Systematics and cladistics of a new Naupactini genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador

Type species: Leschenius manueli sp. nov. designated herein.

Etymology: The genus was named after the outstanding specialist in Coleoptera Richard Leschen, curator of the ‘New Zealand Arthropod Collection’, who kindly loaned us the material for this study.

Diagnosis

Leschenius is characterized by: length of about 5–12 mm; tegument visible, black to brown, shiny; vestiture scarce to absent, with short filiform suberect setae on elytra; sides of rostrum straight; epistome narrow; pre-epistome well developed; scape reaching hind margin of eye to slightly exceeding it; pronotum subcylindrical to slightly conical; scutellum denuded; elytra oval, short to slightly elongate, base curved backwards on middle; humeri rounded, slightly prominent; apical declivity slightly abrupt; apex projected backwards, usually divided or bifid; hindwings absent; procoxal cavities not confluent, closer to anterior margin than to posterior margin of prosternum; metatibial apex with apical comb of setae subequal to slighlty longer than dorsal comb.

Description

Species medium to large in size (length of female, 5.3–12.3 mm; length of male, 7.8–10 mm; 1–6, 7–12).

Tegument visible, black to reddish brown, shiny. Vestiture lacking scales and with sparse setae, usually whitish, fine, short; setae semirecumbent on head (directed anteriad and to median sulcus), pronotum (directed anteriad and to middle), and venter, suberect on elytra and legs; setae on inner margin of tibiae usually wider and longer. Rostrum very short to short (LR/WRa: 0.95–1.03), sides slightly to moderately convergent towards apex (WRb/WRa: 1.31–1.55), dorsum flat to slightly depressed, usually foveolate–strigose; lateral carinae absent; lateral borders usually slightly thickened, elevated, and sharp (not thickened in Leschenius vulcanorum comb. nov.); median groove narrow, almost reaching hind margin of eyes to slightly exceeding them. Epistome subtriangular, narrow; pre-epistome well developed. Scrobes curved, deep, ending below eyes. Gular angle about 130°. Eyes suboval, medium-sized to large, and usually moderately convex [strongly convex in Leschenius rugicollis (Voss, 1954) comb. nov. and L. manueli sp. nov.]. Preocular depressions absent. Frons wide (about 3× the height of eye), usually slightly convex (flat in L. vulcanorum comb. nov.), usually foveolate or strigose. Vertex moderately convex, usually foveolate or punctuate, with imbricate microsculpture. Postocular constriction slight to absent. Antennae short to medium in length (LB/LA, 1.90–2.94; Figs 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23), with long, coarse, decumbent ocher setae, and with long, fine, verticilate setae; scape robust to moderately robust, straight, reaching posterior margin of eyes to slightly exceeding it. Funicular article 2× longer than article 1 (1.1–1.6×); funicular articles 3–7 usually slightly longer than wide; club oval to fusiform (LC/WC, 2.15–2.95), acuminate.

Pronotum (1–6, 7–12) slightly conical to subcylindrical, slightly to moderately wider than long (WR/LR, 1.14–1.36); flanks usually moderately curved (slightly curved in L. rugicollis comb. nov. and Leschenius bifurcatus sp. nov.); disc slightly convex, usually foveolate to foveolate–granulose; median groove usually absent [distinct in L. manueli sp. nov. and shallow in Leschenius nigrans (Oliff, 1891) comb. nov.]; anterior margin straight to slightly curved anteriad; base usually posteriorly ‘V’–shaped (straight in L. bifurcatus sp. nov. and Leschenius silviae sp. nov.), wider than anterior margin (subequal in L. silviae sp. nov.). Scutellum subtriangular, denuded, usually large (small in L. nigrans comb. nov. and L. silviae sp. nov.).

Elytra (1–6, 7–12) oval, short to slightly elongate (LE/WE, 1.37–1.65), with maximum width usually at middle (at anterior third in L. nigrans comb. nov. and L. silviae sp. nov.), slightly to moderately convex; base curved backwards on middle; humeri rounded, slightly developed; striae well defined, with medium-sized to large punctures, closer to each other along the same striae; striae 9–10 usually closer on posterior two-thirds (except in L. manueli sp. nov. and L. bifurcatus sp. nov.); intervals flat to slightly convex, usually as wide as striae (slightly wider in L. manueli sp. nov. and L. nigrans comb. nov.); apical declivity slightly abrupt; apex usually projected (except L. vulcanorum comb. nov.) and acute (slightly pointed in L. silviae sp. nov.). Hindwings absent.

Legs. Procoxae widely separated, more than three times closer to anterior than to posterior margin of prosternum, almost reaching anterior margin; protibia with row of between seven and ten acute denticles on inner margin and well-developed mucro, mesotibia with or without denticles, and metatibia without denticles; metatibial apex usually with well-developed corbel, covered with setae-like scales (absent in L. bifurcatus sp. nov.); apical comb subequal to slightly longer than dorsal comb.

