Kyklioacalles maroccensis

Stüben, Peter E. & Astrin, Jonas J., 2010, Molecular phylogeny of the weevil genus Kyklioacalles Stüben, with descriptions of a new subgenus Glaberacalles and two new species (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), Zootaxa 2662, pp. 28-52 : 44-45

Kyklioacalles maroccensis

1*. The integument of the elytra and pronotum richer in contrast, with large and bright spots of scales (Fig. 24);

2*. Punctures of the pronotum finer; disc with at least 120 tiny punctures;

3*. Intervals of the elytra wider and shallower;

4*. Aedeagus: Median lobe (in ventral view) more slender, more strongly curved laterally in front of the apex ( Fig. 29 );

5*. Endophallus basal with a smaller and slightly developed cyclical structure ( Fig. 29 ).

For the placement of the new Kyklioacalles species among the known 40 species of the Western Palaeartic, see the current pictorial key to the species of Kyklioacalles ( Stüben 2003a: 160) . Kyklioacalles atlasicus must be placed here via the series of digits 1-3-6-7-8, between K. reginae Stüben, 2003 from Spain (with a very small, bottleneck-like, tapered apex of aedeagus) and K. maroccensis ( Stüben, 2001) from Morocco.

Description. Length. 3.0–4.0 mm (without rostrum).

Head & Rostrum. Eyes well visible from above and exceeding the upper margin of the antennal groove. Rostrum of males dark brown, 3x as long as wide, deeply and closely punctuated; reaching 2/3 the length of pronotum and covered with light scales between base and insertion of antenna; the rostrum of the females clearly longer (3.5x– 4x), more slender and shiny, the punctures finer and only covered with scales in front of the base—reaching ¾ the length of pronotum.

Pronotum. 1.11x–1.18x as wide as long; widest directly behind the middle; strongly rounded laterally, without a depression behind fore-margin, but here on the side almost narrowing rectilinearly, more rounded towards the base. Disc of pronotum (lateral view) arched only in front of the base; flat behind fore-margin; without a channel on the disk, at most with a flat hollow in front of the base. On the disc of the pronotum, which is visible from above, with a maximum of 80 very deep ‘groove-like’ punctures. Every puncture with a raised short and broad scale; the shiny interspaces are not covered with scales. The predominantly dark brown pronotum with an irregularly bordered, beige midline, with only few lucencies on the sides.

Elytra. 1.30x–1.35x as long as wide; widest in the middle (slightly "drop-shaped"); hardly rounded towards the base of elytra, resp. nearly rectilinear; more strongly rounded towards the apex; apex acute-oval; base of elytra straight; in lateral view the contour-line of the elytra begins with a flat circular shape, behind the middle it drops down towards the apex as an equal arc of circle.

Integument without contrast, with tiny, round, slightly imbricated layered scales on the intervals, so that the integument is not visible. With a row of tiny, raised and predominantly dark brown bristles on the intervals, these being as long as wide.

The intervals are raised like a ridge and are as wide as the very deep elytral striae, which consist of deep and circular punctures; their distances from each other approximately half the diameter of the punctures themselves. The 3rd and the 6th interval do not reach the base of the elytra. The elytral integument is predominantly dark brown with some irregularly bordered, beige spots of scales. These are in front of the 6th interval behind the base and—as two small spots—on the 3rd to 6th interval (excluding the suture stripe) in front of the middle. With only some brighter patches on the elytral slope, but not with a strongly limited, bright fascia.

Legs. Short; the marginal brightened front femora reach fore-margin of the eyes, the hind femora clearly ending in front of the elytral apex (3. sternit); with bright stripes of oblong-oval scales, these scales are 2x–3x as long as wide, covering the underground.

Ve n te r. 2nd sternite shorter than 1st sternite, but as long as sternite 3 and 4 altogether.

Female genitalia. See Fig. 32.

Aedeagus. Median lobe (in ventral view) nearly rectilinearly broadened laterally, towards the base; endophallus basal with a large and a completely developed cyclical structure ( Fig. 28 ).

Etymology. The species name refers to the type locality in the High Atlas of Morocco.

Ecology. The new species Kyklioacalles atlasicus was sifted under Quercus ilex and above all under very old trees of Quercus suber in the High Atlas Mountains 59 km south-east of Marrakech, close to Tazouguerte at high altitudes (1500 m) (cf. Fig. 30).

Distribution. Only known from the High Atlas of Morocco, near Tazouguerte (Fig. 30).

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 29. Male genitalia of the new and related species; 30. Loci typici and host plants of the new species; 31 – 32. Female genitalia.