Bondariella Hustache & Bondar 1942
Creators: name: Valente, Roberta De Melo
name: Júnior, Mariano Brandão Cordeiro
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Curculionidae
Bondariella

description: Bondariella Hustache & Bondar, 1942
(Figs. 1–10)
Bondariella Hustache & Bondar, 1942: in Bondar 1942: 19; Bondar 1942: 21 (key to species); Bondar 1943: 370 (natural history); Bondar 1949: 209 (key to species); Wibmer & O’Brien 1986: 316 (catalogue).
Type species: Bondariella mimica Hustache & Bondar, 1942 (in Bondar 1942: 21), by original designation.
Diagnosis. Bondariella species (Figs. 1–2) are small (1.9–2.7 mm) squamose weevils that can be recognized by a combination of diagnostic traits—viz. mandibles (Fig. 3 C) not crossed, not dentate or sinuous on inner and outer faces, symmetrical, triangular (dorsal view), smooth; prosternum (Figs. 3 H–I) unarmed, no folds, fossa or punctures, concave apically, but not excavate immediately anterior to procoxae, only medially slightly concave and bearing small discrete lateral carina along the margins of the pleurasternal suture; femora unarmed; tibiae uncinate (Fig. 3 E), tarsal claws separated at base; pygidium covered by elytra; body (Figs. 1–2) elongate with subparallel sides, surface rugulose (not smooth), punctuate and covered by appressed non-overlapping scales, virtually uniform in color, shape and size throughout; scutellum and elytral striae glabrous or at most with scattered microscopic scales (very sparse); parameroid lobes of tegmen (male terminalia) covered by long setae on distal region (as Fig. 4 E); rostrum, scrobe, antennal scape and antennal insertion evidently sexually dimorphic. Female: rostrum (Figs. 1, 2, 3 B) tumid (lateral view), stout and squamose only on base (0.1–0.3 times), from thereon abruptly cylindrical and extremely thin, smooth and glabrous; antennal insertion basal (0.1–0.3 times); scrobe very deep and short, extending only along the stout region of the rostrum, with basal margin concavely projected over distal margin of eye; antennal scape (Fig. 3 B) short and strongly clavate, almost globose and reaching the eye. Male: rostrum (Figs. 1–2, 3 A) throughout stout, punctate, squamose, carinate; antennal insertion premedian to median; scrobe shallow, almost as long as rostrum and not projected over eye; antennal scape (Fig. 3 A) elongate, only slightly clavate distally and not reaching the eye.
Comparative notes and remarks. From other baridine weevils with a smooth inner mandibular face and squamose body (including undescribed species collected from Amazonian palms, personal observation), species of Bondariella are distinguished by the combination of the following character states: claws separated at base, pygidium covered by elytra, prosternum without spines, sulcus, folds or punctures, rostrum shorter than pronotum, outer mandibular face smooth, vestiture of appressed uniform non-overlapping scales throughout but glabrous or subglabrous on scutellum and elytral striae, and body elongate-subparallel (dorsal view), very slightly convex dorso-ventrally. Superficially, Bondariella can resemble small species of Geraeus Pascoe and Linogeraeus Casey (both in the sense of Alonso-Zaragaza & Lyal 1999, and Prena 2009) by the smooth inner mandibular face, closely squamose vestiture, claws free at base and pygidium completely covered by elytra. In fact, species of Bondariella key to couplet 43 in Anderson (2002: 743–744, Key to the Neartic genera of Baridinae) and from there they trace either to Geraeus and Linogeraeus since Bondariella species have prosternum with vestiture on median line directed backwards (as Geraeus) and prosternum lacking a longitudinal fold on each side (as Linogeraeus). However, both genera differ from Bondariella by the convex elliptical shaped body; rostrum longer than or as long as pronotum; prosternum variously with spine and/or sulcus, fold, fovea, fossa, and generally truncate apically; vestiture denser, with overlapping scales, generally clothing the scutellum and sometimes variegate or not uniform. Also some species of Geraeus and Linogeraeus have a sexually dimorphic rostrum but the females have rostrum flat dorso-ventrally (not cylindrical) from base, scrobe longer than in Bondariella, not reaching the eye and scape elongate (not globose). Additionally, specimens dissected of both genera have parameroid lobes glabrous instead of setose on distal region as for Bondariella species (see also Prena 2009: 137).