Abdomen (Figs 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.15–1.70×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.26–1.5×); posterior margin of ventrite 5 usually slightly pointed; tergites I–VII membranose to moderately sclerotized.

Female terminalia. Sternite VIII (Figs 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35) with plate subrhomboidal, having apical tuft of long setae and shorter setae on each side; usually with ‘V’–shaped sclerotization and lateral arms reaching half of plate (with the exception of L. vulcanorum comb. nov.); apodeme two to three times longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) slightly curved in lateral view, shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.63–0.84×); with or without setae on sides of baculi; ventral baculi subparallel or slightly divergent towards base; distal coxites slightly sclerotized; styli well developed, directed backwards or sidewards. Spermathecal body (Figs 37–42) usually subcylindrical (subglobose in L. silviae sp. nov.; Fig. 42); nodulus usually truncate–conical, short (tubular in L. silviae sp. nov.); ramus usually indistinct (present in L. manueli sp. nov. and L. bifurcatus sp. nov.); cornu medium to very long; spermathecal duct (Figs 37–42) one- to two-thirds as long as ovipositor, usually membranous (sclerotized in L. bifurcatus sp. nov.).

Male genitalia (Figs 43–50). Median lobe with slightly pointed to rounded apex, slightly curved in lateral view; median lobe plus apodemes shorter to slightly longer than abdomen (0.72–1.07×), without setae, apodemes shorter than remaining part of median lobe (0.45–0.75); endophallus with or without sclerotized armature.

Relationships with other genera

A close relationship between Leschenius and the genus Asymmathetes is suggested by the presence of filiform, short, and suberect elytral setae, rostrum wider than long, narrow epistome, well-developed pre-epistome, rounded and slightly prominent shoulders, widely separated procoxae, subcylindrical spermathecae with very long cornu, and slightly curved median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view.

Species included

Three species previously assigned to Asymmathetes are herein transferred to the new genus Leschenius: L. nigrans comb. nov., L. rugicollis comb. nov., and L. vulcanorum comb. nov. These species and the three new ones described herein: L. bifurcatus sp. nov., L. manueli sp. nov., and L. silviae sp. nov., all show widely separated procoxae. The six species also share other synapomorphies, such as the elytral base moderately curved posteriad (see the results of the cladistic analysis).

Asymmathetes aequatorialis (Kirsch, 1889), a species that we were not able to study because of a lack of material, may also belong to Leschenius, as it shares the same combination of generic characters and similar geographical distribution (it is endemic to Ecuador). Within the genus, it is probably closer to L. silviae sp. nov., because of the presence of a small scutellum, a similar sculpture on head and pronotum, and similar proportions in the antennae. It differs from L. silviae sp. nov. mainly by its smaller body size, the pilosity of the pronotum, and the shape of the elytral apex, which is more acute.

Redescription: Female (Fig. 1). Species medium-sized (LB, 5.3–8.7 mm). Tegument visible, dark brown to reddish brown, shiny. Vestiture composed of disperse, pale ocher setae; sides of pronotum and margins of elytra (intervals 9–10) with moderately dense and wide, creamy setae, forming a stripe; these setae also present on distal third of femora. Rostrum very short (Fig. 1) (LR/WRa, 0.95), sides moderately convergent towards apex (WRb/WRa, 1.41–1.55), dorsum flat, foveolate–strigose with longitudinal wide striae; median groove wide, deep, reaching posterior margin of eyes. Epistome slightly depressed and punctuate. Eyes medium-sized and moderately convex. Frons foveolate–strigose, with longitudinal, wide, conspicuous striae. Vertex sparcely punctuate. Antennae (Fig. 13) of medium length (LB/LA, 1.9); scape exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Funicular article 2 about 1.21× as long as article 1, both elongated; funicular articles 3–5, 2× longer than wide, and funicular articles 6–7 as long as wide; club slightly fusiform (LC/WC, 2.42).

Pronotum (Fig. 1) slightly conical, moderately wider than long (WP/LP, 1.36); flanks moderately curved; disc foveolate–puncticulate; median groove absent; anterior margin slightly curved anteriad, slightly thickened; base slightly posteriorly ‘V’–shaped. Scutellum large, slightly elevated.

Elytra (Fig. 1) short (LE/WE, 1.38–1.49), with maximum width postmedian, slightly convex; base slightly curved backwards on middle; striae with medium-size punctures; striae 9–10 closer on posterior two-thirds; intervals slightly convex to flat, about as long as striae; apex acute, entire, not projected.

