Phlyctinus callosus ( Schoenherr, 1826 )

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 : 5-10

Phlyctinus callosus ( Schoenherr, 1826)

Figs 1A , 2A , 3A, 3E , 4A

Peritelus (Phlyctinus) callosus Schoenherr, 1826: 196 .

Sciobius subnodosus Wollaston, 1869: 416 .

Ocynoma rhysa Olliff, 1888: 1007

Rhyncogonus germanus Broun, 1893: 293

Phlyctinus callosus – Schoenherr 1834: 523; 1843: 160.

Etymology

The genus and species names were probably named after the callosities present on the apex of the elytra in adults.

Material examined

Lectotype (here designated)

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; “Cap. b. spei. [Cape of Good Hope/ South-West part of the Western Cape province of South Africa] Wakerman” “ Phlyctinus callosus ” “Typus” “ NHRS JLKB000065427 ” “ Lectotype [here designated] Phlyctinus callosus ( Schoenherr 1826) , Haran 2019”; NHRS JLKB000065427.

Paralectotypes

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; “Cap. b. spei. [Cape of Good Hope/ South-West part of the Western Cape province of South Africa] Billb.” “Paratypus” “ NHRS JLKB000065429 ” “ Paralectotype Phlyctinus callosus ( Schoenherr 1826) , Haran 2019”; NHRS JLKB000065429 • 1 ♀; “Cap. b. spei. [Cape of Good Hope/ South-West part of the Western Cape province of South Africa] Mus. Billb.” “Paratypus” “ NHRS JLKB000065430 ” “ Paralectotype Phlyctinus callosus ( Schoenherr 1826) , Haran 2019”; NHRS JLKB000065430 .

The male paralectotype of this series ( NHRS JLKB000065428) belongs to a different species, see the discussion section.

Other material

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 4 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Western Cape province, Grabouw ; Jan. 1974; V.B. Whitehead leg.; “ on apple ”; SAMC SAM-COL-A064543 • 1 ♂; Riviersonderend ; 34.03º S, 20.12º E; Mar. 1984; E.P. leg.; SANC • 2 ♂♂; Tokai F.R. , Cape Town; 13 Jul. 1971; A. Boonzaaier leg.; “ on Pinus radiata ”; Ac Ca 1002; SAMC SAM-COL-A064544 • 1 ♂; Cape Town, Die Hellen ; 34º00.540ʹ S, 18º24.951ʹ E; “ on Asparagus ”; SANC • 1 ♂; Cape Town, Newlands ; 3 Mar. 1900; SANC • 1 ♂; Camps Bay ; 23 May 1975; V.R. Nort leg.; SANC • 2 ♀♀; Devils Peak , Cape Town; 9 Nov. 1983; M.MacPherson leg.; SAMC SAM-COL-A064545 • 1♀; Bredasdorp, Cape Peninsula ; Phlyctinus callosus Boh. det . Marshall; SAMC SAM-COL-A045050 • 1 ♀; Pearly Beach, Bredasdorp ; Sep. 1959; Phlyctinus callosus Boh. det . R. Oberprieler 1987; SAMC SAM-COL-A045051 • 1 ♀; Hout Bay ; May 1935; A.J. Hesse leg.; SAMC SAM-COL-A045056 • 2 ♂♂; Orangekloof , Wynberg, Cape Peninsula; Mar. 1928; A.J. Hesse leg.; SAMC SAM-COL-A045058 , A045064 • 2 ♀♀; Cape Town; 1911; L.C. Péringuey leg.; Phlyctinus callosus Boh. det . R. Oberprieler 1987; SAMC SAM-COL-A045060 • 1 ♀; Rondebosch ; Nov. 1969; Phlyctinus callosus Boh. det . R. Oberprieler 1987; SAMC SAM-COL-A045061 • 2 ♂♂; Somerset West ; Aug. 1958; A.J. Hesse, det. as Phlyctinus callosus ; SAMC SAM-COL-A045065 • 1 ♀; Somerset West ; Sep. 1958; A.J. Hesse, det. as Phlyctinus callosus ; SAMC SAM-COL-A045066 • 1 ♀; Holub ; det. as Phlyctinus callosus [A.J. Hesse’s handwriting]; SAMC SAM-COL-A045067 • 1 ♂; Table Mountain , Cape Town; Mar. 1920; det. as Phlyctinus callosus [A.J. Hesse’s handwriting]; SAMC SAM-COL-A045071 • 2 specs; Cape Peninsula, Circular Drive ; 18 Aug. 2018; J. Haran leg.; sweeping vegetation; CBGP code JHAR01353 ; CBGP • 7 specs; 20 km N of Citrusdal ; 31 Mar. 2018; J. Haran leg.; by night on leaves of ornamental Gaziana sp.; CBGP code JHAR00822 ; CBGP • 13 specs; Stellenbosch , train station; 14 Feb. 2018; J. Haran leg.; at base and on leaves of ornamental pelargonium ; CBGP code JHAR00755 ; CBGP • 1 spec.; Vermaaklikheid, Kapstyl ; 27 Apr. 2018; J. Haran leg.; on white wall; CBGP code JHAR00941 ; CBGP • 2 ♂♂; Cape Province, Port Elizabeth ; Nov. 1939; J.H. Magnus leg.; feeding on dahlias; BMNH • 3 ♂♂; Prince Alfred ; 18 Oct. 1984; A. Meyer leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth ; ’91.41’ ??; BMNH • 1 ♂; Port Elizabeth ; 1 Nov. 1939; J.H. leg.; SANC .

