Anchonidium selvanum, Germann & Braunert, 2023

Germann, Christoph & Braunert, Carlo, 2023, Anchonidium selvanum sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae) from northern Portugal, Alpine Entomology 7, pp. 195-200 : 195

Anchonidium selvanum sp. nov.

Material.

Holotype ♂ 413_23.2 Portugal, Vila Real, Sra do Alvão, Bilhó, Bobal , 41°23'56"N, 7°49'48"W, 880m, Quercus cerris , Q. pyrenaica , Erica umbellata , 31.5.2023, leg. C. Germann (NMB).

Paratypes: 1 ♀ Portugal, Vila Real, Serra do Marao , 750 m, 21.05.1997, leg. W. Starke (cLB) . - 1 ♂, 1 ♀ Portugal, Vila Real, Serra do Marao , 750 m, June 1997, leg. Th. Aßmann (cLB) . - 1 ♂ Portugal, Vila Real, Serra do Marao , 750 m, 10.06.1997 (SDEI) . - 27 ♂, 9 ♀ 413_23.2 PORTUGAL, Vila Real, Sra do Alvão, Bilhó, Bobal , 41°23'56"N, 7°49'48"W, 880 m, Quercus cerris , Q. pyrenaica , Erica arborea , 31.5.2023, leg. C. Germann (cCG, NHML, NMB, NMBE, NMPC) . - 33 ex. dito, leg. C. Braunert (cCB). - 15 ♂, 6 ♀ 413_23.3 Portugal, Vila Real, Sra do Alvão, Bilhó, Bobal , 41°23'54"N, 7°49'42"W, 941 m, 31.5.2023, leg. C. Germann (cCG, NMB) . - 6 ex. dito, leg. C. Braunert (cCB). - 9 ♂, 3 ♀ 413_23.4 Portugal, Vila Real, Sra do Alvao , 2km NW Lamas de Olo, 41°22'56"N, 7°49'01"W, 1056 m, 31.5.2023, leg. C. Germann (cCG) . - 9 ♂, 9 ♀ dito, leg. C. Braunert (cCB). - 1 ♂, 1 ♀ 413_23.10 Portugal, Porto, Sra do Marao , 5 km E Ansiães, 41°14'55"N, 7°53'44"W, 1330 m, 2.6.2023, leg. C. Germann (cCG) . - 1 ex. 413_23.11 Portugal, Porto, Sra do Marao , 5km NE Ansiães, 41°16'10"N, 7°54'21"W, 1180 m, GS [sifted] Quercus , 2.6.2023, leg. C. Braunert (cCB) .

Diagnosis.

(Figs 1-3 , 7-14 ) Body length (without rostrum): 2.1-3.3 mm. Body colour auburn. Pronotum: Anterior margin of prosternum lacking rostral notch or channel. Metacoxae separated from mesocoxae by distance slightly superior to diameter of metacoxae; length of metaventrite as long as diameter of mesocoxae; first ventrite inbetween metacoxae coarsely punctuate with especially large, roundish-oval punctures, but not confluent to form deep grooves as in A. unguiculare . Elytra L/W: 1.5-1.6, elongate, parallel sided, widest shortly behind middle. Striae coarsely and regularly punctuate, counting 15-17 punctures from elytral base to declivity.

Male genitalia: Penis tube-like, in dorso-ventral view laterally diverging just before apex, almost rectangular, apical margin weakly rounded (Figs 7 , 8 ); in lateral view bowed (Fig. 9 ).

Female genitalia: Sternite 8 with plate drop-shaped, apodeme shorter than plate, apex thickened and laterally strongly protruding (Fig. 10 ). Spermatheca c-shaped with tip of cornu pointed, base roundish, ramus and nodulus not protruding (Fig. 11 ). Sclerotized bursal atrium in dorso-ventral view ear-shaped, in lateral view with protruding basal appendix (Figs 12-14 ).

Derivation of name.

Anchonidium selvanum sp. nov. is named after the native oak-forest in Portugal, characterised below, the name is taken from the Portuguese "la selva" which means the primeval forest. Unfortunately, this native habitat is severely threatened by the intensive wood logging, the reforestation with Eucalyptus and Mimosa trees from Australia or Pinus halepensis Mill. which all grow fast and the short time yield per square meter tempts the forest owners to plant them ( Garcia et al. 2008; Queirós 2012). Finally, the natural forest habitats are severely threatened by wildfires, often lighted on purpose and tolerated or even enhanced by the fire-tolerant invading tree species.

Ecology.

We found most numerous specimens per locality in remains of the native oak forests - 69 at the type locality in two sifting samples, and 57 at localities just nearby where the forest had been cut supposedly years before - (Figs 15 , 16 ). This typical forest is similar to a subtropical cloud forest and is composed of the two indigenous species Quercus pyrenaica Willd. and Q. cerris L. with Erica umbellata L. and a wide variety of mosses, lichens and fern species on the tree’s branches, growing on granite stone. The deep and humid leaf litter is a good indicator for individual rich occurrences of Anchonidium selvanum sp. nov.

Figures

Figure 15. Habitat at type locality of A. selvanum sp. nov. at Bobal, 880 m a. s. l., Serra do Alvao. A small remaining part of the ancient Oak forest with mosses, lichens and a deep leaf litter layer at ground where the new species lives in remarkable densities (Photo: C. Braunert).

Figure 16. Remains and replantation of Oak forest in the Serra do Marao close to Ansiaes. A good example for small remains of the ancient forests where we found only few individuals of A. selvanum sp. nov. (Photo: C. Braunert).

Figures 1 - 6. 1 - 3. Anchonidium selvanum sp. nov. 1. Male; 2. Female; 3. Male underside; 4 - 6. Habitus and penis (medianlobus, dorsal view) of 4. Anchonidium unguiculare (Spain, Alto Campoo). 5. A. braunerti (Portugal, Serra de Monchique). 6. A. spathiferum (Serra da Estrela). Photos: C. Germann).

Figures 7 - 14. 7 - 9. Aedeagus of Anchonidium selvanum sp. nov, holotype. 7. Dorsal view; 8. Ventral view; 9. Lateral view; 10 - 14. Female genitalia of a paratype; 10. Tergites 8 and 7 and Sternite 8; 11. Spermatheca; 12. Sclerotized bursal atrium; 12, 13. Dorso-ventral views; 14 Lateral view (Photos: C. Germann).