Smicronyx drakensbergensis, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Haran, Julien M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Curculionidae
Smicronyx
Smicronyx drakensbergensis

description: Smicronyx drakensbergensis sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 0E52BFCE-0C56-411D-A089-EA48704B33C2
Figs 2D, 4E, 5M; Table 1
Differential diagnosis
Smicronyx drakensbergensis sp. nov. belongs to the species group of S. reichi and is morphologically closest to S. san sp. nov. in southern Africa. See diagnosis and remark sections under that species for diagnostic traits.
Etymology
This species is named in reference to the mountain range where the type series was collected.
Material examined
Holotype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; “S. Afr.; Drakensberg [KwaZulu-Natal Province]; Cathedral PkRainbowG [gorges]; 28.57S 29.14E ” / “ 17.i.1997; E-Y; 3257; grassnetting; leg. Endrödy-Younga ” / “HOLOTYPE; Smicronyx drakensbergensis; Haran 2021”; TMSA.
Paratype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; SAMC.
Description (♂)
BODY LENGTH. 2.0– 2.2 mm.
COLOUR. Body integument entirely black, shiny; vestiture of elytra consisting of recumbent, elliptical or rounded, brownish and whitish, overlapping scales, densely covering but not concealing the integument.
HEAD. Rostrum as long as head + prothorax in lateral view, moderately and regularly downcurved (Fig. 3E), in dorsal view punctate, covered with suberect whitish scales in basal ½, glabrous in apical ½; transverse furrow at base of rostrum shiny, bare of scales, with two spots of white erect scales on each side near eyes; head capsule glabrous; eyes flat, close to each other on ventral side, separated by width of 2–3 ommatidia; scape of antennae straight, slightly and regularly widening toward apex, clavate in apical ⅓, segment 1 of funicle elongate, slightly longer than 2 + 3, 4–7 wider than long.
PROTHORAX. Wider than long (ratio w/l: 1.07), widest before middle of length, narrowed at apex, sides moderately rounded; integument greatly punctuate and granulous, shiny; scales greyish, overlapping, not concealing integument.
ELYTRA. Sides rounded, widest near middle of length (ratio w/l: 0.73); humeri raised; striae narrow, ½–⅓ as wide as interstriae, interstriae flat, wide, integument shiny, slightly reticulate, apex of interstria 5 with very small declivital callosity; scutellum small, not visible through coating.
ABDOMEN. Underside mostly covered with overlapping greyish scales, more condensed on metasternum and metanepisterna.
LEGS. Covered with pale brown and greyish semi-erect, elongate scales; femora clavate, bearing a tiny ventral tooth usually concealed by scales; tibiae straight on external side, slightly bisinuate ventrally at basal third; claws equal in length.
GENITALIA. Body of penis short (ratio w/l: 0.80), 2.2× shorter than apodemes, sides sub-parallel, apex acuminate, curvature in lateral view regular (Fig. 5M). Female unknown.
Life history
Host plant unknown. Adults were collected in January.
Distribution
Republic of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal Province).
description: Published as part of Haran, Julien M., 2021, The Smicronychini of southern Africa (Coleoptera, Curculionidae): Review of the tribe and description of 12 new species, pp. 34-73 in European Journal of Taxonomy 735 on pages 62-63, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.735.1239, http://zenodo.org/record/5707947