Cionus pericarti Hoffmann 1968

3. Cionus pericarti Hoffmann (Figs 3a–f)

Cionus pericarti Hoffmann, 1968: 175.

Type locality. Djimtilo (Bas-Chari, Chad).

Type series. This species was described based on eight specimens collected in Chad (Bas-Chari, Djimtilo), of which we examined three paratypes, two males and one female (MNHN), corresponding perfectly to the original description.

Diagnosis. Integument brown. Rostrum in lateral view almost straight. Pronotum with subrectilinear sides, without protuberances. Elytra rectangular, with many light and dark maculae, and well visible rectilinear striae. Claws asymmetrical in male.

Redescription. Male (Figs 3a–b). Body: moderately stout, elongated. Head: rostrum stout, short (Rl/Rw 3.30– 3.33; Rl/Pl 1.33–1.35), black; in lateral view almost straight, slightly tapered from base to apex, in dorsal view slightly enlarged from base to apex, striate-punctate to near apex with two subtle longitudinal carinae at sides, from base to near apex with recumbent, moderately dense, not adpressed, moderately long (l/w 4–6), elliptical whitish and light brown scales. Head between eyes narrow, 0.3× as wide as rostrum at base. Eyes almost flat. Antennae brown, inserted between middle and apical third; scape long (l/w 8), funicle 0.7× as long as scape, S1 slightly more robust and slightly longer than S2, 1.8× as long as wide, S2 1.5 × as long as wide, S3–5 transverse, club oblongly oval, pubescent, as long as funicle. Pronotum: dark brown, without protuberances, with dense regular punctures, intervals between punctures narrow, slightly shining, smooth, moderately visible between recumbent, moderately dense, moderately long (l/w 4–6), elliptical, light brown and whitish intermixed scales; subconical, transverse (Pw/ Pl 1.68–1.72), widest at base, with rectilinear sides, weakly convex on disc. Prosternum: anterior margin with distinct emargination. Scutellar shield: subtriangular, with moderately dense light brown scales, similar to those on elytra. Elytra: brown, rectangular, moderately elongated (El/Ew 1.22–1.24), distinctly wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.80–1.83), humeri poorly prominent, rounded, sides parallel, weakly convex on disc; interstriae straight, with shallow, irregular punctures feebly visible between recumbent to subrecumbent, moderately dense, irregularly arranged, whitish and light brown intermixed, moderately long (l/w 4–7), elliptical scales, the lighter ones forming small spots on odd interstriae; striae feebly visible, 1/3 as wide as interstriae, with deep dense punctures, intervals between punctures narrow, sinuate, lower than interstriae. Venter: mesosternal process convex, slightly emarginated. Metasternum covered with moderately dense, elongated, almost hair-like in middle, grayish scales. Abdomen with moderately deep, irregularly arranged punctures, which are clearly visible between moderately dense scales (longer, hair-like in middle, shorter at sides); V1 1.6× longer than V2; V1+2 5.4× longer than V3+4, latter ones 0.6× as long as V5. Legs: femora blackish, with moderately stout, very sharp teeth, covered with moderately dense, whitish and light brown intermixed scales; tibiae dark brown; tarsi dark brown, onychium as long as S1–3 combined; claws asymmetrical, one claw half as long as other. Penis: Figs 3d–f, its body with parallel sides in basal 2/3, then gradually narrowed, tip rounded. Flagellum as long as apodemes, bifurcated at its base.

Female. Rostrum slightly longer (Rl/Rw 3.50; Rl/Pl 1.47), claws symmetrical.

Variability. Length 3.1–3.5 mm. The three specimens (paratypes) examined do not show considerable differences

Remarks. This species is closely related to C. frater, from which it differs by the shape of the pronotum, which is less rounded at sides and less convex on disc, sharper femoral teeth and penis with thinner apical third in lateral view. These two species, together with C. perlatus, are easily distinguishable from all other Afrotropical species by the moderately elongated rectangular elytra, and the lack of pronotal protuberances. Both species differ from C. perlatus by the integument brown, never black, the light spots less contrasted with the dark ones, and the more emarginated prosternum.

Biological notes. This species was collected on Commicarpus verticillatus (Poir.) Standl. (Nyctaginaceae, Caryophyllales) (det. Péricart). We do not know other cionines living on Nyctaginaceae. Therefore it is possible that the specimens were collected on Commicarpus verticillatus only accidentally.

Distribution. Chad (Bas-Chari).