Smicronyx zambianus Haran 2018, sp. n.
Creators: name: Haran, Julien
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Curculionidae
Smicronyx
Smicronyx zambianus

description: Smicronyx zambianus Haran, sp. n.
Figs 1E, 3E, 5E
Material examined. Holotype ♂: ‘ Holotype [Red label]’ ‘ Zambia: Western Pr. 3.8 km E Namushakende, 1100m, 15°26’54’’S 23°15’37’’E. 29.XI.2010, Zambezian. Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-26 ’ ‘ Smicronyx zambianus Haran sp. n. ’ (CMNC). Paratypes. Data as for holotype (4♂, CMNC; 1♂, CBGP; 1♂, MNHN); Zambia, Western Pr., 7.6 km S Ushaa, 1050 m, 15°01’13’’S 23°16’34’’E, 2.xii.2010, degraded Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-33 (1♂, 4♀, CMNC; 1♀, CBGP); 2.5 km E Namushakende, 1100m, 15°26’40’’S 23°14’57’’E, 19.xi.2010, Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-04 (1♂, 2♀, CMNC); 2.5 km E Namushakende, 1100m, 15°26’40’’S 23°14’57’’E, 30.xi.2010, Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-04 (1♂, SAMC); Western Pr., 7 km S Mukokwa, 110 m, 15°37’58’’S 23°18’57’’E, 1.xii.2010, Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forest, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-31 (1♀, BMNH); Central Pr., 6.5 km N Chunga, 1100m, 14°59’40’’S 26°01’11’’E, 4.xii.2010, open central Zambezian & Miobo woodland, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-43 (1♀, CMNC).
Description. Body length 1.9–2.1 mm. Colour. Body integument black on mature specimens, antennae and legs paler red; vestiture of elytra consisting of recumbent, slightly longer than wide, brownish and greyish scales, usually darker in basal half of interstriae 1–2, and spots of white or pale grey on humeri and along basal half of interstria 3; vestiture of prothorax consisting of greyish recumbent and elongate scales oriented toward median line except along apical margin, median line and sides of prothorax with white or pale grey scales. Head. Rostrum as long as head capsule plus prothorax, moderately and regularly downcurved, slightly longer and more downcurved in ♀ than in ♂, densely covered by scales and punctate between base and antennal insertion, punctures and vestiture less dense beyond antennal insertion, smooth at apex; antennae inserted near middle of length (♀) or near apical 1/3 (♂); transverse furrow at base of rostrum shiny; head capsule with slight scale cover near base of rostrum; eyes flat, subcontiguous on ventral side; antennae dark reddish, scape pale red, slightly bisinuate near base, moderately clavate at apex, segment 1 elongate, as long as 2+3, 2–4 quadrate, 5–7 wider than long.
Prothorax. Slightly wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.10), widest near middle, narrowed at apex, sides rounded; integument punctuate and granulate, concealed by scales. Elytra. Sides subparallel in basal two-thirds, rounded in apical third, widest near middle (w/l ratio: 0.70); humeri raised; striae much narrower that interstriae, interstriae flat, wide and reticulate, apex of interstria 5 with small declivital callosity followed by moderate depression; scutellum small but visible, glabrous. Abdomen. Underside mostly covered with non-overlapping greyish scales.
Legs. Reddish, covered with whitish elongate scales; femora moderately clavate, bearing small tooth on ventral side; tibiae straight, slightly bisinuate in basal third. Genitalia. Penis short (w/l ratio: 0.66), sides slightly converging from base to apical 1/4, strongly converging at apex, apex acuminate and bearing setae on sides, curvature in lateral view regular (Fig.5E).
Life history. The host plant is unknown; specimens were collected at lights in November and December.
Distribution. Zambia, Western and Central provinces.
Discussion. Smicronyx zambianus belongs to the S. remaudierei specie group (see discussion on S. remaudierei). Within this species group, it can be distinguished from all species by its dark integument and by its short elytra of w/l ratio: 0.70 (integuments reddish and w/l ratio of elytra above 0.64 in other species: S. adjamati, S. bisignatus, S. crassithorax and S. remaudierei).
Name derivation. Named in reference to the country where all specimens of this species were found.
description: Published as part of Haran, Julien, 2018, A review of the genus Smicronyx Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae) in tropical Africa, pp. 267-287 in Zootaxa 4508 (2) on page 273, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.9, http://zenodo.org/record/2607088