Legs. Procoxae almost at anterior margin of prosternum; protibiae with row of six or seven acute small denticles (on distal two-thirds of tibiae) and medium sized mucro; meso and metatibiae without denticles and with small mucro; metatibial apex with moderately broad corbel covered with disperse small cream scales; apical and dorsal combs subequal.

Abdomen (Fig. 14). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.15×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.26–1.37×); posterior margin of ventrite 5 escavated; tergites I-VII membranose.

Terminalia. Sternite VIII (Fig. 25) with plate subrhomboidal, elongate tapering into an acute apex, with tuft of medium-sized and coarse setae, and shorter setae on apical third; ‘V’–shaped sclerotization with lateral arms reaching two-thirds of plate, and lateral borders sclerotized; apodeme 2.2–2.6× longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 26) slightly shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.78–0.84×); without setae on sides of baculi; ventral baculi subparallel; styli wide, directed backwards. Spermathecal body (Fig. 37) subcylindrical, long; nodulus conical, short; ramus indistinct; cornu long; spermathecal duct (Fig. 37) short, as long as half of ovipositor (∼1.6 mm), membranous, moderately wide.

Male: Unknown.

Variation

Specimens from Chimborazo have denser vestiture of setae on dorsum, shorter antennae, with funicular articles 1 and 2 less elongate, and articles 3–7 moniliform, the base of the pronotum is wider and the elytra are shorter than in the remaining specimens.

Comparative notes and diagnosis

This species is sister to the remaining species of the genus (cladogram Fig. 52). It is easily distinguished from other congeners by possessing a shorter and less conical rostrum, with sides not thickened and elevated, longer antennae, elytral apex not projected, and corbels of metatibiae moderately broad and squamose.

Type material

The type material of Canephorus vulcanorum Kirsch, 1889, Amphideritus brevis Oliff, 1891, and Amphideritus pigmaeus Oliff, 1891, was not available for examination. However, we studied specimens from Kuschel's collection, identified by the specialist G. Kuschel by comparison with types that justify the synonymy given by the author in 1955.

Material examined

No data, Amphid. brevis Olliff (1♀ NZAC). COLOMBIA. Nariño: Pasto, 1–XII–1958, A. Unigarro, en coles (1♀ NZAC). ECUADOR. Carchi: El Angel, 1–I–1931 (5♀♀ NZAC). Chimborazo: NW Chimborazo, 4000 m, 1–XI–1977, Luis Peña col. (1♀ HAHC), 10–11–XI-1977 (1♀ MLPC, 1♀ HAHC); Riobamba, 3–VII–1905, F. Ohaus G. col., unter Steinen (1♀ NZAC). Cotopaxi: Cotopaxi, 4300–5000 m., III–1965, N. y J. Leleup col., preire alpine (1♀ NZAC); 13 km S. Latacunga, along PanAm, 2600 m, 3-X–1977, G. Noonan & Moffett col., under clumps soil and grass, rock debris in field with green short grass (4♀♀ CWOB); 45 km W. Latacunda, 1–V-1978, O'Brien & Marshall col., under stones (4♀♀ CWOB). Pichincha: N. du Cayambe, Andes contrefort, 3600 m, IV–1965, N. y J. Leleup, prairies alpin, sous pierres (5♀♀ NZAC); Conocoto, 2000 m, III–1965, N. y J. Leleup, sous pierres (1♀ NZAC). Tungurahua: Ambato, 31–III–1931, brevis Olliff comp. c. typo Kuschel 1954 (6♀♀ NZAC), 2600 m, II–1956, Foerster leg. (1♀ NZAC).

Host plants and habitat

Leschenius vulcanorum comb. nov. was found under soil, grass, or in cracks in the prairies of the Andes, and in association with the cabbage Brassica oleracea (Brassicaceae) and with the potato Solanum tuberosum (Solanaceae). It is considered a pest of potato in Colombia, and is known as ‘Potato shooter’ (Canchala, 1992; Peña, 2001). Major damage was reported in south-western Colombia, in Nariño province.

Remarks

Leschenius vulcanorum comb. nov. shares some characters with species of other genera related to Leschenius. For this reason it was previously assigned to Amitrus (= Canephorus = Canephorulana), Amphideritus, Macrostylus, and Asymmathetes. Because of its general appearance, mainly with regards to body shape and vestiture, it resembles Amphideritus chilensis (Kuschel, 1949), but is easily distinguished by its short conical rostrum, with sides slightly curved, narrow and depressed epistome, pre-epistome well developed, and by procoxae widely separated.

Type material: Holotype. Female, 11.5 mm long, ‘ECUADOR, PICHINCHA, POMASQUI, RUNICUCHO, 2400 m, 6–XII–1993, K. Volbracht’ (PUCE). Genitalia dissected and placed in a vial with glycerine.

