Acicnemis palliata Pascoe, 1872

Lewis, Jake H., Kojima, Hiroaki & Campbell, Erin O., 2025, A Japan-focused review of East Asian Acicnemis Fairmaire, 1849 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) reveals cryptic diversity in a well-studied region, ZooKeys 1259, pp. 103-167 : 103-167

Acicnemis palliata Pascoe, 1872

Figs 3 E , 4 B , 6 L 1–6 , 2 , 23

Acicnemis dorsonigrita Voss, 1941 , syn. nov.

Type material examined

( China: 2; Japan: 20: Total: 22). Holotype. Japan: Nagasaki Prefecture: • Nagasaki , Pascoe Coll. 93–60, bears a circular white, red-bordered label reading “ Type H. T. ”, NHMUK 015026632 . Paratypes. China • Tienmuschan , bears a red label reading “ Type ” (1 dissected male, NHMB), Acicnemis dorsonigrita type specimen, JHL_ACITAI_010 ; • Tienmuschan , bears a red label reading “ Cotypus Acicnemis dorsonigrita ” (1, ZMH), ZMH 841827 .

Non-type material.

Japan: Chiba Prefecture: • Ichihara-shi, Kongouuchi , 28. V. 1989, M. Satoshi (2, CMIC), CBM-ZI 159709 , CBM-ZI 159710 ; Ehime Prefecture: • Higashino, Matsuyama-shi , 1–22. VII. 2016, Y. Hisasue (2, KUM), JHL_AREV_484 , JHL_AREV_485 ; Fukuoka Prefecture: • Chikuzen, Kashii, Kusaba Kosen , 5. VI. 1935, Esaki, Hori, Ho, Fujino, Yasumatsu, Nomura & Kawahara (1, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_046 ; • Mt. Homan , 2. VII. 1978, R. Noda (1 dissected male, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_007 ; • Nokonosima , 8–29. V. 2005, H. Hirano (2, KUM), JHL_AREV_486 , JHL_AREV_487 ; Fukushima Prefecture: • 1. VII. 2000, K. Takahashi (1, KUM), JHL_AREV_483 ; • Kaneyama-machi, Okuriyama , 2. VI. 2012, J. Aoki (3, KUM), JHL_AREV_488 ; • Aizu, Kaneyama , 20–21. VII. 2012, J. Aoki (4, KUM), JHL_AREV_489 ; Kagawa Prefecture: • Takamatsu-shi , 15. V. 1961, M. Chujo (1, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_051 ; • Miki-cho , 16. VI. 1961, M. Chujo (1, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_050 ; • Kinuki-shi , 25. V. 2015, J. Aoki (1, KUM), JHL_AREV_490 ; • Kita-gun, Hirai-cho , 13. V. 1949, K. Iwata (1, ZMH), ZMH 837201 ; Nagasaki Prefecture: • Tsushima, Izuhara , 15. V. 1971, H. Irie (1, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_006 ; Nara Prefecture: • Kasuga , 4. VI. 1961, K. Ueda (1, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_049 ; Oita Prefecture: • Tsukahara, Yufuin-machi, Yufu-shi , 18. VI. 2016, R. Ito, (1, KUM), JHL_AREV_779 ; Osaka Prefecture: • Mt. Iwawaki , 18. VI. 1966, H. Kimura (1, KUM), JHL_ACITAI_048 .

Diagnosis.

Body length 6.1–7.0 mm. Covered in pale brown, dark gray, and black scales, with a tan-colored, V-shaped, transverse band across middle of elytra. Pronotum lacking impunctate longitudinal midline (present in A. koguma ). Scutellum bordered by pale brown scales, but conspicuously bare and shiny dorsally (Fig. 3 E ). Elytra with erect scales only on odd intervals. Sclerolepidia distinct and protruding (Fig. 4 B ). Third tarsomeres distinctly emarginate. Pedon with lateral edges approx. parallel in dorsal view, but converging evenly into a blunt, rounded point. Internal sac not visible inside aedeagus, but with a protruding basal structure that bears two hook-like structures anteriorly at the apex that are curved 90 degrees inward (Fig. 6 L 1 – 2 ).

Distribution.

This species occurs in Japan (mainland) and China, and has also been reported from South Korea ( Park et al. 2009) and the Kuril Islands ( Alonso-Zarazaga et al. 2023).

Remarks.

