Afrosmicronyx madagascariensis Haran, 2017

Haran, Julien & Perrin, Hélène, 2017, Revision of the genus Afrosmicronyx Hustache (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae), Zootaxa 4365 (2), pp. 132-148 : 143

Afrosmicronyx madagascariensis Haran , sp. n.

Figs 2I , 4I , 5I , 6I

Material examined. Holotype ♂: ‘ Madagascar. rizière du lac. Alaotra’ , ‘ 19.iii.1991. riz irrigué. P. Bousses. 10903.’ (specimen deposited in MNHN, Gene. coll) . Paratypes: data as for holotype (2 ♂, CBGP) .

Description. (♂) Body length 3.4–3.6 mm. Colour. Body integument brownish black; vestiture consisting of rounded recumbent scales, as long as wide or slightly elliptical, brown with shades of grayish on elytra. Head. Rostrum as long as head plus prothorax, thin, moderately and regularly downcurved, densely covered by scales in basal two thirds, less densely in apical third, smooth only at apex, longitudinal carinae absent, transversal furrow at base of rostrum shiny and deep, head short; antennae reddish, inserted at apical third, segment 1 twice as long as 2, segment 2 only slightly longer than 3. Prothorax. wider than long, widest in basal third, greatly narrowed at apex, sides rounded; integument greatly punctuate, space between punctures smooth, micropuntuate, shiny; scales brownish greyish, a paler spot near scutellum, vestiture with a mix of broadly ovate brownish greyish scales and arcuate setiform whitish scales. Elytra. Sides moderately convex, straight and expanded toward apex in basal half, rounded in apical half, widest near middle (ratio w/l: 0.67); humeri raised; striae narrow, interstriae flat wide and shiny, covered with 2 to 3 series of aligned scales, apex of interstria 5 with moderate declivital callosity, followed by depression; scutellum small but visible, squamose. Abdomen. Underside covered with brownish-gray scales, ventrites 1 and 2 elongate, 1 as long as 2+3 and as 3–5. Legs. Dark brownish, femora clavate, armed with one ventral tooth; tibiae straight, armed with a strong ventral tooth proximally near middle. Genitalia. Penis elongate (ratio w/l: 0.38), sides sub-parallel in basal half, widest behind middle, converging near apex, apex rounded, regular curvature in lateral view, thinned in apical third. ( Fig. 6I ). Female not known.

Life history. This species was collected in rice plantations where Striga asiatica is a widespread parasite. However, the association with this host plant was not established. Adults have been collected in March.

Distribution. Madagascar.

Discussion. Afrosmicronyx madagascariensis is similar to A. mirei , but the scales on its elytra do not form whitish stripes along the sides (see A. mirei for further distinguishing characters). Afrosmicronyx madagascariensis is also similar to A. umbrinus in general appearance but has a larger pronotum, thicker body and a much longer penis. It is currently the only species of Afrosmicronyx known from Madagascar.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus of species of Afrosmicronyx. A. Afrosmicronyx giganteus (Hustache), neotype ♀. B. A. quadrituberculatus (Hustache),lectotype ♂.C.A.sopubiae(Marshall),lectotype ♂.D.A.angolanus (Hustache),holotype ♂.E.A.maerens (Marshall), lectotype ♂. F. A. dorsomaculatus(Cox), specimen from Sudan (♀). G. A. mirei sp.n., holotype ♂. H. A. armipes (Voss), holotype ♂.I. A. madagascariensissp.n., holotype♂. J. A.umbrinus(Hustache) lectotype ♀.Scale bars (A to J): 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Head and prothorax in lateral view of species of Afrosmicronyx. I. A. madagascariensis sp. n., holotype ♂. J. A. umbrinus (Hustache), lectotype ♀.

FIGURE 5. Ventrites of Afrosmicronyx spp.. A. Afrosmicronyx giganteus (Hustache), neotype ♀. B. A. quadrituberculatus (Hustache), lectotype ♂. C. A. sopubiae (Marshall), lectotype ♂. D. A. angolanus (Hustache), holotype ♂. E. A. maerens (Marshall), lectotype ♂. F. A. dorsomaculatus (Cox), specimen from Sudan (♀). G. A. mirei sp. n., holotype ♂. H. A. armipes (Voss), holotype ♂. I. A. madagascariensis sp. n., holotype ♂. J. A. umbrinus (Hustache), lectotype ♀. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Penis of Afrosmicronyx species, dorsal (left) and lateral (right) view. A. Afrosmicronyx giganteus (Hustache), specimen from Cameroon. B. A. quadrituberculatus (Hustache), lectotype. C. A. sopubiae (Marshall), lectotype. D. A. angolanus (Hustache), holotype. E. A. maerens (Marshall), lectotype. F. A. dorsomaculatus (Cox), specimen from Mauritania. G. A.mirei sp.n., holotype.H.A.armipes (Voss),holotype.I. A.madagascariensis sp. n., holotype.J.A.umbrinus (Hustache), specimen from Cameroon.Scale bar = 200 µm.