Purpuranius Machado

Machado, Antonio, Rodriguez-Exposito, Eduardo, Lopez, Mercedes & Hernandez, Mariano, 2017, Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Laparocerus, with comments on colonisation and diversification in Macaronesia (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), ZooKeys 651, pp. 1-77 : 29-30

Subgenus Purpuranius Machado subg. n.

Type species.

Laparocerus maxorata Machado, 2011, by present designation (Fig. 12B).

Etymology.

The names derives from 'Insula Purpurariae’, the Latin ancient name given to the eastern Canaries where Romans and Phoenitians obtained the natural red dye ‘purpura’ from marine molluscs. Gender masculine.

Species assigned.

Laparocerus calvus Machado, 2011; Laparocerus curvipes Lindberg, 1950: Laparocerus fraterculus Machado, 2011; Laparocerus longipennis Machado, 2011, and Laparocerus maxorata Machado, 2011.

Diagnostic remarks.

Medium sized Laparocerus species (5.0-8.5 mm) endemic to the eastern Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura) with the exception of the nominal subspecies of Laparocerus curvipes present in Tenerife. Antennae capitate and male protibiae bent backwards at apical third (maximum in Laparocerus curvipes , least in Laparocerus calvus ); tibial apex may be blunt, incurved or expanded to both sides. Body shape varied and integument either covered with scales and hairs, or totally bare. For instance, Laparocerus calvus looks like a bald Aomus and has a more robust scape than the other species, while the body of Laparocerus longipennis is small and narrow, with normal vestiture of scales and erect setae, but setae on the apex of elytra are shortly bifid at their tip, which is unique within Laparocerus .

Penis with two parallel rows of denticles along the internal. Gonostyli long and tubular placed apically on the hemisternites. Female urosternite VIII varied: the apical lamina is transversal in Laparocerus curvipes , liguliform in Laparocerus maxorata , and in Laparocerus calvus spearheaded like in species of Canariotrox , showing a case of functional convergence presumably related to oviposition.

Such remarkable morphological differences within this small monophyletic group can be related to long lasting individual anagenetic evolution or that they are a few extant species from a much richer and diverse group in the past. Laparocerus calvus and Laparocerus longipennis shared a common ancestor ca. 4.9 Ma ago. This is the oldest Canarian group as noted in the previous section, and it may be in the final phase of its taxon cycle (cf. Wilson 1961). Nonetheless, it would also be no surprise if some new Purpuranius are discovered in the future.