An examination of the holotype of A. palliata ( NHMUK) , the holotype of A. dorsonigrita ( NHMB) , a paratype of A. dorsonigrita ( ZMH) , as well as comparisons of the original descriptions of these two species revealed that A. dorsonigrita syn. nov. is a junior synonym of A. palliata . In particular, the holotypes of A. palliata and A. dorsonigrita (1) both have scutella which are bare dorsally, bordered by scales around the perimeter (2) are more than 5 mm in length (measured from the apex of the elytra to the base of the rostrum), and (3) bear the same characteristic pattern of scales dorsally. Furthermore, the original descriptions of these species certainly appear to refer to the same species, and notably the body length measurements given for A. palliata (“ 3 lin. ” = 6.25 mm) and A. dorsonigrita ( 5–5.8 mm) are approximately equal. The much smaller species (at most 4.4 mm) previously referred to as A. dorsonigrita by Morimoto and Miyakawa (1995) is new and is described below as A. squamata .

Figures

Figure 2. Diagnostic morphological characters in Acicnemis. A. A. azumai Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995 (JHL _ ACITAI _ 081) showing lack of prominent posterior prosternal projections; B. A. laeta Hubenthal, 1919 (JHL _ AREV _ 533) showing prominent prosternal projections; C. A. kiotoensis Nakane, 1963 (JHL _ AREV _ 982) showing antenna with the second funicular antennomere longer than antennomeres 3 + 4; D. A. koguma Lewis & Kojima, sp. nov. (JHL _ SYN _ 141) showing antenna with the second funicular antennomere shorter than antennomeres 3 + 4; E. A. luteomaculata Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995 (JHL _ AREV _ 189) showing truncate third tarsomere; F. A. ryukyuana Lewis, 2023 (JHL _ ACI _ 011) showing weakly emarginate third tarsomere; G. A. maculaalba Roelofs, 1875 (JHL _ AREV _ 577) showing strongly emarginate third tarsomere.

Figure 3. Scutella and pronota of various Acicnemis species. A. A. azumai Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995 (JHL _ ACITAI _ 081) showing two bare (unscaled) tubercles baso-medially on the pronotum; B. A. kiotoensis Nakane, 1963 (JHL _ AREV _ 982) showing a broad, unscaled scutellum; C. A. koguma Lewis & Kojima, sp. nov. (JHL _ SYN _ 141) showing a bare, but more slender scutellum than A. kiotoensis; D. A. maculaalba Roelofs, 1875 (JHL _ AREV _ 577) showing a small scutellum covered in scales; E. A. palliata Pascoe, 1872 (JHL _ AREV _ 779) showing a larger scutellum that is shiny and bare dorsally, and surrounded along the perimeter by yellow scales; F. A. shigematsui Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995 (JHL _ ACITAI _ 052) showing a smaller scutellum covered in scales.

Figure 4. Sclerolepidia in Acicnemis. A. A. kiotoensis Nakane, 1963 (JHL _ AREV _ 982) showing low, rounded sclerolepidia; B. A. palliata Pascoe, 1872 (JHL _ AREV _ 779) showing protruding, erect sclerolepidia.

Figure 6. Aedeagi of Acicnemis. A 1–2. A. albofasciata (Ter-Minasian 1953); B 1–2. A. azumai Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995; C 1–2), A. cryptica Lewis & Kojima, sp. nov.; D 1–2. A. dividicincta Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995; E 1–2. A. exilis Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995; F 1–2. A. kiotoensis Nakane, 1963; G 1–2. A. laeta Hubenthal, 1919; H 1–2. A. luteomaculata Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995; I 1–2. A. maculaalba Roelofs, 1875; J 1–2. A. nobilis Hubenthal, 1919; K 1–2. A. nohirai Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995; L 1–2. A. palliata Pascoe, 1872; M 1–2. A. postica Hubenthal, 1919; N 1–2. A. ryukyuana Lewis, 2023; O 1–2. A. sauteri Hubenthal, 1919; P 1–2. A. shibatai Voss, 1971; Q 1–2. A. shigematsui Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995; R 1–2. Acicnemis sp. 1; S 1–2. A. squamata Lewis & Kojima, sp. nov.; T 1–2. A. suturalis Roelofs, 1875.

Figure 23. Acicnemis palliata Pascoe, 1872 (JHL _ AREV _ 779). A. Lateral; B. Dorsal. Scale bar: 1 mm.