Heilus obrieni Lira, De Sousa & Marques, 2023

Lira, Aline De Oliveira, Sousa, Wesley Oliveira De & Marques, Marinêz Isaac, 2023, Four new species of Heilus Kuschel 1955 (Curculionidae, Molytinae, Molytini, Hylobiina) from Brazil, Zootaxa 5336 (2), pp. 206-216 : 212-214

Heilus obrieni Lira, De Sousa & Marques sp. nov.

( Figures 4A–I )

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BC172EA7-150C-4FD6-B568-D45B181AA7F4

Diagnosis. This new species is distinguished from other Heilus species by the following combination of characters: bright integument, covered with tiny whitish setae; fine, whitish, or brownish setae, without apparent maculae on elytra; oblique granules on pronotum, transverse granules of subequal width on elytral interstriae; internal sac with short spicules and bifurcate endophallite. Heilus obrieni is most similar to H. inornatus by the absence of macula but can be distinguished from that species by the form of the pronotum, laterally transverse in H. inornatus and rounded in H. obrieni , and by the thickness of the setae which are thicker in H. inornatus than H. obrieni .

Description. ( Figs. 4A–B ) Length (pronotum and elytra) of males and females 9.7 to 10.4 and 10.0 to 11.1 mm, respectively. Integument dark. Rostrum 1.1 times longer than pronotum, in females 5.9 times and in males 4.0 times longer than apical width. Eyes. Interorbital distance 0.6 mm. Thorax. Pronotum 1.4 times wider than long, sides rounded, narrow apex; oblique granules, setae fine, whitish, and brownish. Elytra. Flat to apical calli, 2.0 times longer than wide, rounded at apex; transverse granules of subequal width of interstriae; fine, whitish, or brownish setae, without apparent maculae; apical elytral calli elevated; elytral striae with fine punctures; stria 9 with deep punctation. Male genitalia ( Figs. 4C–E ). Median lobe of aedeagus subequal in length to apodemes of median lobe, apex truncate, with row of elongate setae, sides rounded; internal sac with tiny spicules, endophallite bifurcate. Tegmen with manubrium 1.4 times longer than dorsal lobes. Female genitalia ( Figs. 4F–I ). Coxites with short setae at apex; styli with apex densely covered with elongate setae; spermathecal duct of medium length, inserted in posterior third of bursa copulatrix; spermathecal capsule curved, with roughness in region opposite cornu, ramus non-prominent; spermathecal gland 5.8 times longer than spermathecal capsule, slightly narrower in distal half. Abdominal tergite VIII transverse, densely covered with elongate setae at apex, sparse smaller setae on sides. Abdominal sternite VIII with apical lobes 1.4 wider than long, apex with dense elongate setae, shorter setae on sides; spiculum ventrale straight, enlarged at apex, 1.6 times longer than apical lobes.

Dimensions (mm): Males/females, respectively. TBL: 9.7–10.4/10.0–11.1; TRL: 2.1–2.4/2.7–4.0; MHx: 3.3–3.4/3.3–3.6; RAW: 0.6/0.6; RBW: 0.6/0.6; IO: 0.3/0.3; PnL: 2.6–2.7/2.9–3.0; PnMW: 3.4–3.9/3.9–4.1; PnBW: 2.6–2.9/2.7–3.0; EL: 7.0–7.4/7.1–7.7; EW: 3.4–3.7/3.6–4.0.

Type material. Holotype male [printed label with red border] ( INPA); BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus, ZF 2, KM-19, 18.viii.1979, Adis et al. fogging, 230, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 2020. Paratypes (5 males, 4 females) [printed label with black border]: 1 male dissected, Amazonas, Maturacá-Alto Rio Cauaburi, 17–20.i.1963, J. Bechyné col., Convênio DZSP-Goeldi, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 2020 ( MZSP); 1 male, Amazonas, JBR 19, Km 275, 17-v-1978, Norman D. Penny, Heilus sp. 3, 227, Lira, A.O. det. 2020 ( INPA); 1 male, Amazonas, JBR 119, Km 275, 6-iv-1978, Norman D. Penny, 259, Heilus sp. 6, 227, Lira, A.O. det. 2020; 1 female, Amazonas, (Pq Nacional do Jaú, M.E. Médio Jaú-Miriti), Motta, C. S. et al., 5–8.vi.1994, Luz mista mercúrio, Luz negra BL e BLB, lençol, 234, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 2020 ( INPA); 1 male, Amazonas, Fonte Boa, Estr. Mamopina, 023227S-660408W, 21–24.ix.2005, Malaise, J.F. Rafael & F.F. Xavier F 0, 236, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 2020 ( INPA); 1 female, Amazonas, Barcelos, Rio Unini, 01 o 45’53”S / 62 o 05’10”W, 20–22.vi.1996, Motta, C. & Gouveia col., Luz mista mercúrio, Luz negra BL e BLB, lençol, 0018869, Heilus sp. 4, 252, Lira, A.O. det. 2020 ( INPA); 1 female dissected, Pará, Igarapé-Belém (Rio Solimıes), Malkin col., 7–30.iv.1966, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 2020 ( MZSP); VENEZUELA: 1 female dissected, Amazonas, Orinoco region of Venezuela, Kran, Nacht: Austr Senna s. 967, 19.ii.1999, leg. S. Kirmse, W aktiv, Heilus sp. 2, S. A. Vanin det. 1999, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 20 ( MZSP); 1 male, Amazonas, Orinoco region of Venezuela, Kran, Nacht: Triebe Senna 967, 2.viii.1998, leg. S. Kirmse, Heilus sp. 2, S. A. Vanin det. 1999, Heilus sp. 7, Lira, A.O. det. 20 ( MZSP).

Geographical distribution. This species is recorded from Brazil in Amazonas and Pará states as well as Venezuela. In addition to the two paratypes from Venezuela, an additional specimen, not a paratype, from Puerto Ayacucho is deposited at CEMT.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a genitive noun honoring Dr. Charles W. O’Brien (in memoriam) who contributed significantly to the studies and identification of the weevils of the world.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Heilus obrieni, paratype male: A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Aedeagus. D. Endophallite. E. Tegmen. F. Female genitalia. G. Spermathecal capsule. H. Abdominal tergite VIII. I. Abdominal sternite VIII.