New injurious Curculionidae from Africa (Col.)

Abstract

♂♀. Derm black, with uniform dense grey scaling that has a coppery reflection.Head separated from rostrum by a narrow bisinuate stria; frons depressed below the level of the eyes and separated from them by a deep incision on each side, obliquely striolate and with a deep median sulcus; eyes moderately convex, extended sharply backwards for about one-third of their length, the orbit not projecting on the hind margin. Rostrum very slightly longer than its basal width, widest at base, gradually narrowing for two-thirds its length and thence more rapidly; dorsum broadly depressed, with longitudinally confluent punctures and a fine median carina. Antennae piceous; scape slightly exceeding hind margin of eye; funicle with joint 1 nearly twice as long as 2,3–7 subequal, about as long as broad and slightly widening distally. Prothorax nearly twice as broad as long, unusually flat, being only gently convex transversely, widest at the strongly arcuate base, the angles of which project laterally, with the sides almost straight and rapidly converging anteriorly, the apical margin being deeply sinuate on each side behind the eyes; dorsum flat longitudinally in the middle, densely squamose, each scale covering a minute granule. Elytra ovate, broader in ♀, widely sinuate at base, which is marginate, with the lateral angles projecting outwards and forwards, and the sides sinuate behind the angles; the dorsal outline moderately convex, sloping at the base; the shallow striae containing close deep punctures, which show through the scaling though partly covered and disappear behind, where the striae become deeper; intervals almost flat, with minute inconspicuous recumbent setae. Legs piceous, with dense concolorous scaling and their lower edges with a fringe of stiff erect setae; front tibiae compressed, with the outer edge carinate and the external apical angle produced laterally, the spines on the apical margin much reduced; hind tibiae with the inner face flattened and sinuate on the apical half, the corbels bare and ascending the dorsal edge more than usual, with the upper end angulate. Venter squamose laterally, but clothed elsewhere with dense stiff suberect setae.