Paratype. 1♀ same data as holotype (PUCE); 1♀‘Ecuador, Puerto de Guayllabamba, 1800 m, 16–I–1931, púrres’ (NZAC).

Etymology: named in reference to the distinctly bifurcated elytral apex.

Description: Female. Species large (LB, 11.5–12.3 mm) (Figs 2–3). Tegument visible, black, and shiny (teneral reddish brown). Vestiture composed of scattered setae, whitish on head, pronotum, legs, and venter, and ocher on elytra; setae wider than in remaining species of the genus. Rostrum short (Fig. 2) (LR/WRa, 1), sides slightly convergent toward apex (WRb/WRa, 1.31–1.39), dorsum slightly depressed, densely foveolate; median groove widened at apex, slightly exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Epistome slightly elevated. Eyes medium-sized and moderately convex. Frons densely foveolate. Vertex densely punctuate. Antennae (Fig. 15) (LB/LA, 2.5–2.6); scape (narrower than the other species) slightly exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Funicular article 2 about 1.5× as long as article 1; funicular articles 3–7 about 2× longer than wide; club fusiform (LC/WC, 2.82–2.94).

Pronotum (Fig. 2) subcylindrical, slightly to moderately wider than long (WP/LP, 1.17–1.30); flanks slightly curved; disc densely foveolate; median groove absent; anterior margin and base straight. Scutellum large and convex.

Elytra (Figs 2–3) slightly elongated (LE/WE, 1.59–1.65), with maximum width at middle, moderately convex; base thickened, slightly curved backwards on middle; striae with large oval punctures, striae 9–10 not closer on posterior two-thirds; intervals slightly convex (6–9° more elevated), as wide as striae to slightly narrower than striae; apex acute, bifid, and projected.

Legs. Procoxae less separated than in the other species, 3× closer to anterior margin than to posterior margin of prosternum; protibiae with row of nine or ten acute, medium-sized denticles and large mucro; mesotibiae without denticles and mucro, and metatibiae crenulate without mucro; metatibial apex without corbel; apical and dorsal comb subequal.

Abdomen (Fig. 16). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.5×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.35×); posterior margin of ventrite 5 rounded; tergites I–VII slightly sclerotized.

Terminalia. Sternite VIII (Fig. 27) with plate subrhomboidal, elongate, with acute apex, having apical tuft of long setae and shorter setae on sides of apical third; basal two-thirds more sclerotized and central line membranose; apodeme about 2× longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 28) shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.80×); with fine disperse setae on external side of baculi; ventral baculi subparallel; styli moderately wide, short, directed backwards. Spermathecal body (Fig. 38) subcylindrical, short; nodulus conical, short; ramus developed; cornu very long; spermathecal duct (Fig. 38) short, about one-third of the ovipositor (∼1.4 mm) moderately sclerotized, wide.

Male: Unknown.

Comparative notes and diagnosis

The new species L. bifurcatus sp. nov. is the sister species of L. manueli sp. nov., with which it shares the characteristics of the elevated epistome, the funicular 1 and 2 subequal, the presence of conspicuous rows of setae on sides of baculi, spermathecal duct short, ramus developed, and the endophallic armature with sclerotized pieces. It is easily differentiated by the elytral apex distinctly bifid.

Remarks

The presence of a bifid elytral apex is a rare trait in the tribe Naupactini. It is present in some species of Ericydeus Pascoe, 1880 (Lanteri, 1995), and also occurs in genera of other tribes such as Compsus (Tribe Eustylini). These species show a very abrupt elytral declivity (hunchback elytra), and live in areas of tropical forest of South America. To the contrary, the elytra of L. bifurcatus sp. nov. are somewhat depressed, with a slightly abrupt elytral declivity, and the environment in which it occurs is completely different.

Redescription: Female. Species medium-sized (LB, 9.3 mm) (Fig. 4). Tegument visible, reddish brown, shiny. Vestiture composed of scattered setae, whitish on head, legs, and venter, ocher on pronotum and elytra; setae on sides of pronotum, and margins and posterior third of elytra denser than on anterior two-thirds of disc; elytra with suberect setae and minute, decumbent, seta-like scales. Rostrum short (Fig. 4) (LR/WRa, 1), sides slightly convergent towards apex (WRb/WRa, 1.38), dorsum flat, strigose with longitudinal wide striae; median groove narrow, slightly exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Epistome slightly depressed. Eyes large and strongly convex. Frons strigose with longitudinal wide striae. Vertex foveolate–strigose with oblique striae. Antennae (Fig. 17) (LB/LA, 2.44) with scarse pilosity; scape reaching posterior margin of eyes. Funicular article 2 about 1.33× as long as article 1; funicular article 3, 2× longer than wide and funicles 4–7 slightly longer than wide; club slightly fusiform (LC/WC, 2.44).