Otherwise Bondariella species key most closely to Nicentrus in Casey (1922: 270, key to Brazilian genera of Limnobarini) by the body flat dorso-ventrally, elongate-subparallel and closely squamose, prothorax tubulate anteriorly and slightly narrower than elytra, mandibles non-decussate, narrower and feebler and, prosternum not sulcate or spinose. Indeed, Hustache recognized males of Bondariella as a new species of Nicentrus and the females as a new genus of baridine (Bondar 1942: 19–20), and Bondar (1942: 21) considered the genus Bondariella close to Nicentrus. However, species of Nicentrus have mandibles more or less obviously dentate on inner margin, prosternum truncate apically and with two evident anterior foveae, scutellum with a evident spot of scales (generally overlapping) and, in several species the body vestiture is variegate or not uniform. Furthermore, in Nicentrus the sexual dimorphism is very slightly evident and both sexes have rostrum throughout stout, squamose, carinate and strongly punctuate, scrobe elongate with antennal insertion beyond the middle of the rostrum and, antennal scape elongate and only slightly clavate distally.
Bondar also compared the genus Bondariella to Euterpia Bondar (Bondar 1942: 25) and Hustachea Bondar (Bondar 1942: 32, 34) by the elongate shaped body and the association of larvae and adults with palm flowers from Brazil, in addition to similar sexually dimorphic rostrum of Bondariella and Hustachea [(only Hustachea campestris, Bondar and Hustachea bondari (Hustache)]. But species of Hustachea and Euterpia are virtually glabrous (in Hustachea campestris scales are restricted to sternum and lateral region of pronotum), the prosternum is truncate apically and it can have spines (in male) or foveae. Besides in Euterpia the mandibles are dentate on inner face and the integument is yellowish throughout (not reddish brown or reddish black as Bondariella) while in Hustachea the pygidium is exposed, the integument is variegate on the elytra and the sexual dimorphism differs from Bondariella since female Hustachea has a rostrum with the abruptly thin region starting only from basal ½, scrobe extending until basal ½ and not projected over anterior margin of eye, antennal insertion premedian to median and scape more elongate, not globose.
Finally, the six constituent species of Bondariella agree well with the original description of the genus presented in Bondar (1942: 20–21), except by antennal club that is 3–articulated instead of 4–articulated and by the female rostrum, which is curved in the four previously known species but straight in the two new species described here. Moreover the abdominal tergites, male terminalia and sclerolepidia of Bondariella species are described for the first time, and photos of the habitus and SEM images of details are also provided for the first time.
Redescription. Male (Figs. 1–9). Length of pronotum + elytra: 1.9–2.7mm. Habitus: body elongatesubparallel in dorsal view; very slightly convex in lateral view. Integument (Figs. 1–3): reddish brown to reddish black, variously lighter to darker; eyes black; in some species antennae and legs or antennae, legs and elytra evidently lighter; rugulose (except on distal 1/5 of rostrum); punctate, each puncture rounded, deep and with a evident scale. Punctures deeper and larger on pronotum and pro-, meso- and metasternum, becoming very close and striolate on hypomeron. Scales appressed, ribbed, larger than its puncture, non-overlapping, just reaching the edge of the adjacent point, yellowish or whitish, elongate (base as long as apex) to spatulate (base narrower than apex); arranged into 1–3 rows on elytral intervals; directed obliquely toward center of the disc on pronotum and upwards on hypomeron; larger and/or denser locally on epipleura (mesepimeron, mesepistenum, metepimeron, metepistenum and lateral region of metasternum); longer and narrower on pro-, meso- and metasternum; denser on elytral intervals II and III; scales sometimes decumbent.
