Trigonopterus robertsi Riedel

Riedel, Alexander & Taenzler, Rene, 2016, Revision of the Australian species of the weevil genus Trigonopterus Fauvel, ZooKeys 556, pp. 97-162 : 137-138

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Curculionidae

26. Trigonopterus robertsi Riedel sp. n.

Diagnostic description.

Holotype (Fig. 26a). Length 2.88 mm. Color ferruginous. Body subovate, with distinct constriction between pronotum and elytron; in profile convex. Rostrum with median ridge and pair of submedian ridges ending in apical third; intervening furrows with rows of coarse punctures each containing one mesad directed narrow scale; base dorsally protruding, markedly projecting from profile subangularly; epistome posteriorly with subangulate ridge. Forehead coarsely punctate-rugose. Pronotum with distinct subapical constriction; disk coarsely punctate-reticulate; with median costa; uneven, with weak swelling at center of disk; punctures each containing one narrow ochre scale. Elytra with striae deeply incised; intervals costate-carinate; with rows of narrow ochre scales and larger white scales; base markedly bisinuate. Legs. Femora densely punctate, with sparse ochre scales, with transverse band of larger white scales. Profemur with subbasal callus anteriorly projecting. Tibiae subbasally with dorsal angulation; metatibia with suprauncal tooth. Abdominal ventrites 1-2 laterally swollen, medially forming common cavity, with coarse punctures; ventrite 5 weakly concave, in basal half with ochre scales. Penis (Fig. 26b) with sides of body subparallel, with constriction in front of middle, continued subparallel to subangulate apex; transfer apparatus flagelliform, directed basad, its length subequal to body of penis; ductus ejaculatorius without bulbus. Intraspecific variation. Length 2.58-3.08 mm. Color ferruginous or almost black with only tarsi and antenna ferruginous. Female rostrum with median costa and pair of submedian costae; epistome simple. Female abdominal ventrites 1-2 medially flat; ventrite 5 flat.

Material examined.

Holotype (QMBA): ARC3727 (EMBL # LN888209), Queensland, Mt. Finnigan, ascent from Shiptons Flat, S15°49.001', E145°16.853', 1075 m, sample 1, 28-IV-2014. Paratypes (QMBA, SMNK): Queensland: 5 exx, ARC3728 (EMBL # LN888210), ARC3729 (EMBL # LN888211), ARC3730 (EMBL # LN888212), same data as holotype; 1 ex, Mt. Finnigan, ascent from Shiptons Flat, S15°48.935', E145°16.669', 1048 m, sample 2, 28-IV-2014; 1 ex, Mt. Finnigan, site 4, S15°48', E145°17',1060 m, pitfalls, 04-XII-1990-17-I-1991; 1 ex, Finnigan summit, S15°49', E145°17', 1100 m, rainforest, stick brushing, Berlesate 979, 21-XI-1998; 1 ex, 4,0 km W of Cape Tribulation, site 8, 720 m, rainforest pitfall traps, sieved litter, 23-IX-7-X-1982; 1 ex, Mt. Hartley summit, S15°46', E145°19', 790 m, intercept trap, 08-XI-1995-16-I-1996; 2 exx, Mt. Hartley summit, S15°46', E145°19', 750 m, pitfall traps, 08-XI-1995-16-I-1996.

Distribution.

Queensland: W Cape Tribulation, Mt. Finnigan, Mt. Hartley.

Biology.

Sifted from leaf litter in primary forest.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of the naturalist Lewis Roberts (Shiptons Flat), whose guiding help was essential for the discovery of this species.

Notes.

Trigonopterus robertsi Riedel, sp. n. was coded as " Trigonopterus sp. 556".