5

Smicronyx syriacus Faust, 1887: 84 View in CoL

Material examined. Democratic Republic of Congo, Sibiti , XII-1963, mission A. Descarpentries & A. Villers, “ S. rufipennis Tournier ” A. Hoffmann det. (1♂, MNHN) .

Diagnosis. Body length 1.8–2.2 mm. Colour. Body integument black; vestiture of elytra consisting of recumbent, overlapping scales, distinctly longer that wide, more or less concealing integument, and of a series of semi-erect elongate scales, separate, on all interstriae; scales of elytra whitish, pale to dark brown, pale scales usually forming a spot on humeri and irregular patches on rest of elytra. Head. Rostrum distinctly downcurved in lateral view, especially at base, slightly longer than head capsule + prothorax, as thick as greatest width of profemora. Prothorax. Wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.10), sides greatly rounded in basal two-thirds, constricted apically, slightly narrower at apical margin than at base, widest behind middle; integument of disc distinctly granulate. Elytra. Moderately convex in basal two-thirds (w/l ratio: 0.69), rounded toward apex in apical third, widest near or beyond middle. Legs. Femora moderately clavate, unarmed, tibiae straight. Genitalia. Penis moderately elongate (w/l ratio: 0.57), sides straight, subparallel, converging near apex, apex rounded, slightly and regularly curved in lateral view ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ).

Life history. This species develops on various species of Cuscuta . It has been recorded on Cuscuta palaestina Boiss. in the Near East (Haran et al. 2017). Adult specimens collected in December in sub-Saharan Africa.

Distribution. Smicronyx syriacus is widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin and in central Asia ( Caldara 2013); in sub-Saharan Africa it is known from the Republic of Congo.

Discussion. Among tropical African Smicronyx , S. syriacus has a general body size and appearance similar to S. gossypii and S. pauperculus . It can be distinguished from these species by its wider prothorax (w/l ratio: 1.10 while only of 1 in S. gossypii and S. pauperculus ).