AUSTRALIA • 1 ♂; Victoria, Laverton ; 8 Oct. 1985; S.K. Smith leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; N.S.W., Blackheath ; Dec. 1928; E.C. Levitt leg.; “on Dahlia”; BMNH .

NEW ZEALAND • 1 ♂; Silver Bert, Fixton ; Apr. 1921; J.G. Myers leg.; “ Phlyctinus callosus Boh. Det GAK Marshall”; BMNH • 1 ♂; Wanganui ; 20 Apr. 1948; D.M. leg.; “on X. gerbera ”; SANC.

NORFOLK ISLAND • 1 ♂; Ball Bay ; 5 Apr. 1973; Mr and Mrs Jowett leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; May 1976; Mr and Mrs Jowett leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; Nov. 1973; Mr and Mrs Jowett leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; alt. 300 ft.; 10 May 1939; I. McComish leg.; “on leaves of french bean”; BMNH .

REUNION ISLAND • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Le Tampon, Forest of Notre Dame de la Paix ; 2009; Remy Lemagnen leg.; R186; DMC .

ST HELENA ISLAND • 1 ♂, lectotype of Sciobius subnodosus (here designated); “St Helena. 71/13- 78/12” “SYN-TYPE” “ Otiorhynchus subnodosus W.” “? Syntype Sciobius subnodosus Woll. Det. R.G. Booth 2014 ” “Lectotype Sciobius subnodosus Wollaston 1869 . J. Haran des. 2019”; BMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; “ Paralectotypes Sciobius subnodosus Wollaston 1869 . J. Haran des. 2019”; BMNH • 1 ♂; Diana’s Peak ; 27 Jun. 1959; C.R. Wallace leg.; “swept from grass”; BMNH • 1 ♂; Hutts Gate ; 21 Jul. 1959; C.R. Wallace leg.; “on solanaceous weed”; BMNH .

USA • 1 ♂; California, Davis ; 38.33º N, 121.44º W; 9 Jan. 1976; P. Willer leg.; “on imported olives”; SANC .

Redescription

BODY LENGTH. 4.8–6.1 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument dark red, head and prothorax darker, usually black; vestiture of elytra consisting of a mixture of elongate scales, twice as long as wide, and smaller scales 4–5 × as long as wide, not concealing integument; scales brown and/or pearly green or pearly brown, pale scales usually forming a transverse band on apical ⅔ of elytra, longitudinal bands on basal half of sides of prothorax and a few dots on apical margin of prothorax.

HEAD. Rostrum longer than wide (w/l ratio: 0.68) in both sexes, at base 1.05 × as wide as at apex, sides slightly concave near middle of length; epifrons as wide as width of one eye, narrower at base than distance between eyes, sides subparallel, 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 narrower than diameter of eyes; 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, surface strongly conical in dorsal view. Antennae slender, scape 0.75 × as long as funicle, slightly bisinuate, subclavate at apex, exceeding anterior margin of prothorax in repose; funicle with segments 1–2 elongate, 1 shorter (0.65 ×) 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: 1.16), widest slightly before middle of length, apical margin 0.68 × as wide as at base, sides rounded, apical half slightly concave; integument forming a dense cover of elongate granules orientated parallel to median carina and two slight depressions on each side of median carina; median carina raised, smooth and shiny, not reaching apical and basal margins of prothorax.

ELYTRA. Sides convex, widest before middle of length (w/l ratio: 0.76 in ♂, 0.80 in ♀), integument weakly reticulate, shiny, interstriae raised, 2–4 × as wide as width of striae in basal half; large declivital callosities present on apical ¼ of interstria 3, 5 and 7 and smaller ones on 2, 4, 6 and 8; each interstria with a series of semi-erect, elongate whitish scales, condensed on callosities.

ABDOMEN. Underside with pearly green or pearly brown scales, not concealing integument, more condensed on metanepisterna; ventrite 1 as long as 2+ 3+4, slightly convex in middle (♀), or concave with erect setae as long as claws (♂), ventrite 5 slightly longer than 3+4, with erect setae in middle and near apex and a small tubercle near apex (♀), or with a large cavity in apical ⅔, with long erect setae condensed on margin of cavity, forming two brushes at apical and basal margins, and a longitudinal line of short recumbent setae in cavity (♂) ( Fig. 3A ).

LEGS. Femora clavate, unarmed, with a ring of more condensed pale scales near middle; tibiae straight, unarmed, slightly bisinuate on ventral side, apical setal comb equal in length, golden; metatibial corbels absent; claws simple, free, equal in length.