Rostrum (Figs.1–2, 3 A) 0.7–0.9 times as long as pronotum; curved to almost straight (lateral view); moderately flattened dorsoventrally; punctures and scales smaller from antennal insertion to apex; with three long evident irregular carinae, extending from base to almost apex, moderately flattened, one dorsomedian and two dorsolateral, dorsomedian carina very flat at anntenal insertion; one striola above scrobe; epistoma (Fig. 3 C) flat, strongly lobed medially, with two long lateral scales. Scrobe lateral; oblique; shallow; lateral margins carinate, extending from eye to apex of rostrum; basal and distal margins open, not-carinate. Antennae 11–articulated; antennal insertion premedian (0.4) to median (0.5). Scape (Fig. 3 A) elongate, 0.6–0.9 times as long as funicle, longer than article I of funicle (1.7–2.2 times), polished, slightly clavate distally, not reaching eye (distant by 0.1– 0.2 times its length), directed to middle of eye in idealized position. Funicle 7–articulated; articles polished, bright; each one with a subapical row of setae, longer on distal articles and suberect on articles IV–VII; article I 2.5–3.0 times as long as article II; article II 1.5–2.0 times as long as article III; article III–VII subequal in length and progressively wider. Club 3–articulated, pubescent, oval-elongate, 1.5–1.7 times as long as wide, separate and very distinct from funicle; articles with subapical row of short setae; article VIII 2.5–3.0 times as long as article IX; article IX 0.7–0.8 times as long as article X. Head (Fig. 3 A) rounded, transverse; sparsely punctate; ventrally finely striolate; dorsally covered by scales, denser in front especially between eyes; fovea absent; postocular sulcus not evident. Eyes (Fig. 3 A) laterally positioned in head, very large, oval, not prominent; interocular distance subequal to eye diameter.
Pronotum (Figs. 1–2) trapezoidal, 1.2–1.4 times wider than long; widest on basal ½; punctures on disc large and closely spaced (distant by 0.3–0.7 times their own diameter) or small and distantly spaced (distant by 1.3 times their own diameter); surface granulose between punctures; scales subequal in length throughout or becoming smaller toward the disc; median line evident or absent; distal margin truncate; collar not evident to slightly evident and marked by darker strip of punctures; basal margin bisinuous, carinate, 0.8 times as wide as humeri; lateral margins rounded, convergent to apex. Scutellum trapezoidal, exposed, glabrous or bearing very sparse microscopic scales. Prosternum (Fig. 3 H) unarmed, no folds, fossa, fovea or punctures; concave apically; with evident row of long translucent fimbriated scales along distal margin; collar large to narrow, evident, marked by deep puncture and evident groove; basisternum moderately to very convex, in front procoxae medially slightly concave and bearing small discrete lateral carina along the margins of the pleurasternal suture; sternacostal suture between basisternum and sternellum evident; sternellum large, flat, with a deep central cleft which forms a bilobed (heart-shaped) process of the intercoxal prosternal process; procoxal cavity separated, positioned near basal margin. Mesosternum trapezoidal, medially flat. Metasternum with median sulcus evident, medially concave; sclerolepidia (Fig. 3 D) present along metanepisternal sutures, except for anterior and posterior one sixth, consisting of small, posterodorsally directed scales, longer than wide, split into two distinct lobes which each have long digit arising from it apically, as described by Lyal et al. (2006, cf. Fig. 16b) as the digitate 2A type.
Legs (Figs. 1–2). Prothoracic slightly longer than meso- and metathoracic legs. Procoxae rounded, interprocoxal distance slightly shorter (0.8–0.9 times) or larger (1.2–1.3) than procoxal diameter. Femora subequal in length; unarmed; slightly flattened laterally; clavate, especially profemora; in some species ventral face with discrete comb of long golden suberect setae on basal 1/3, more evident on meso- and metafemora. Tibiae cylindrical, finely carinate, straight margins or sinuous, apically slightly expanded, more evident in metatibiae, which can be strongly expanded and bearing a comb of long golden setae on distal ½; apical surface (Fig. 3 E) with outer and inner setose fringes well-developed, with uncus evident (larger in protibae), triangular, arising from inner angle and covered by tuft of setae; protibae slightly longer, and meso- e metatibae subequal in length. Tarsomeres: I elongate, clavate; II triangular, transversal; III bilobed; IV reduced in size and inconspicuous; V curved, elongate; tarsomere I 1.7 times as long tarsomere II, tarsomere II subequal in length to tarsomere III; tarsomere V 1.5 times as long tarsomere III. Tarsal claws separated at base, divergent, simple, falciform.
