Cionus intermedius Caldara & Košťál 2023, sp. n.

12. Cionus intermedius sp. n. (Figs 12a–f)

Type locality. De Rust (Little Karroo, Western Cape, South Africa).

Type series. Holotype, male “ S. Afr.; Little Karroo De Rust 33.29S - 22.32E / 14.10.1984; E-Y: 2149 ground & vegetation leg. R. Müller ” (TMSA). Paratypes: same data as holotype (5, TMSA); “SOUTH AFRICA- C.P. Montagu-Camping SPA 33 47S 20 07E - m 200 30.X.1988 - Colonnelli” (4, ECCR); “SOUTH AFRICA- C.P. Nature’s Valley 33.56’S 23.32’E 4.XI.1988 - Colonnelli” (1, ECCR); “ SOUTH AFRICA, Swartberg Pass, 33.19S 22.03E M. Jonsson ” (1, SANC); “RSA Western Cape, 301 m, 10 km S Ravsonville, 33°46.627’ S 19°19.912’ E, 16.xi.2018, R. Borovec lgt.” (2, MKCS; 12, RBCS; 2, RCCM); “Rep. of South Africa, Western Cape Pr. Kylemore, 16.ii.2019, J. Haran leg. / -3393 1896, on Buddleja cf. salviifolia, JHAR 02180” (1, CBGP).

Diagnosis. Pronotum with two distinct protuberances, conical with rectilinear sides, without black spots, with two indistinct vittae of pale brown scales. Elytra moderately long, moderately convex in apical half, all interstriae completely flat, vestiture uniformly light brown with grayish sides and with several black spots, without raised scales, striae concealed by scales. Ventrites with scales partly more elongated, hair-like at midline on V1, V2 and V5, forming tuft on V2. Femora slender, with small teeth. Claws distinctly asymmetrical in both sexes.

Description. Male (Figs 12a–b). Body: robust, moderately elongated. Head: rostrum moderately stout, short (Rl/Rw 3.40–3.47; Rl/Pl 1.12–1.16), black, in lateral view weakly and regularly curved, slightly tapered from base to apex, in dorsal view slightly enlarged from base to apex; moderately densely covered to near apex with recumbent, elliptical, moderately elongated (l/w 4–7), grayish and light brown scales. Head between eyes moderately narrow, 0.4× as wide as rostrum at base. Eyes flat. Antennae reddish brown, inserted between middle and apical third of rostrum; scape long (l/w 10); funicle slightly shorter than scape, S1 slightly wider than and as long as S2, 3.5× as long as wide, S2 3.7 × as long as wide, S3–5 as long as wide; club elongated, oval, distinctly shorter than funicle, uniformly pubescent. Pronotum: dark brown, completely hidden by dense, recumbent, moderately long (l/w 4–6), rectangular, grayish and light brown scales; conical, distinctly transverse (Pw/Pl 1.62–1.65), widest at base, sides slightly rounded, punctures dense, moderately deep, regular, small, disc weakly convex, with two small lateral protuberances. Prosternum: anterior margin distinctly emarginated. Scutellar shield: heart-shaped, feebly visible due to dense pale brown scales. Elytra: dark brown, slightly longer than wide (El/Ew 1.15–1.20), subrectangular, somewhat wider than pronotum (Ew/Pw 1.48–1.55), humeri moderately prominent, rounded, sides slightly rounded, moderately convex on disc; interstriae flat, with sparse, irregular, shallow, small punctures, completely hidden by recumbent, rectangular whitish grey and light brown scales, paler ones covering sides, with some small blackish spots on odd interstriae; striae with shallow, small punctures, 1/3 as wide as interstriae, completely hidden by vestiture. Venter: mesosternal process moderately convex, slightly emarginated. Metasternum with scales in middle moderately longer than those at sides but not hair-like. Abdomen with sparse,. irregular, shallow, small punctures, completely hidden by dense, moderately elongated, whitish scales partly hair-like in middle of V1, V2 and V5, forming tuft on V2; V1 1.9× as long as V2; V1+2 6.4× as long as V3+4, latter ones 0.9× as long as V5. Legs: densely covered with elongated whitish scales, femora dark brown, with robust sharp teeth; tibiae dark brown; tarsi dark brown, onychium slightly shorter than T1–3 combined; claws distinctly asymmetrical, one claw 1/4 as long as other. Penis: Figs 12d–f, its body slightly narrowed from base to apex, tip broad, emarginated. Flagellum short, bifurcated at base.

Female. Rostrum slightly longer (Rl/Rw 3.70–3.77; Rl/Pl 1.24–1.29) (Fig. 12c), protarsal claws less strikingly asymmetrical (one claw 1/2 as long as other), others symmetrical, abdomen with all scales similar in shape.

Variability. Length 3.6–4.5 mm. The scales of the dorsal vestiture vary from grayish to pale brown. The spots of blackish scales on odd interstriae vary in number.

Etymology. The Latin adjective wants to highlight that this species is intermediate between C. meticulosus and C. cretaceus.

Remarks. Very similar to C. meticulosus in habitus and pattern of the vestiture. From this species it differs by the less transverse pronotum with more rectilinear sides, the more elongated elytra which are less convex in apical half, the slender femora with smaller tooth.

Biological notes. No data are available.

Distribution. South Africa (Western Cape).