Systematics of the New Zealand Weevil Etheophanus Broun (Curculionidae: Molytinae)
Author
Davis, Steven R.
Author
Brav-Cubitt, Talia
Author
Buckley, Thomas R.
Author
Leschen, Richard A. B.
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-01-08
4543
3
341
374
journal article
27700
10.11646/zootaxa.4543.3.2
7520908e-3595-4ed3-96f8-9a0fffb45439
1175-5326
2617841
58142B27-5E25-46EE-A1B0-71BB31DFB3E2
Etheophanus nitidellus
Broun
(
Figs 1B
,
2B
,
3B
,
4
,
5B, 5F
,
8
,
9
)
Etheophanus nitidellus
Broun, 1923
: 701
.
Type
locality: Mount Alfred.
Etheophanus obscurus
Broun, 1923
: 701
.
Type
locality: Harris Saddle, southwest
Otago
. New Synonymy.
Diagnosis.
Dorsal surfaces apunctate, alveolate microsculpture present, primary dorsal setae adpressed. Pronotal vibrissae present. Procoxa without semi-lamellate process. Eighth sternite of male with each sclerite bearing ca. 6 or 7 setae along apical margins; spiculum relictum slender. Aedeagus with setae present at apex of parameroid lobes; median lobe in dorsal view narrowing to subrounded, and slightly blunted apex with simple edges, in lateral view narrow and elongate and strongly curved ventrally near apex; apico-lateral margin of median lobe bearing a bundle of ca. 6 setae at each corner. Female tergite VIII apically subrounded; eighth sternite with arms of base parallel-sided, apices with 6–7 setae. Gonostylus with 5 apical setae. Spermatheca falciform without globular base.
FIGURES 8A–D
.
Etheophanus nitidellus
, male terminalia. A, aedeagus, dorsal view; B, aedeagus, lateral view; C, tegmen, dorsal view; D, sternites VIII and IX, showing spiculum relictum.
FIGURES 9A–D.
Etheophanus nitidellus
, female terminalia. A, sternite VIII; B, tergite VIII; C, gonocoxites; D, spermatheca.
Comments.
Broun based the description of
E. nitidellus
on a single specimen that we confirmed as the
holotype
collected from Mount Alfred located north of Glenorchy. Immediately following this description, Broun described a second species from Harris Saddle, also located north of Glenorchy, that we we confirmed as the
holotype
of
E. obscurus
, and with the comment “this obscurely coloured species is separable by the elytral sculpture.” The differences among the specimens are well within the range of variation present in
E. nitidellus
and we consider the two as synonymns.
Distribution.
South Island: MK, OL, WD, FD, SI.
Type material examined.
E. nitidellus
:
Holotype
(
BMNH
): card-mounted, “
Type
[round label with red border] // 4310 [
Broun
number in pencil, unknown hand] //
New Zealand
. [red underline] Broun
Coll. Brit. Mus.
1922-482. //
Mount Alfred.
3.2.1914
. [in Broun’s hand] //
Etheophanus nitidellus
. [in Broun’s hand] //
HOLOTYPE
[printed]
♂
Etheophanus nitidellus
Broun, 1923
det.
R. Craw
, 1987 [in Craw’s hand on orange dayglow label]”.
E. obscurus
:
Holotype
(
BMNH
): card-mounted, “
Type
[round label with red border] // 4311 [
Broun
number in pencil, unknown hand] //
New Zealand
. [red underline] Broun
Coll. Brit. Mus.
1922-482. // Harris Saddle.
12.2.1914
. [in Broun’s hand] //
Etheophanus obscurus
. [in Broun’s hand] //
HOLOTYPE
[printed]
♀
Etheophanus obscurus
Broun, 1923
det.
R. Craw
, 1987 [in Craw’s hand on orange dayglow label]”
.
Dissected material (NZAC). South Island. WD/OL.
Haast Pass
summit,
560 m
,
27 Jan 1978
,
G. Kuschel
, litter, ground plants, and decayed wood (
1 male
).
WD
.
Haast Pass
W. of summit,
550m
,
24 Jan. 1978
,
G. Kuschel
, sifted litter and rotten wood, 78/52 (
1 male
);
Simonin Pass
,
W. Olivine Rd
,
1067m
,
FD
,
27 Jan. 1975
, G.W.
Ramsay
, litter in
Nothofagus
forest, 75/38 (
1 male
).
FD
.
Secretary
1,
Grono Bay
,
26–30 Nov. 1981
,
C.F. Butcher
,
pan trap
(
1 female
, dissected);
Lake Monowai
, 700',
30 Jan. 1962
,
J.I. Townsend
(
1 female
, dissected,
NZAC
)
.