Tychius aureolus Kiesenwetter 1852
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 aureolus

description: 15. Tychius aureolus Kiesenwetter, 1852
(Figures 39–42, 163–166, 265–266, 318, 375, 408, 440, 466)
Tychius aureolus Kiesenwetter, 1852: 640. Franz, 1942: 123. Caldara, 1990: 174.
Tychius femoralis C. N. F. Brisout de Barneville, 1863: 771. Franz, 1942: 123. Caldara, 1990: 174.
Material examined. CHINA: Gansu: Jiuquan, Chengjiao Nongchang, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 24-VII-1962, leg Hongxing Li (1); Longnan Mocaozhan, VIII-1981 (1); same data, 5-VIII-1982, leg Feng (1); same data, Medicago sp., 9-VII-1983, leg Juyi Zhang (1); same data, Glycine sp., 10-VII-1983, leg Jian Lan (1); same data, Medicago sp., 14-VI-1980 (1); Weiwu Huangyangzhen (1800 m), 30-VI-1962, leg Hongxing Li (1). Inner Mongolia:Alashanzuoqi Helanshan Shuimogou (32°56’N; 105°40’E, 2307 m), 26-VII-2010, leg Meiying Lin (1). Jiangsu: Zhangjiagang, V-1960, leg Zhao (1). Xinjiang: Baihaba County (48°39’N; 86°42’E, 1314 m), 2-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (10); Baihabacaochang (1153 m), 22-VII-2009, leg Xinlei Huang (18); same data, 23-VII-2009, leg Xinlei Huang (44); Habahe Baihabadaxiagu (48°39’N; 86°43’E, 1314m), 2-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Hejing (950-1170 m), 20-V-1958, leg Guang Wang (1); Hejing (1130 m), 22-VII-1958, leg Guoyuan Chen (1); Jiashi (1160 m), 20-VI-1959, leg Afu Tian (1); Jimunai County (47°25’N; 85°53’E, 1089 m), 3-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (3); same data, 2-VII-2013, leg Zhiliang Wang (1); Kelamayi Muer Hake (45°42’N; 85°11’E, 276 m), 4-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Manasi (400-550 m), 11-VI-1957, leg Guang Wang (1); Moyu (1240m), 17-V-1959, leg Changqing Li (1); Qinghe (1260 m), 6-VII-1960, leg Shuyong Wang (3); Qinghe Buluke (1153 m), 3-VII-2009, leg Xinlei Huang (1); Qinghe Takeshiken Buergen, 26-VI-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (2); Qinghe Talatecun, 29-VI-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (1); Rouzi Hetian (1050m), 5-VI-1958, leg Changqing Li (1); Shanshan (22-350 m), 20-V-1958, leg Changqing Li (2); Shufu (1200 m), 5-VII-1959, leg Changqing Li (3); same data, 5-VII-1959 (1); Tacheng County (46°53’N; 86°23’E, 1239 m), 3-VII-2014, leg Chunyan Jiang (4); VIII-1956, leg Weiyi Yang (1); Tulufan (20-140 m), 23-V-1958, leg Changqing Li (3); Tulufan (40 m), 29-VI-1958, leg Changqing Li (7); Tulufan, 30- VI-1956 (1); Tuokexun (76 m), 20-VI-1958, leg Guang Wang (1); Weili (1000 m), 12-VII-1958, leg Changqing Li (2); Xiaotakete, 9-VI-1956, leg Weiyi Yang (1); Yan qi (1060 m), 7-VI-1957, leg Weiyi Yang (1); Yan qi (950-1170 m), 7-VIII-1958, leg Changqing Li (5); Ziniquan, 9-VI-1957, leg Chunpei Hong (5); same data, 10-VI-1957, leg Zhibang Lu (1); same data, 12-VI-1957, leg Chunpei Hong (1); same data, 12-VI-1957, leg Weiyi Yang (3); same data, 12-VI-1957, leg Zhibang Lu (1); 23-V-1963 (1).
Redescription. Length 2.00– 2.60 mm (Fig. 39–42). Integument blackish brown except for reddish antennae and legs; on dorsum densely covered with narrow, moderately elongate, rectangular to subelliptical yellowish to grayish scales, sometimes paler on interstria 1 and sides of elytra. Rostrum (Fig. 163–166) distinctly attenuate in distal half (Rl/Rw 3.75–4.67 in male, 4.85–5.00 in female; Rl/Pl 0.82–0.90 in male, 0.88–0.94 in female). Antennal funicle 7-segmented. Eyes convex, distinctly prominent. Pronotum transverse (Pw/Pl 1.14–1.25), with slightly curved sides, widest in front of middle, somewhat convex. Elytra suboval (El/Ew 1.32–1.39; Ew/Pw 1.23–1.35), with moderately rounded sides, widest in basal half, somewhat convex. Femora (Fig. 265–266) with indistinct tooth, profemora of male with fringe of hair-like scales. Protibiae (Fig. 318) without sexual characters. Claws with robust medial teeth, as long as 2/3 of claw. Male genitalia: body of penis (Fig. 375) narrow, nearly parallel-sided or slightly enlarged from base to apex, narrowed only until near apex, with indistinct tip (Fig. 408), as long as apodeme. Female genitalia: spermatheca (Fig. 440) small, stout, with small ramus perpendicular to nodulus, short collum continuing with cornu to apex; spiculum ventrale (Fig. 466) spaced at basal quarter, then narrowed.
Remarks and comparative notes. This species is very closely related to and easily confused with T. medicaginis, apart from relevant differences in the genitalia. External distinguishing characters are the profemur of T. aureolus males being fringed with white scales and the rostrum of the female tapered in lateral view.
Biology. This species feeds on Medicago such as M. sativa L., M. falcata L. and M. prostrata Jacq., the first two species introduced in China. It was also collected on Melilotus and Trifolium spp. but these records need to be confirmed. We have one specimen labeled as collected on Glycyrrhiza uralensis, however, we believe this association to be incidental.
Distribution. Widely distributed in Europe and western and southern Asia. Reported also from Egypt. New record from China (GAN NMO JIA 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 20-21, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4856.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4411319