Elytra elongate, 1.2–1.5 times longer than wide, 1.9–2.4 times as long as pronotum; widest on basal ½; humeri evident; distal margin jointly rounded; with ten sulcate deep punctate striae, punctures distant by more than 2.0 times their own diameter, glabrous or bearing sparsely microsetae; striae IX and X much deeper and becoming closely on distal region; striae X incomplete; intervals flattened, margins slightly carinate on intervals IX–X; sutural interval with 1–2 rows of scales; remaining intervals with 1–3 rows of scales on base, becoming one or two rows toward apex, intervals II and III broader and with denser scales.
Abdominal tergites (Figs. 3 F–G, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A) sclerotized, convex, with eight visible tergites; laterotergites separated and subdivided into three (Fig. 3 G) or four smaller sclerites (Fig. 3 F); tergites I–IV with median and spiracular tergites separated; median fissure incomplete (not reaching distal margin of tergite IV, Fig. 3 F) or complete (reaching distal margin of tergite IV, Fig. 3 G); tergite I with median sclerites subdivided into three smaller sclerites: two anterior smaller and, one posterior narrower and bearing two evident fovea; tergites V–VIII with median and spiracular sclerites not separated; tergites V–VII (Figs. 3 F–G) with anterolateral small dark toothlike projection, internal face with transversal discrete indented row near anterior margin, more evident on tergite V–VI; tergite VII trapezoidal, lateral margin rounded and posterior margin concave; tergite VIII (pygidium) covered by elytra, with lateral margins subparallel, posterior margin rounded. Setation (dorsal surface): median sclerites—tergite I lacking spiculate patches, tergites II–III with only median spiculate patches, tergite IV with lateral and median spiculate patches (Figs. 4 A, 5A, 6A, 7A) or with only median spiculate patches (Figs. 8 A, 9A), tergites V–VI with lateral and median spiculate patches, tergite VII with only lateral spiculate patches, tergite VIII lacking spiculate patches; spiracular sclerites—tergites III–VI with spiculate patches, less evident on tergite III, spiculate patches absent in the remaining spiracular sclerites; fan-like setae—covering tergites VII–VIII, each setae with 3–5 long lobes projecting from apex; plectra—arranged diagonally on tergite VII in: one basal distantly spaced pair (Fig. 9 A), two distantly spaced pairs (Fig. 8 A) or in two rows, each one with seven distantly spaced (Figs. 4 A, 5A, 7A) or ten closely spaced (Fig. 6 A) plectra.
Ventrites (Figs. 4 B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B) I and II medially fused, concave and covered by thinner sparsely scales (only on ventrite I in B. torresi); ventrites III–V separated, evidently denticulate along anterior margin (Figs. 7 B, 8B); posterior margin of ventrite I evident, becoming concave and evanescent medially; posterior margin of ventrites II–IV carinate, truncate medially, curved laterally. Ventrite I 1.1–1.4 times as long as ventrite II; ventrites I–II combined 1.7–2.3 times as long as III–IV combined; ventrites III–IV subequal in length. Ventrite V 0.8–0.9 times as long as III–IV combined; transversely oblong (3.1–3.6 times wider than long, Figs. 4 B, 5B, 6B, 7B) or trapezoidal (2.5–2.6 times wider than long, Figs. 8 B, 9B); flat and lacking tufts of scales (Figs. 4 B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B) or evidently concave on mesodistal region and with each lateral margins of the concavity bearing a distal tuft of slightly longer scales (Fig. 9 B); lateral margins convergent to apex; distal margin rounded or slightly sinuous.