Pronotum (Fig. 4) slightly conical, slightly wider than long (WP/LP, 1.21); flanks slightly curved; disc densely foveolate on centre and granulose on sides, or completely densely granulose; median groove shallow or absent; anterior margin slightly curved anteriad, slightly thickened; base posteriorly ‘V’–shaped. Scutellum large.

Elytra (Fig. 4) short (LE/WE, 1.37), with maximum width at middle, moderately convex; base strongly curved backwards on middle; striae with large oval punctures, striae 9–10 closer on posterior two-thirds; intervals rugose–granulose, slightly convex to flat, as wide as striae to slightly narrower; apex acute, slightly divided, and projected.

Legs. Procoxae almost reaching anterior margin of prosternum; protibiae with row of between seven and nine acute small denticles and large hook-like mucro; mesotibiae with small denticles and small mucro, and metatibiae without denticles and mucro; metatibial apex with broad corbel covered with setae; apical and dorsal comb subequal.

Abdomen (Fig. 18). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.5×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.31×); posterior margin of ventrite 5 slightly pointed; tergites I–VII slightly sclerotized.

Terminalia. Sternite VIII (Fig. 29) with plate subrhomboidal, not elongate, having apical tuft of long setae and shorter setae in apical margin; ‘V’–shaped sclerotization with wide lateral arms reaching half of plate, and median line membranose; apodeme about 2× longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 30) shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.72×); without setae on sides of baculi; ventral baculi slightly divergent towards base; styli thin, directed laterally. Spermathecal body (Fig. 39) subcylindrical, long; nodulus conical, short; ramus indistinct; cornu very long; spermathecal duct (Fig. 39) medium-sized, as long as half ovipositor (∼1.5 mm) membranous and wide.

Male (Fig. 5). Smaller (8.3–8.7 mm) and more slender than female; rostrum slightly longer and less conical (L/W, 1.07–1.15; Wb/Wa, 1.23–1.32); antenna longer (LB/LA, 2.29–2.30), club slightly more elongate (L/W, 2.44–2.61); postocular constriction slight; pronotum (W/L, 1.09–1.22; LE/LP, 2–2.18) with base slightly bisinuate and posterolateral angles slightly projected backwards; scutellum smaller; elytra more slender (L/W, 1.52), with thickened base, curved, and angles projected anteriad, shoulders reduced; mesotibiae without denticles; metatibiae with medium-sized mucro; and posterior margin of ventrite 5 bilobed.

Genitalia (Figs 43–44). Median lobe with rounded apex, in the same line with its apodemes; median lobe plus apodemes shorter than abdomen (0.88×); apodemes shorter than remaining part of median lobe (0.70); endophallus with two wing-shaped sclerites.

Comparative notes and diagnosis

Leschenius rugicollis comb. nov. is most closely related to the pair L. bifurcatus sp. nov.–L. manueli sp. nov. (see cladogram; Figure 52), based on similar head sculpture, frons (strigose), and pronotum (foveolate–granulose), eyes strongly convex, spermathecal body subcylindrical and short, and apex of the median lobe evenly rounded.

Leschenius rugicollis comb. nov. resembles L. manueli sp. nov., based on the large scutellum, maximum elytral width at middle, elytral apex slightly divided, and metatibiae with subequal apical and dorsal combs and narrow corbel, and with a small mucro in males. It differs from L. manueli sp. nov. by the pronotum of males wider than long, with slightly bisinuate base, male elytral base curved back in a ‘V’, striae 9 and 10 approximate on posterior two-thirds, and the ovipositor without setae on sides of baculi.

Type material

The type material of Asymmathetes rugicollis Voss, 1954 was deposited at the Museum of Hamburg, in the author's collection, which was destroyed during World War II (Weidner, 1979), years before the publication of Voss's paper.

We studied specimens from the Kuschel collection, held at the NZAC (included in the list of material examined), identified by the specialist G. Kuschel. The characters of the specimens match those of the original description, except for the slightly smaller size of the type specimens (6.5–7 mm).

For the reasons expressed above, and with the reported destruction of the type series, we decided to designate a neotype, following the conditions established in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), Article 75.3. Neotype. Female, 9.3 mm long, ‘Loja, Abbé Gaujon col., Asymmathetes rugicollis Voss Det. G. Kuschel 1985’ (NZAC).

Other material examined

ECUADOR. Loja: Loja, Abbé Gaujon col., Asymmathetes rugicollis Voss Det. G. Kuschel 1985 (2♀♀ 2♂♂ NZAC).

Type material: Holotype. Female, 9.1 mm long, ‘ECUADOR, AZUAY, VIA CUENCA LOJA, 5 km DE ONA, 13–I–1997, A. Paucar’ (PUCE). Genitalia dissected and placed in a vial with glycerine.

