Tychius breviusculus Desbrochers 1873
Creators: name: Jiang, Chunyan
name: Caldara, Roberto
name: Zhang, Runzhi
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Curculionidae
Tychius
Tychius breviusculus

description: 22. Tychius breviusculus Desbrochers des Loges, 1873
(Figures 63–66, 187–190, 277–278, 325, 381, 416, 446, 472)
Tychius breviusculus Desbrochers des Loges, 1873: 106. Caldara, 1985a: 345; 1990: 182.
Material examined. CHINA: Beijing: Baihuashan Linchang, 6-VII-1972, leg Youwei Zhang (1); Beiping: Gongzhuling, 3-VI-1950, leg Hongfu Zhu (1). Hebei: Tanghai Ernongchang, 23-IV-1989, leg Shanchun Jiang (1). Heilongjiang: Ercengdianzi, 15-VI-1941 (1); Haerbin, 16-VI-1960 (1); same data, 17-VII-1951 (2); Xiaoling, 1- VII-1943 (1). Jilin: Beishan, 25-VI-1963, leg Hongxing Li (1); Changchun Jingyuetan, 22-VI-1963, leg Hongxing Li (1). Liaoning: Shenyang Dongling, Medicago sp., 27-V-1962, leg Hongxing Li (1). Shaanxi: Ankang Ningshan Guanghuojie Yuanyanggou (33°46’N; 108°45’E, 1264 m), 27-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (4); same data, leg Menglei Zhang (1); Shangluo Danfeng Gengling Jiefang (33°51’N; 110°25’E, 1215 m), 11-VIII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Shangluo Danfeng Zhaizigou, (33°52’N; 110°25’E, 1157 m), 10-VIII-2014, leg Menglei Zhang (3); Shangluo Zhashui Yingpan Zaoyuangou, (33°48’N; 109°2’E, 1026 m), 29-VII-2014. leg Menglei Zhang (1). Shanxi: Lishan Xiachuancun (1450 m), 10-VIII-2013, leg Lizhi Huo (1). Sichuan: Aba Jiuzhaigou, 8-VII-2011, leg Zhiliang Wang (2); Aba Songfan Huanglong entrance (3167 m), 5-VII-2011, leg Zhiliang Wang (3); Jiuzhaogou Tiantang (2735 m), 7-VII-2011, leg Zhiliang Wang (4). Xinjiang: Habahe County, 2-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Jimunai County (47°22’N; 85°49’E, 1126m), 2-VII-2013, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Jimunai County (47°22’N; 85°53’E, 1089 m), 3-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (3); Tacheng County (46°53’N; 86°23’E, 1239 m), 3-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (2); Hejing (1880 m), 8-VII-1958, leg Changqing Li (1); Qinghe (1260 m), 6-VII-1960, leg Shuyong Wang (1); Qinghe Ertai (940 m), 30-VI-1960, leg Shuyong Wang (1); Qinghe Kekesulishidi (47°1’N; 89°45’E, 1328 m), 29-VII-2013, leg Chunyan Jiang (2); Qinghe Takeshiken Buergen (46°10’N; 90°48’E, 1111 m), 28-VII-2013, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Qinghe Talaticun, 26-VI-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Shanshan (22-550 m), 20-VI-1958, leg Changqing Li (1); Tulufan (20-140 m), 23-V-1958, leg Changqing Li (1); same data, 29-V-1958, leg Guang Wang (2); Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 7-VII-1981 (1); 1984 (8).
Redescription. Length 1.90–2.55 mm (Fig. 63–66). Integument blackish brown except for reddish apical half of rostrum, antennae and legs; on dorsum covered with dense, moderately long, subelliptical, yellowish scales irregularly arranged on elytral interstriae. Rostrum (Fig. 187–190) in lateral view regularly tapered in male, more abruptly tapered in female (Rl/Rw 4.33–4.53 in male, 4.33–4.87 in female; Rl/Pl 0.77–0.91 in male, 0.75–0.94 in female). Antennal funicle 7-segmented. Eyes flat. Pronotum moderately transverse (Pw/Pl 1.12–1.26), with curvilinear sides from base, widest at middle, moderately convex on disc. Elytra oblong (Ew/Pw 1.20–1.35; El/Ew 1.36–1.48), with weakly rounded sides, widest in basal half. Femora (Fig. 277–278) with distinct tooth. Profemora and protibiae (Fig. 325) without sexual characters. Claws with robust medial teeth, as long as half of claw. Male genitalia: body of penis (Fig. 381) with nearly parallel sides in basal half then gradually and distinctly narrowed to apex, with blunted rounded tip (Fig. 416), as long as apodeme. Female genitalia: spermatheca (Fig. 446) with short ramus, very short and small collum, indistinct nodulus, long cornu distinctly narrowed in apical half; spiculum ventrale (Fig. 472) with poorly sclerotized large arms joined at base, then thin distinctly sclerotized and moderately spaced, finally newly joined at apex.
Remarks and comparative notes. This species shares its unusual character of completely flat eyes with T. meliloti, from which it differs by the rostrum in lateral view being less tapered in the apical half (especially in the female) and the lack of a tooth at the middle of the inner margin of the protibiae in the male.
Biology. This is another species living on Melilotus (M. officinalis G. G., M. altissima Thuil., M. alba Lam., M. arvensis Wallr.) often together with T. meliloti (Caldara, 1990). The immature stages were recently described by Skuhrovec et al. (2014). Some specimens examined were labeled as collected from Medicago sp. and Glycyrrhiza uralensis), however, we believe these associations to be incidental.
Distribution. This is a common Palearctic species known from all of Europe, Asia and North Africa. It was already reported from North and Northeast China (BEI HEB HEI TIA). New from JIL LIA SHA SHX SCH XIN.
description: Published as part of Jiang, Chunyan, Caldara, Roberto & Zhang, Runzhi, 2020, The genus Tychius Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae) in China, with description of three new species, pp. 1-62 in Zootaxa 4856 (1) on pages 25-26, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4856.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4411319