Terminalia. Sternum VIII consisting of two semicircular (Figs. 4 C, 7C), trapezoidal (Figs. 5 C, 6C) or subquadrate (Figs. 8 C, 9C) sclerites, transversally orientated, connected via membrane, each sclerite bearing six setae on posteroventral margin (Figs. 4 C, 5C, 6C, 7C) or glabrous (Figs. 8 C, 9C). Spiculum gastrale 1.9–2.9 times as long as median lobe, elongate and narrowed (Fig. 4 D) or short and widened (Figs. 5 D, 6D, 7D, 8D, 9D); anteriorly variously expanded, strongly reflexed dorsally, concave, ladle-like; stylus curved to almost straight, narrow or moderately wide, posteriorly bifurcate, Y-shaped; furcal arms sclerotized to weakly sclerotized, apically diverging, lacking setae, symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical, not clavate (Figs. 4 D, 5D, 6D, 7D, 9D) or abruptly clavate to apex (Fig. 8 D). Tegmen sclerotized to weakly sclerotized; 1.8–2.4 times as long as median lobe; basal piece O-shaped, dorsally closed, encircles the aedeagus, with two dorsal parameroid lobes free (not connected medially on base, Figs. 4 E, 5E, 6E, 7E) or connected medially on base (Figs. 8 E, 9E); each parameroid lobe 0.6– 0.7 as long as median lobe, less sclerotized than basal piece, dorsoventrally flattened, elongate, narrow, not clavate, clothed with long setae on 0.3–0.8 distal region; ventral tegminal apodeme narrow, elongate and reflexed dorsally (Figs. 4 E, 6E, 7E, 8E, 9E) or wide, short and straight to apex (Fig. 5 E), 0.7–1.0 times as long as median lobe, monofurcate, medially positioned in basal piece. Aedeagus: median lobe slightly convex in lateral view; short and wide (1.7–2.0 times longer than wide, Figs. 4 F, 5F, 6F, 8F, 9F) or elongate and narrow (2.5 times longer than wide, Fig. 7 F); apex acutely rounded, acutely truncate or strongly acute; lateral margins sclerotized, narrow to large; sides variously parallel, sinuous, ovate or sinuous and expanded dorsally; endophallus membranous or sclerotized, clothed with sparse diminute spinules, in some species with an anterior pair of membranous bags bearing numerous spinules (Figs. 4 F, 5F, 6F); ostium in some species evident, distal to medially positioned (Figs. 4 F, 5F, 6F, 7F, 8F); orificial plates evident in some species and consisting of two weakly scletorized plates, triangular to subtriangular (Figs. 4 F, 6F, 7F). Apodemes of aedeagus narrow; 1.5–2.0 times as long as median lobe; sinuous, not sclerotized on basal region (0.2–0.5), from thereon to apex almost straight and sclerotized.
Female (Figs. 1–2, 3 B, I, 10). Length of pronotum + elytra: 1.9–2.6mm. Rostrum (Figs. 1–2, 3 B): stout and squamose only on base (0.1–0.3 times), from thereon abruptly and extremely thin, cylindrical, smooth, glabrous and, strongly curved and long (0.8–0.9 times as long as pronotum, Figs. 1, 2 A) or straight and short (0.5–0.6 times as long as pronotum, Figs. 2 B–C, 3B); carinae and striolae absent. Antennal insertion basal (0.1–0.3 times). Scrobe (Fig. 3 B) very deep and short, extending only along the stout region of the rostrum, basal margin concavely projected over distal margin of eye. Antennae: scape short, extremely clavate, almost globose (Fig. 3 B), 0.2–0.5 times as long as funicle, shorter (0.5–0.7 times) or longer (1.8 times) than article I of funicle, reaching anterior margin of eye. Eyes (Fig. 3 B): interocular distance larger than eye diameter (1.2–1.5 times). Pronotum 1.1–1.4 times wider than long; collar slightly to evidently marked by darker strip of punctures. Basisternum flat to slightly concave medially. Metasternum flat to slightly concave medially. Interprocoxal distance larger (1.2–1.3) or slightly shorter to as long (0.9–1.0 times) as procoxal diameter. Femora lacking comb of setae. Elytra 1.3–1.5 times longer than wide, 1.9–2.4 times longer than pronotum. Abdominal tergites (Fig. 10 A): with seven visible tergites; tergite VII trapezoidal, lateral margins strongly convergent to apex, posterior margin rounded, covered by elytra. Ventrites (Fig. 10 B): ventrite I flat to slightly concave medially; ventrite II flat; ventrite I 1.1–1.4 times as long as ventrite II; ventrites I–II combined 2.0–2.6 times as long as III–IV combined (in B. mucugeana, 3.3–3.4 times); ventrite V flat, no tufts of scales; distal margin rounded.