Allotype. Male, 9 mm long, same data as holotype (PUCE).

Paratypes. 1♀ 1♂ same data as holotype (PUCE).

Etymology: this species is dedicated to Juan Manuel del Río, father of the first author.

Description: Female. Species medium-sized (LB, 8.8–9.1 mm) (1–6, 7–12). Tegument visible, black, shiny, antennae reddish brown. Vestiture composed of scattered setae, whitish to cream; setae slightly more dense on sides of pronotum, and margins and posterior third of elytra. Rostrum short (1–6, 7–12) (LR/WRa, 1.03), sides slightly convergent towards apex (WRb/WRa, 1.36), dorsum slightly depressed, foveolate–strigose, with longitudinal deep striae; median groove narrow, slightly exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Epistome slightly elevated. Eyes medium-sized and strongly convex. Frons foveolate–strigose. Vertex densely punctuate. Antennae (Fig. 19) (LB/LA, 2.25); scape reaching posterior margin of eyes. Funicular article 2 about 1.6× as long as article 1; funicular articles 3–4 slightly longer than wide, and funicles 5–7 moniliforms; club slightly fusiform (LC/WC, 2.38).

Pronotum (1–6, 7–12) slightly conical, moderately wider than long (WP/LP, 1.32); flanks moderately curved; disc densely foveolate at centre, and densely granulose on sides; median groove distinct; anterior margin slightly curved anteriad, slightly thickened; base posteriorly ‘V’–shaped. Scutellum large.

Elytra (1–6, 7–12) short (LE/WE, 1.37–1.39), with maximum width at middle, moderately convex; base more strongly posteriorly curved than in other species; striae with medium-size oval punctures, striae 9–10 not closer on posterior two-thirds; intervals slightly convex, slightly wider than striae; apex acute, entire, and projected.

Legs. Procoxae reaching anterior margin of prosternum; protibiae with row of nine or ten very acute, medium-sized denticles and large mucro; mesotibiae crenulate with minute mucro and metatibiae without denticles and mucro; metatibial apex with very narrow and denuded corbel; apical and dorsal comb subequal.

Abdomen (Fig. 20). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.7×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.5×); apex of ventrite 5 slightly pointed; tergites I–VII slightly sclerotized.

Terminalia. Sternite VIII (Fig. 31) with plate subrhomboidal, not elongate, having apical tuft of long setae and shorter setae in apical margin; ‘V’–shaped sclerotization, with lateral arms reaching half of plate; apodeme about 3× longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 32) shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.80×); with fine scattered setae on external side of baculi; ventral baculi subparallel; styli moderately wide, directed backwards. Spermathecal body (Fig. 40) subcylindrical, short; nodulus conical, short; ramus developed; cornu medium-sized; spermathecal duct (Fig. 40) short, slightly shorter than half ovipositor (∼1.5 mm), membranous and wide.

Male (Fig. 8). Same size as female (9 mm). Rostrum slightly longer (L/W, 1.16) than in females and more distinctly conical (Wb/Wa, 1.45); eyes strongly convex; pronotum slightly wider than long (W/L, 1.35), longer (LE/LP, 2.30), more strongly curved on sides, with base strongly bisinuate and posterolateral angles projected backwards; scutellum smaller; elytra slightly slender and shorter (L/W, 1.34), with parallel sides, thickened base projected anteriad, punctures of striae larger; estriae 9 and 10 slightly approximate on posterior two-thirds; and posterior margin of ventrite 5 emarginate.

Genitalia (Figs 45–46). Median lobe with truncate rounded apex, almost in the same line (not forming angle) with its apodemes; median lobe plus apodemes slightly shorter than abdomen (0.93×); apodemes shorter than remaining part of median lobe (0.75); endophallus with spines and a central long baculum with two lateral sclerites in the proximal area.

Comparative notes and diagnosis

Leschenius manueli sp. nov. is the sister species of L. bifurcatus sp. nov. (see comparative notes and diagnosis section of L. bifurcatus sp. nov.).

Leschenius manueli sp. nov. resembles L. rugicollis comb. nov. in the sculpture of pronotum (foveolate–granulose), the large scutellum, the elytra with maximum width at distal half, and by the metatibiae with combs subequal, corbel narrow, and with mucro small and only present in males. It differs from L. rugicollis comb. nov. by the less convex eyes, the much wider than long pronotum of the males, with strongly bisinuate base, by striae 9 and 10 not approximate on posterior two-thirds, by the ovipositor with conspicuous setae on sides of baculi, and by the apex of the median lobe rounded.

