Host associations of Melanterius Erichson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cleogonini), with a diagnosis and delimitation of the genus and description of five new species
Author
Pinzón-Navarro, Sara V.
Author
Jennings, Debbie
Author
Oberprieler, Rolf G.
text
Zootaxa
2017
4298
1
1
77
journal article
32536
10.11646/zootaxa.4298.1.1
e2c6a7ae-f2f7-45cb-a9c0-e885dd74927c
1175-5326
840354
6F38752A-0669-488E-879B-8881EC80ECF2
Melanterius antennalis
Lea, 1899
(
Figs. 17–19
)
Melanterius antennalis
Lea, 1899
: 226
This species was described from Gosford in
New
South Wales
and is thus far only known from this state. It is easily recognisable by its short, straight, ventrally flat and expanded rostrum, the underside forming a long, curved flange beneath each antennal insertion (
Fig. 18
). This condition occurs in both sexes, but the females are readily recognisable by the position of the unci on the pro- and mesotibiae. The penis (
Fig. 19
) has a slightly broader body than that of
M. acaciae
but simpler endophallic sclerites, especially the basal pair.
No host association is recorded for the species. Three specimens in the ANIC are labelled as having been collected
on
Acacia mearnsii
, and we also collected it from this plant species as well as from
A. dealbata
,
A. decurrens
,
A. filicifolia
,
A. fimbriata
,
A. floribunda
,
A. irrorata
,
A. longifolia
,
A. mabellae
,
A. terminalis
and
A. trachyphloia
(
Table 1
). Its true host is likely to be among
A. filicifolia
,
A. floribunda
and
A. irrorata
(
Table 2
).