Conicobruchus rubricollis ( Pic, 1903 )

Le Ru, Bruno P., Delobel, Alex, György, Zoltán, Genson, Gwenaëlle & Kergoat, Gael J., 2014, Taxonomy, host-plant associations and phylogeny of African Crotalaria - feeding seed beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae): the Conicobruchus strangulatus (Fåhraeus) species group, Zootaxa 3895 (2), pp. 238-256 : 249

Conicobruchus rubricollis ( Pic, 1903)

Bruchus rubrithorax Pic, 1903:169

Bruchus rubricollis Pic, 1913:45 (name preoccupied) Conicobruchus rubricollis: Kergoat et al., 2011:756

Material examined. Male paratype, Zimbabwe: Harare (with label “ Bruchidius rubrithorax Pic ” handwritten by J. Decelle) [ MNHN].

Other material: Kenya: 2♂, Thange Town, 02°34.738’N 37°57.129’E, 904m, 24.iv.2011, ex Crotalaria cf. polysperma [1♂ 0 3211, specimens GK406 and GK440 used for DNA extraction] (B. Le Ru) [ MNHN]; 1♂, SE Kenya, Voi (Tsavo), 23.3.- 4.4.1997; 2♂, Kenya mer., Tsavo East, Buchuma env., 28.xi.1997 [specimen GK196 used for DNA extraction] (M. Snizek) [ OÖLM]; 1♀, Kenya, S. Taita, Mwatate, 30.xi.1997 (M. Snizek) [ OÖLM]. Zimbabwe: 1♂, Masvingo, 22.i.1998 [1♂ 18907] (M. Halada) [ OÖLM].

Large species well defined by its mainly red colour, with major part of antennae, elytra, and often disc of mesothoracic sternite, black ( Fig. 1 ); pubescence white, denser on median longitudinal line of pronotum, scutellum, base of elytral suture; pygidium with two lateral spots near base and a longitudinal line.

Other major morphological traits are as follows: pronotum 1.5 times wider at base than long, without oblique lateral impression, its sides concave, produced anteriorly into a neck; elytral striae narrow and deep, with small punctures, interstriae wide and flat, with small punctures on shagreened background; antennae serrate.

Male genitalia. Median lobe ( Fig. 8 ) of moderate length (maximum width excluding basal hood / total length = 0.23), strongly widened and sclerotized apically; basal hood oval, apically indented; ventral valve large, subtriangular, with apex acute, with numerous sensillae, bearing two lateral groups of 10–12 setae; dorsal valve unsclerotized; no hinge sclerites; anterior part of the internal sac lined with hyaline spinules becoming denser and larger distally, then large ctenoid scales, posterior saccus with numerous sclerotized teeth; apical ampoule unarmed. Tegminal strut ( Fig. 9 ) without keel, triangularly pointed apically, lateral lobes cleft to base; apex of parameres with numerous setae, slightly modified, with dorsal velum.

Biology. Specimens from Thange were reared from a sample of Crotalaria sp. near polysperma pods. This constitutes the first report on its biology.

Distribution. Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Discussion. The red color of the last visible tergite distinguishes Conicobruchus rubricollis from C. cicatricosus , C. flabellicornis and C. strangulatus ( Fig. 1 ). It cannot be confounded with C. decoratus based on differences on the shape of the pronotum. Finally the presence of a longitudinal line of whitish setae on the pronotum separates C. rubricollis from dark specimens of C. atrosuturalis . Male genitalia ( Fig. 8 ) are similar in shape with other members of the group (except C. decoratus ) but completely lack large sclerites.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal view of specimens belonging the to six species of the Conicobruchus strangulatus species group.

FIGURES 8 – 9. Conicobruchus rubricollis: 7 — median lobe; 8 — basal strut and lateral lobes (specimen 18907, Zimbabwe).