Redescription: Female. Species large (LB, 11.5 mm) (Fig. 9). Tegument visible, reddish- brown, shiny. Vestiture with very sparse setae on head and pronotum; whitish on head, pronotum, legs, and venter, pale ocher on elytra; setae on elytra only visible on posterior third. Rostrum short (Fig. 9) (LR/WRa, 1), sides slightly convergent towards apex (WRb/WRa, 1.33), dorsum slightly depressed, foveolate–strigose, with longitudinal wide striae; median groove narrow, deep, slightly exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Epistome slightly depressed. Eyes large, moderately convex. Frons foveolate–puncticulate. Vertex densely foveolate. Antennae (Fig. 21) (LB/LA, 2.94); scape reaching posterior margin of eyes. Funicular article 2 about 1.15× as long as article 1, funicular articles 3–5, 2× longer than wide, and funicular articles 6–7 slightly longer than wide; club oval (LC/WC: 2.15).

Pronotum (Fig. 9) slightly conical and slightly wider than long (WP/LP, 1.14); flanks moderately curved; disc densely punctuate; median groove absent; anterior margin slightly curved anteriad, slightly thickened; base posteriorly ‘V’–shaped. Scutellum small.

Elytra (Fig. 9) short (LE/WE, 1.5), with maximum width at anterior third, slightly convex; base slightly curved backwards on middle; striae with medium-sized punctures; striae 9–10 closer on posterior two-thirds; intervals slightly convex to flat and slightly wider than striae; apex acute, divided, and projected.

Legs. Procoxae almost reaching anterior margin of prosternum; protibiae with row of between eight and ten acute medium-sized denticles and large hook-like mucro; meso- and metatibiae without denticles and mucro; metatibial apex with broad corbel covered with small setiform scales; apical comb slightly longer than dorsal comb (1.25×).

Abdomen (Fig. 22). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.28×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.39×); posterior margin of ventrite 5 slightly pointed; tergites I–VII moderately sclerotized.

Terminalia. Sternite VIII (Fig. 33) subrhomboidal, not elongate, with apical tuft of long setae and shorter setae on apical third, and ‘V’–shaped sclerotization, with wide lateral arms reaching half of plate; apodeme 2.42× longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 34) shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.63×), with setae on sides of baculi; ventral baculi subparallel; styli thin, directed backwards. Spermathecal body (Fig. 41) subcylindrical, elongate; nodulus conical, short; ramus indistinct; cornu very long; spermathecal duct (Fig. 41) medium-sized, as long as two-thirds of ovipositor (∼2.2 mm), membranous, and moderately wide.

Male (Fig. 10). Smaller than female (10 mm); rostrum (L/W, 1.07; Wb/Wa, 1.30); antenna longer (LB/LA, 2.46), club slightly more elongate (L/W, 2.48); pronotum (W/L, 1.11) more strongly curved on sides, with base slightly bisinuate and posterolateral angles projected and directed backwards; elytra more slender and elongate (L/W, 1.52), with thickened ‘V’–shaped base; humeral angles slightly projected anteriad, shoulders absent; metatibiae with small mucro; posterior margin of ventrite 5 blunt.

Genitalia (Figs 47–48). Median lobe with slightly pointed apex, forming an angle of about 90° with its apodemes; median lobe plus apodemes shorter than abdomen (0.72×); apodemes shorter than remaining part of median lobe (0.55); endophallus with two wing-shaped sclerites.

Comparative notes and diagnosis

Leschenius nigrans comb. nov. and L. silviae sp. nov. are sister species, sharing a similar sculpture of the rostrum (foveolate–strigose), the frons (foveolate), and the pronotum (densely foveolate); funicular article 2 longer than 1; medium-sized scutellum; apical comb of metatibiae longer than the dorsal comb; posterior margin of ventrite 5 of males blunt; median lobe about twice shorter than its apodemes; and angle between the longitudinal axis of median lobe and its apodemes obtuse. It differs from L. silviae sp. nov. by its larger body size; oval club; longer than wide pronotum; divided and acute elytral apex; elytral intervals flat, slightly wider than striae; smaller denticles of the protibiae; broader corbel of metatibiae; ventrite 5 of females with slightly pointed apex; and spermatheca with truncated–conical nodulus.

Type material

It was not possible to study the type material of Naupactus nigrans; however, we have examined specimens from Kuschel's collection currently held in the NZAC, identified by the specialist G. Kuschel by comparison with the type material.

Material examined

ECUADOR. No loc. Baron (1♀ NZAC). Imbabura: Ibarra, 30–XII–1930 (1♂ NZAC). Pichincha: Puembo, 2480 m, 20–XI–1931, nigrans Olliff comp. c. type Kuschel 1954 (1♂ NZAC).

Type material: Holotype. Female, 7.9 mm long, ‘Cuenca Jesta’ (NZAC). Genitalia dissected and placed in a vial with glycerine.

