Microplinthus annapurnae Meregalli, 2020

Meregalli, Massimo, 2020, Revision of the Nepalese genus Microplinthus Zherichin, 1987 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae), with description of 25 new species, Zootaxa 4794 (1), pp. 1-63 : 45-47

Microplinthus annapurnae Meregalli n. sp.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FCCD6959-6205-4705-8C39-09990C3B80B4

Fig. 23

Material examined. Holotype ♂: “ Nepal Himalaya / SE Annapurna mts. / 7.VI.1997, lg. Jäger // Rambrong Danda [28°23’N, 84°13’E], s-slope, 3700 m NN / Rhododendronforest” ( MTD) . Paratype ♂: “ Nepal Himalaya / SE An- napurna mts. / 8.VI.1997, lg. Jäger // Telbrung Danda [28°23’N, 84°16’E] / Rhododendron- / forest, 3800 m NN” 1♂ ( MTD) .

Diagnostic description. Length 3.84 mm. Body oblong, integument rough, glossy, very dark ferruginous. Vestiture composed of slender setae, on elytra vertically inserted and erect, prominent in profile, particularly on sides and declivity. Rostrum robust, dorsal margins sharp, linearly narrowed apicad, interantennal width almost a half as width at base; in lateral view distinctly and regularly curved, more curved at midlength, junction to head almost linear; dorsal sculpture deep and dense, with elongated punctures often merged in oblique groups covering central part of rostrum, dorso-lateral parts with punctures slightly more regularly aligned, but lacking clearly delimited longitudinal lines; apex smooth from much before antennal insertion, smooth part triangularly expanded towards median part, sculpture more extended forwards in lateral part. Antennal scape short, strongly thickened apically; funicle antennomeres 1 and 2 short, robust, 1 globose, as long as wide, 2 subconical, 1.5 longer than wide, 3–7 globose, 7 bigger than previous; club oval. Eye large, acutely pointed in lower part, with about 40 ommatidia. Pronotum as long as wide, sides slightly, sublinearly broadened to apical third, then more strongly convergent apicad; median keel almost indistinct, only present as a narrow irregular line between disc and apex, interrupted in parts; all surface covered with deep and dense irregular sculpture, formed by punctures merged in groups, seldom individually impressed, with margins narrowly linear, irregularly raised. Elytra oblong, sides almost rectilinear to apical third, intervals narrow, strongly granulose and rough, not perfectly delimited, striae broader than intervals, punctures not distinct, with sparse small glossy granules. Femur moderately thickened medially, lacking a differentiated inner tooth; tibia glossy, with raised setae, scarcely enlarged internally, apex rounded, not extended to outer part of tibia. Tarsomere 3 with lobes elongate, inner side smaller and shorter, claws very strongly dentate, inner teeth longer than half the claws. Penis evenly and moderately curved, apex more strongly curved, almost vertical; dorsal margins slightly broadened from base to midlength, then curvilinear almost to apical lamella; lamella very short, apex slightly prominent, rounded.

Variation. The length of the paratype is 3.89 mm, it has the pronotum with the median keel more prominent.

Differential remarks. Microplinthus kaskianus , the nearest species, is present about 40 km west and differs in the elytra short and tuberculate. Microplinthus schawalleri , sympatric with M. kaskianus , has the rostrum strongly curved and thickened and the elytra glossy, smooth and lacking erect setae.

Origin of the name. This species name derives from the type locality, the Annapurna Himal.

Distribution. Western Nepal, south-eastern slopes of the Annapurna Himal ( Fig. 29 ).

Figures

FIGURE 23. Microplinthus annapurnae, Holotype ♂. Body (A, B); rostrum (F, G); antenna (C); pronotum (E); elytra (D); femur (L); foretibia (K); claws (M); penis (H, I, J). Bar: 2 mm.

FIGURE 29. Distribution map of some species of Microplinthus. Map data: Google Earth, Maxar Technologies, used according to Google Earth Terms of Service..