A review of the genus Smicronyx Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae) in tropical Africa Author Haran, Julien text Zootaxa 2018 2018-10-31 4508 2 267 287 journal article 28045 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.9 72412182-ef97-4b7a-9a44-54d42ba532a1 1175-5326 2607088 47E77D58-680A-411E-884F-955EE996F42F Smicronyx zonatus Haran sp. n. Figs 1K , 4C , 5K Material examined. Holotype ♂ . Republic of South Africa , Stellenbosch , 33°56.610’S 18°52.481’E , 164 m , 29.iii.2018 , J. Haran leg. (SAMC). Paratypes . Data as for Holotype ( 1♂ , 1♀ , BMNH; 1♂ , 1♀ , CBGP; 1♂ , 1♀ , MNHN ; 1♂ , 1♀ , NMNH ; 1♂ , 1♀ , RMCA ; 1♀ , SAMC ; 1♂ , 1♀ , SANC ). Other material . Liberia , Suakoko , 2–5.v.1952 , Blickenstaff leg. ( 1♀ , MNHN ) . Democratic Republic of Congo , between Mukana and Lusinga , 15–19.i.1948 , 1.810 m , mission G. F. de Witte ( 1♂ , RMCA ) . Description . Body length 2.0– 2.5 mm . Colour . Body integument reddish, antennae, rostrum, head, prothorax, suture of elytra and tarsi dark red. Elytral vestiture consisting of overlapping scales, almost concealing integument, integument mainly visible through scales along striae; scales recumbent, elliptical, rounded or slightly longer than wide; scales providing background of pale brown with patches of white and sometimes a few black spots along basal half of interstriae 1–3, large transverse white band between middle of elytra length and apical quarter, its basal margin expanding a little toward base of elytra on interstriae 2–4 and apical margin generally expanding a little toward apex of elytra near interstriae 3–5; each interstria bears a series of black of white semi-erect elongate scales; vestiture of prothorax consisting of whitish and pale brown recumbent and elongate scales oriented toward the median line. Head . Rostrum as long as head capsule + prothorax, greatly downcurved ( Fig. 4A ), basal half punctate, granulate and covered by erect white or brown scales, apical half ( ♂ ) or apical ¾ ( ♀ ) with shiny integument with small punctures and no scales; antennae inserted near apical 1/3 ( ♀ ) or near apical ¼ ( ♂ ); transverse furrow at base of rostrum shiny, concealed by two tufts of erect whitish scales at edges; head capsule with a slight cover of recumbent brown scales near transversal furrow; eyes flat, contiguous ventrally; antennae dark red, scape straight, slightly bisinuate at base, regularly widened toward apex, segment 1 elongate, slightly longer than 2+3, 4–7 wider than long. Prothorax . Wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.08), widest slightly before middle, narrowed at apex, sides rounded; integument greatly punctuate and granulate, shiny; white scales usually concentered on sides and near scutellum. Elytra . Sides subparallel in basal half, rounded in apical half, widest near middle (w/l ratio: 0.73); humeri raised; striae much narrower that interstriae, interstriae flat, wide, integument shiny and slightly reticulate, apex of interstria 5 with moderate declivital callosity followed by depression; scutellum small but visible, glabrous. Abdomen . Underside mostly covered with overlapping whitish scales. Legs . Reddish, covered with whitish and pale brown semi-erect elongate scales; femora greatly clavate, bearing a tiny ventral tooth usually concealed by scales; tibiae straight on external side, slightly bisinuate ventrally in basal third. Genitalia . Penis elongate (w/l ratio: 0.37), sides sub-parallel, rounded at apex, curvature in lateral view moderate, regularly narrowing from basal 1/3 to apex ( Fig. 5K ). Life history. All specimens from South Africa were collected on a small unidentified Campanulaceae (near Lobelia ) found at low elevation in wet areas near ponds or streams. Adults were collected in January, February, March and May. Distribution. Democratic Republic of Congo Liberia , Republic of South Africa . Discussion. Smicronyx zonatus can be easily distinguished from other species by its white transverse band on the elytra. A specimen from the type series was barcoded (genbank accession number: MH898571 ). The closest species of Smicronyx with a barcode available is S. albosquamosus Wollaston (specimen from the Near East, genbank accession number: KU942331 ). Both species show a genetic divergence of 14%. Name derivation. Smicronyx zonatus is named in reference to the contrasting transversal white band on the elytra of this species.