Karekizo depressus Lewis 2023, sp. n.
Creators: name: Lewis, Jake H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Curculionidae
Karekizo
Karekizo depressus

description: Karekizo depressus Lewis, sp. n.
Figs 1, 2A, C, F, 4A
Diagnosis: Pronotum strongly ridged at lateral edges and in two longitudinal rows along middle (longitudinally). Third elytral interval with several tufts of dark orange, erect scales. Femora with distinct depression dorsally at midpoint. Femora each with large teeth ventrally at apical fourth. Third tarsal segment weakly emarginate. Aedeagus with sclerotized lateral edges convergent in anterior half in dorsal view.
Description: Body length: 4.9 mm. Head: Rostrum evenly curved, covered in appressed scales and semi-erect brown scales up to antennal insertion, with antennae inserted at midpoint; cluster of 6–7 brown, erect scales along inner edge of each eye; area between eyes noticeably depressed. Pronotum: Covered in light and dark brown appressed scales; lateral edges raised into distinct elevated ridges; also with two distinct ridges running longitudinally along middle of pronotum; anterior edge of pronotum with two tufts of erect, brown scales (one on each side), with two smaller tufts of brown, erect scales posterior to anterior tufts; lateral edge of pronotum each with a tuft of erect, brown scales near middle; anterio-ventral edge of pronotum below eye with row of 4–5 erect, brown scales. Elytra: Covered in light to dark brown and dark scales; with distinct longitudinal, curved band of white scales extending across posterior third of elytra; anterior edge of elytra heavily sinuate; scutellum visible, circular; erect, brown scales on odd elytral intervals, with largest clusters of erect scales on third interval, especially near middle. Abdomen: Covered in appressed scales (white on first two ventrites, brown on latter ventrites) and also with sparse semi-erect scales; fifth ventrite with fine brown setae at apex. Legs: Covered in light to dark brown appressed and semi-erect scales; femora with distinct depression dorsally at midpoint; femora also each bearing a ventral tooth at apical fifth; tibiae unmodified; third tarsal segment barely emarginate; tarsal claws simple. Genitalia (Fig. 2A): Tegmen ring closed around aedeagus, with ventral half expanded into semi-triangular plate; aedeagus with sides parallel-sided in dorsal view; sclerotized edges convergent in anterior half in dorsal view; apex of aedeagus evenly rounded.
Material Examined: Holotype (male): TAIWAN: Chiayi Hsien, Fen-Chi-Hu (Fig. 3), 26.VII.1966, H. Sasaji, (KUM), JHL_KAR_001.
Etymology: The specific name depressus refers to the femora which are depressed dorsally at the midpoint.
Comments: The current species is placed most appropriately in Karekizo as it possesses a longitudinally ridged pronotum (as in K. impressicollis), fully developed hind wings, weakly emarginate third tarsal segments, parallel sided elytra, and a complete tegmen ring. As in Karekizo impressicollis, this species may also be associated with mountainous regions given the collection locality of the type specimen (Alishan Mountains).
description: Published as part of Lewis, Jake H., 2023, A new species of Karekizo Morimoto, 1962 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae) from the Alishan Mountains of Taiwan and a first record of Karekizo impressicollis outside Japan, pp. 381-387 in Zootaxa 5277 (2) on pages 382-383, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5277.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/7889992