Phlyctinus aloevorus Haran, 2020

Haran, Julien M., Hansen, Steffan, Benoit, Laure & Addison, Pia, 2020, Description of five new species in the genus Phlyctinus Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae): a first step in deciphering the P. callosus complex, European Journal of Taxonomy 669 (669), pp. 1-29 : 21-24

Phlyctinus aloevorus Haran sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:28603A47-8AF4-4676-A2E2-BC82092AD72A

Figs 1F , 2F , 4 I–J

Etymology

This species name is formed from the genus name of its main host plant, Aloe arborescens Mill. , on which it causes distinct feeding damage.

Material examined

Holotype

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Western Cape province, Betty’s Bay ; 34º21.145ʹ S, 18º54.765ʹ E; 23 Mar. 2019; J. Haran leg.; on Aloe arborescens ; CBGP code JHAR02252 ; SAMC.

Paratypes

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape province • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; CBGP • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; SAMC • 3 specs; Betty’s Bay, Botanical Garden ; 34º21ʹ04.20ʺ S, 18º55ʹ37.73ʺ E; 24 Nov. 2019; J. Haran leg.; on Aloe arborescens ; CBGP code JHAR03063 ; CBGP (ethanol coll.) • 1 ♂, 6 specs; Kleinmond; 34º20ʹ33.70ʺ S, 19º00ʹ53.47ʺ E; 24 Nov. 2019; J. Haran leg.; on Aloe arborescens and Carpobrotus edulis ; CBGP code JHAR03064 ; CBGP (ethanol coll.).

Description

BODY LENGTH. 5.5–6.5 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument dark red, head and prothorax darker, usually black; vestiture of elytra with elliptic elongate scales, twice as long as wide, not concealing integument; scales brown with scattered ill-defined paler spots, in females with a pale transverse band on apical ¼ of interstriae 1–3.

HEAD. Rostrum longer than wide (w/l ratio: 0.72) in both sexes, at base as wide as at apex, sides slightly concave near middle of length; epifrons slightly narrower in middle of length than width of eye in dorsal view, at base slightly narrower than distance between eyes, sides subparallel, slightly widening apicad, upper face with a longitudinal carina extending from basal transverse groove to nasal plate, visible through scales; nasal plate V-shaped, reaching level of antennal insertion basally, bare of scales, with only minute setae inserted in scattered punctures and 3 pairs of long setae apically near insertion of mandibles (2 short and 1 very long); antennal scrobes slightly curved in lateral view, directed to middle of eye, separated from it by a strip of scales half to ½ narrower than diameter of eye; mandibles trisetose, bare of scales. Forehead with a short longitudinal furrow between eyes, scales and setae arranged centripetally towards a point below base of eyes; eyes protruding, margin rounded, surface moderately conical in dorsal view. Antennae slender, scape 0.7 × as long as funicle, bisinuate, subclavate at apex, exceeding anterior margin of prothorax in repose; funicle with segments 1–2 elongate, 1 slightly shorter (0.87 ×) than 2, segments 3–6 longer than wide, conical, shortening apicad, segment 7 longer and slightly wider than 6; club spindle-shaped, segment 1 longer than 2, margins slightly sinuous.

PROTHORAX. Slightly wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.18), widest before middle of length, apical margin 0.7 × as wide as basal margin, sides rounded, apical half slightly concave; integument densely punctate, with shiny elongate concentric ridges and a median carina; upper face regularly convex, lacking cuticular depression.

ELYTRA. Sides convex, widest near middle of length (ratio w/l: 0.79–0.83), integument finely punctate and reticulate, shiny, interstriae raised, 3–4× as wide as width of striae in basal half; large declivital callosities absent or very reduced in apical ¼ of interstriae 3, 5 and 7; each interstria with a series of semi-erect, elongate pale brown scales, slightly more condensed on callosities.

ABDOMEN. Underside with scattered scales similar to those on elytra, not concealing integument; ventrite 1 shorter than 2+3+4, slightly convex in middle (♀) or concave with sub-erect setae shorter than claws (♂), ventrite 5 longer than 3+4, with recumbent elongate setae in middle and near apex and a weak longitudinal carina near apex (♀) or with a large cavity extending over apical ¾, with long erect setae mainly condensed at middle of basal margin of cavity and a brush on each side of apical margin; bottom of cavity with a few short recumbent or semi-erect setae (♂).

LEGS. Femora clavate, unarmed, with double vestiture of recumbent and semi-erect greyish scales; tibiae straight, unarmed, slightly bisinuate on ventral side; claws simple, free, equal in length.

GENITALIA. Body of penis elongate, 0.75 × as long as apodemes, sides convex, widest slightly before middle of length (w/l ratio: 0.36), in lateral view curvature weak, stronger near base ( Fig. 2F ); copulatory sclerite with left arm longer than body, bearing setae at base; comb of right arm with setae converging, curved, straight at apex; right area of body slightly wider than left area.

Sexual dimorphism

Males may be distinguished externally from females by the homogenous elytral vestiture (with a transverse pale band in apical ½ in females), and the cavity and erect setae on ventrite 5.

Life history

Phlyctinus aloevorus sp. nov. ( Fig. 4I ) forms large populations on Aloe arborescens (Asphodelaceae) and, to a lesser extent, on Carpobrotus edulis (Aizoaceae) . Contrary to other species of the genus, which spend the day sheltering in the leaf litter, P. aloevorus sp. nov. was found hidden between the young leaves of Aloe L. during the day ( Fig. 4J ), feeding mainly on flower peduncles ( Fig. 4J ). Adults were collected in March and November.

Distribution

This species was only found at various limited locations on the Cape coast between Betty’s Bay and Hermanus.

Remarks

Phlyctinus aloevorus sp. nov. belongs to the P. littoralis sp. nov. species group, in which it is closest to P. planithorax sp. nov. (see discussion under that species for distinguishing characters). It can easily be distinguished from specimens of P. littoralis sp. nov. by the presence of a distinct median carina on the prothorax. Both species show an uncorrected p-distance of 5.3%.

Figures

Fig. 1 (opposite page). Habitus of species of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826 males (left) and females (right). A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. C. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. D. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. E. P. littoralis Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. F. P. aloevorus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. Scale bars = 3 mm .

Fig. 2. Penis of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826, in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view, and copulatory sclerite (top right). A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. C. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. D. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. E. P. littoralis Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. F. P. aloevorus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. Scale bars = 500 µm. Copulatory sclerite not to scale.

Fig. 4 (opposite page). Habitus in natura, host plants and biotopes of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826 species. A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov. C–D. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. and its host plant, Osteospermum moniliferum L. E–F. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov. and its host plant, Hymenolepis crithmifolia (L.) Greuter. G–H. Biotope and host plant (Arctotis angustifolia L.) of P. littoralis Haran sp. nov. I–J. P. aloevorus Haran sp. nov. on its host plant, Aloe arborescens Mill., with details of feeding damage on floral peduncle .