Etymology. Name suggested by Hustache in honour of Gregorio Bondar who collected the first specimens of Bondariella (see introduction for details). Gender: feminine.
Natural history. The six constituent species of Bondariella are distributed in Brazil from the biomes of Caatinga (Bahia), Atlantic Forest (Bahia and Espírito Santo) and Amazon (Mato Grosso and Pará). They have only been recorded on palm flowers from species of the genera Euterpe and Syagrus (cited as species of Cocos L. by Bondar 1942, 1943, 1949 but now transferred to Syagrus, see Glassman 1970, 1987; Henderson et al. 1995, Lorenzi et al. 2004). The species of Bondariella that occur in Atlantic Forest and Caatinga have only been recorded on flowers of Syagrus species, but not on Euterpe. On the other hand species of Bondariella that occur in the Amazon have only been recorded on flowers of Euterpe species, but not on Syagrus. Thus, in Atlantic Forest Bondariella mimica from Syagrus schizophylla and Bondariella ruschiana from Syagrus ruschiana were recorded; in Caatinga Bondariella torresi from Syagrus vagans and Bondariella mucugeana probably from Syagrus were recorded; and in the Amazon Bondariella rudicula sp. nov. from Euterpe oleracea and Bondariella crenata sp. nov. from Euterpe longebracteata were recorded.
We also collected insects from flowers of other species of palms from the Amazon, including species of Syagrus (Astrocaryum aculeatum G. Mey., Astrocaryum gynacanthum Mart., Astrocaryum murumuru Mart., Astrocaryum paramaca Mart., Astrocaryum vulgare Mart., Attalea maripa (Aubl.) Mart., Attalea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng., Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart., Bactris acanthocarpa Mart., Bactris brongniartii Mart., Bactris campestris Poepp. ex Mart., Desmoncus polyacanthos, Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth, Oenocarpus distichus Mart., Mauritia flexuosa L. f., Mauritiella armata (Mart.) Burret, Socratea exorrhiza (Mart.) H. Wendl., Syagrus inajai (Spruce) Becc., Syagrus cocoides Mart., Syagrus vermicularis Noblick and various unidentified species of Bactris Jacq. ex Scop.). Moreover, Bondar collected insects from flowers of other species of palms from Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, including Euterpe edulis Mart. and other species of Syagrus (Bondar 1940a, 1940b, 1941a, 1941b, 1942, 1943, 1948, 1949, 1950: Allagoptera arenaria (Gomes) Kuntze, Allagoptera campestris (Mart.) Kuntze, Attalea funifera Mart. ex Spreng., Attalea humilis Mart. ex Spreng., Attalea oleifera Barb. Rodr., Attallea attaleoides (Barb. Rodr.) Wess., Bactris setosa Mart., Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc., Butia eriospatha (Mart.) Becc., Cocos nucifera L., Desmoncus polyachanthos Mart., Elaeis guineensis Jacq., Euterpe edulis Mart., Polyandrococos caudescens (Mart.) Barb. Rodr., Syagrus botryophora Mart. (Mart.), Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc., Syagrus flexuosa (Mart.) Becc., Syagrus petraea (Mart.) Becc., Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman and Trithrinax campestris (Burm.) Drude & Griseb. ex Griseb.). However, known species of Bondariella were only found on their host palm. Additional collections and future work could reconstruct the evolutionary sequence of host plant associations to species of Bondariella, their biogeographic trends and may show if the association with species of Syagrus and Euterpe is specific to the biomes.
Finally, Bondar (1942, 1943) observed that B. mimica, B. torresi and B. ruschiana complete their life cycle between the petals of male flowers of the host palm. He also was able to rear larvae of these species in the laboratory, but immatures of Bondariella have not been described and the role of Bondariella on palm flowers is not known.
description: Published as part of Valente, Roberta De Melo & Júnior, Mariano Brandão Cordeiro, 2015, Revision of Bondariella Hustache & Bondar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with descriptions of the first species from the Amazon and notes on natural history, pp. 201-227 in Zootaxa 4018 (2) on pages 203-216, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4018.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/243295