Alotype. Male, 7.8 mm, ‘Cañas’ (NZAC). Genitalia dissected and placed in a vial with glycerine.

Paratypes. 2 ♂♂, same data as allotype (NZAC).

Etymology: this species is dedicated to Silvia E. Antonelli, mother of the first author.

Description: Female. Species medium-sized (LB, 7.9 mm) (Fig. 11). Tegument visible, reddish brown, shiny. Vestiture with very sparse setae on head and pronotum; whitish on head, legs, and venter, pale ocher on pronotum and elytra; setae on elytra, only visible on posterior third. Rostrum very short (Fig. 11) (LR/WRa, 0.96), sides slightly convergent towards apex (WRb/WRa, 1.37), dorsum flat, foveolate–strigose, with longitudinal wide striae; median groove narrow, deep, exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Epistome strongly depressed. Eyes large and moderately convex. Frons and vertex densely foveolate. Antennae (Fig. 23) (LB/LA, 2.47) with scarce setae; scape exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Funicular article 2 about 1.1× as long as article 1; funicular articles 3–7 slightly longer than wide; club slightly fusiform (LC/WC, 2.36).

Pronotum (Fig. 11) subcylindrical, moderately wider than long (WP/LP, 1.35); flanks moderately curved; disc densely foveolate; median groove absent; anterior margin straight, slightly thickened; base posteriorly ‘V’–shaped. Scutellum small.

Elytra (Fig. 11) short (LE/WE, 1.37), with maximum width at anterior third, moderately convex; base strongly curved backwards on middle; striae with large, oval punctures; striae 9–10 closer on posterior two-thirds; intervals slightly convex, as wide as striae; apex slightly pointed, entire and projected.

Legs. Procoxae almost reaching anterior margin of prosternum; protibiae with row of between eight and ten acute small denticles, and large hook-like mucro; mesotibiae with small dentices and mucro, and metatibiae without denticles and with small mucro; metatibial apex with narrow corbel covered with small scarse setiform scales, apical comb slightly longer than dorsal comb (1.3×).

Abdomen (Fig. 24). Intercoxal portion of ventrite 1 broader than metacoxal cavities (1.5×); ventrite 2 longer than ventrites 3 and 4 combined (1.34×); posterior margin of ventrite 5 emarginate; tergites I–VII membranose.

Terminalia. Sternite VIII (Fig. 35) with plate subrhomboidal, not elongate, thickened at base, with apical tuft of long setae; ‘V’–shaped sclerotization with lateral arms reaching middle of plate; apodeme 2.6× longer than plate. Ovipositor (Fig. 36) shorter than ventrites 1–5 (0.81×); without setae on sides of baculi; ventral baculi slightly divergent towards base; styli thick, directed backwards. Spermathecal body (Fig. 42) subglobose; nodulus tubular, with a constriction near body; ramus indistinct; cornu very long; spermathecal duct (Fig. 42) medium-sized, as long as half of ovipositor (∼1.6 mm), membranous, and moderately wide.

Male (Fig. 12). Same size as female (7.8–8.4 mm); rostrum slightly longer and less conical (L/W, 1.07–1.08; Wb/Wa, 1.23–1.36); antennae longer (LB/LA, 2.21–2.29), club more elongate (L/W, 2.47–2.67); pronotum wider than long (W/L, 1.25–1.28; LE/LP, 2.5–2.61), with base moderately bisinuate, and posterolateral angles projected and directed backwards; elytra more elongate (L/W, 1.39–1.52), with thickened base, ‘V’–shaped backwards, shoulders reduced, with humeral angles slightly projected anteriad and elytral apex less acute; protibiae with small denticles, mesotibia without denticles, and metatibiae with larger mucro than in females; posterior margin of ventrite 5 blunt.

Genitalia (Figs 49–50). Median lobe with slightly pointed apex, forming an obtuse angle with its apodemes; median lobe plus apodemes slightly longer than abdomen (1.07×); apodemes much shorter than median lobe (0.45); endophallus without sclerotized armature.

Comparative notes and diagnosis

The new species L. silviae sp. nov. resembles L. nigrans comb. nov., being sister species. They share the foveolate–strigose rostrum; the medium-sized scutellum, with apical comb of metatibiae longer than dorsal comb; the posterior margin of ventrite 5 of male blunt; the median lobe about twice shorter than its apodemes; and the angle between the longitudinal axis of median lobe and its apodemes obtuse. It differs from L. nigrans comb. nov. by the smaller size, the more elongate club, the much wider than long pronotum, with larger punctures and straight base, the elytral apex slightly pointed and entire; intervals slightly convex, as wide as striae; protibiae with smaller denticles, and corbel of metatibiae narrow; posterior margin of ventrite 5 emarginate in females, and spermatheca with tubular nodulus a constriction near spermathecal body.