GENITALIA (MALE TERMINALIA). Body of penis elongate, 0.7× as long as apodemes, sides convex, widest in basal ½, converging towards apex and slightly narrowed before it (ratio w/l: 0.45), in lateral view curvature weak, mainly in basal half, and just before apex ( Fig. 2A ); copulatory sclerite with left arm as long as body, bearing setae at base, comb of right arm with setae parallel, right area of body wider than left area.

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Sternite VIII with plate subtriangular in dorsal view, apically sharply pointed, widest near basal ½, in lateral view lanceolate, widest near middle of length, anterior margin well developed, glabrous, posterior margin ill-defined up to middle of length of plate; apodeme short, robust, as long as or slightly longer than length of plate; transverse bar moderately sclerotised. Gonocoxites long, flat, sides converging apicad, rounded at apex, with long apical styli 4× as long as wide, bearing long apical setae. Spermatheca with regularly wide curved cornu; ramus well developed, twice as long as collum, ramus and collum parallel; nodulus rounded.

Sexual dimorphism

Males may be distinguished externally from females by the slightly more slender elytra and the cavity and setae on ventrite 5.

Life history

Phlyctinus callosus is a polyphagous species. Verified host plants belong to the families Amaryllidaceae (ornamental Tulbaghia spp.), Asteraceae ( Osteospermum moniliferum L., ornamental Gazania sp.), Apiaceae (larvae have been artificially bred on Daucus carota L.), Aizoaceae (ornamental Lampranthus sp.), Crassulaceae ( Cotyledon orbiculata L., Cotyledon spp.), Geraniaceae (ornamental Pelargonium sp.), Plantaginaceae ( Plantago lanceolata L.) and Plumbaginaceae (ornamental Plumbago auriculata Lam. ). This species is often found in gardens on ornamental plants. In natural habitats it was only found on O. moniliferum occurring in humid, sandy habitats such as river banks. Adults spend the day in the leaf litter on the ground in the vicinity of the host plant ( Fig. 4A ) and climb onto its aerial parts during the night to feed and mate. Adults may be found all year round if the habitat remains wet.

Distribution

Phlyctinus callosus is endemic to the Western Cape province of the republic of South Africa. Museum records suggest that this species is naturally distributed around Cape Town and on the Cape Flats. In other localities (Cederberg, Little Karoo, etc.) it has only been found in the vicinity of gardens and orchards, suggesting human-mediated transportation. The records of the species from the Eastern Cape province

also probably correspond to human-mediated introductions. Phlyctinus callosus has been introduced into the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Reunion Island and St Helena Island. The records from the Kermadec and Ascension Islands could not be verified and should be temporarily considered as referring to Phlyctinus species. This species has been detected, but seemingly not established, in the Northern Hemisphere: Britain ( Brown 2004) and the USA ( Anonymous 1950).

Remarks

In the collection of Schoenherr housed at NHRS, two males and two females from the type locality (Cape of Good Hope) and fitted with type and paratype labels were located under the name P. callosus . However, the description of this species lacks a designation of a particular specimen as the holotype ( Schoenherr 1826). The male specimen from this series bearing a red type label (NHRS JLKB000065427) is designated as the lectotype for P. callosus ( Schoenherr 1826) . The second male of this series (NHRS JLKB000065428) bears a red paratype label, but belongs to a different, undescribed species, and will not be dealt within this paper. The two females of this series (NHRS JLKB000065429, NHRS JLKB000065430) were labelled as paralectotypes for P. callosus .

In the Wollaston collection housed at BMNH, the syntypic series of Sciobius subnodosus Wollaston, 1869 (1 ♂, 2 ♀♀) from St Helena Island was located. The male specimen of this series is designated (above) as the lectotype for S. subnodosus . The two female specimens are labelled as paralectotypes of this species name. The examination of these specimens revealed no external or internal differences from the holotype of Phlyctinus callosus as reported in Decelle & Voss (1972). The name P. callosus var. tottus Sparrman, 1785 (as listed by Lona 1937) does not refer to any species description of Sparmann and should be considered as an in litteris invalid name. The type material of Ocynoma rhysa Olliff, 1888 and Rhyncogonus germanus Broun, 1893 could not be located in the context of this study. These names are reported as synonyms of P. callosus by Marshall (1926) and Pullen et al. (2014).

Uncorrected genetic p-distances of COI reached 1.6% among all the specimens of this species as analyzed ( Fig. 5 ).

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. 3 (opposite page). A–B. Ventrites of males of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826 (left: ventrites 1–5, right: ventrite 5). A. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826). B. P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov. C–D. Ventrite 5. C. P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., holotype ♂. D. P. planithorax Haran sp. nov. E–F. Vestiture of basal right side of elytra. E. P. callosus (Schoenherr, 1826) (left). F. P. littoralis Haran sp. nov. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

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 .

Fig. 5. PhyML tree of Phlyctinus Schoenherr, 1826 species inferred from mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase I (COI, 658 base pairs). Bootstrap support values as obtained from 1000 replicates (*above 80, ** above 95). Specimens codes were shortened for representation: JHAR0 = J and _0101 = -1.