Volume 48(30):345‑351, 2008

A new species of Pacholenus Schoenherr from southeastern

Brazil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae),
and new occurrences of species of the genus
Sergio Antonio Vanin1,2

Abstract

A new species of Pacholenus Schoenherr from southeastern Brazil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae,

Molytinae), and new occurrences of species of the genus. Pacholenus monteiroi sp. nov. (type-
locality Brazil, Rio de Janeiro state, Carapebus, Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba)
is described and illustrated. The weevil develops as a stem gall-former in Calyptranthes
brasiliensis Spreng (Myrtaceae). The new species is easily distinguished from the other five
known of the genus by the presence of a prominent supra-ocular ridge. An updated key for
identification for all species of Pacholenus is provided. Three species of Pacholenus are
presently recorded for the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo; P. pelliceus and P. monteiroi
occur in both states, while P. penicillus is only known from Rio de Janeiro; P. hispidus occurs
in São Paulo, being the most widespread species of the genus, ranging from Minas Gerais south
to Santa Catarina.

Keywords: Geographic distribution; Neotropical Region; Pacholenini; Stem-gall;

Weevils.

Introduction (MZSP) disclosed an additional conspecific specimen

collected in Guarujá, São Paulo state.
During researches conducted by Dr. Ricardo According to Vanin & Reichardt (1976), Pa-
F. Monteiro and his team (Departamento de Ecolo- cholenus was erected by Schoenherr, 1826. However,
gia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ) as pointed out by Wibmer & O’Brien (1986), this
in Restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro state, Bra- is a nomen nudum, because Schoenherr (1826) desig-
zil, some weevils of the genus Pacholenus Schoen- nated Pacholenus pelliceus as type species of the genus,
herr, 1826 were reared from Calyptranthes brasiliensis a taxon not published until 1836. Pacholenus became
Spreng (Myrtaceae) stem galls. The reared adults were an available name only when the genus was described
sent by Dr. Monteiro to me for identification and I by Schoenherr (1836:101) and two species of the
could confirm they belong to a new species of Pacho- genus, P. pelliceus and P. penicillus, were described
lenus, described herein. A search in the collections of by Boheman (1836:101 and 102, respectively). Al-
the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo though P. pelliceus was not explicitly designated or

1. Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11.461, CEP 05422‑970, São Paulo, SP,
Brasil. E‑mail: [email protected]
2. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 42.494, 04218‑970, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. 
346 Vanin, S.A.: A new species of Pacholenus

even reported as type species for the genus Pachole- galls develop in two species of Myrtaceae, Gomidesia
nus in that publication (Schoenherr, 1836), it is clear martiniana Berg and G. fenzliana Berg. In the same
that this was Schoenherr’s intention, made known in paper, ecological aspects of the weevil and galls were
1826. Thus, the type species of Pacholenus Schoen- discussed, the full-grown larva was described, and the
herr, 1836 is P. pelliceus Boheman, 1836, by Schoen- assignment of the Pacholenini into the Molytinae cor-
herr’s (1836:101) subsequent designation (Wibmer & roborated by larval features.
O’Brien, 1986). This addition brings the total number of species
Since the revision of the Pacholenini by Vanin & of Pacholenus to six.
Reichardt (1976), no other new species of Pacholenus
had been described. The genus Pacholenus comprises
five species (Wibmer & O’Brien, 1986), three known Material and Methods
from the Atlantic Forest along southeastern coast of
Brazil, and two from Central Brazil, but probably in- For the study and preparation of the speci-
habiting gallery forests or forests enclaves (Vanin & mens the stereomicroscope Wild M5A and the bin-
Reichardt, 1976). Vanin et al. (2000) reported for the ocular microscope Leitz SM-Lux were used. Male
first time the biology of a species of the genus, Pachole- genital structures were macerated in hot 10% KOH,
nus pelliceus Boheman, 1836, a stem gall-former. This rinsed in distilled water, and stored in a micro vial
was made possible due to Dr. Monteiro’s observations with glycerin. Line drawings were made with aid of
on weevils reared from galls collected in restinga of a camera lucida, the genitalia outlines from glycerin
Barra de Maricá, Rio de Janeiro state. The unicameral preparations.

Figures 1-2: Pacholenus monteiroi sp. nov., female paratype from Carapebus, RJ, habitus; 1, dorsal view; 2, lateral view. (Length, rostrum
excluded = 6.3 mm).
 Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 48(30), 2008 347

Note on terminology: The spaces between elytral stri- cally): interstriae I (sutural interval), interstriae II
ae are known as intervals, interstices or interstriae, (interstice I) interstriae III, (interstice II), and so
and these are numbered from the suture outwards, forth.
by roman numerals. Thus, the sutural interval is the
interstice I (Lawrence & Britton, 1991). It must be
noticed that Vanin & Reichardt (1976) numbered Results and Discussion
the intervals in a different way, the first one was
called sutural interval, the second considered as be- Pacholenus monteiroi sp. nov.
ing interstice I, the third as interstice II, and so on. (Figs. 1‑7)
In this paper I follow the terminology recommend-
ed by Lawrence & Britton (1991). The correlation Type-material: Male holotype “Carapebus, RJ, Parque
of terms are the following (terminologies appearing Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, 03.VIII.2006,
in Vanin & Reichardt, 1976 indicated parentheti- Ricardo F. Monteiro col.; Espécie indutora de galha”

Figure 3: Pacholenus monteiroi sp. nov., female paratype from Carapebus, RJ; detail of head, pronotum, and right anterior leg, dorsal
view.
348 Vanin, S.A.: A new species of Pacholenus

(MZSP), dissected. Paratypes, same data, (2 males, Head: Rostrum shorter than pronotum (males and fe-
2 females, MZSP); same data but 06.IV.2006 males), in males about 0.85 times and in females 0.75
(1 male, 1 female, MZSP); “Est. São Paulo, Guaru- times as long as pronotum; in males more strongly
já, I.XI.1920, Mehu; Pacholenus sp., S.A. Vanin det. arched from near antennal insertion to apex; base
1992” (1 female, MZSP). wider at apex than at base (1.2 times) in both sexes;
scrobes deep, on ventral face of rostrum obliquely di-
rected to base but not meeting each other. Antennae
Diagnosis near apical third of rostrum; apex of scape extended
to anterior margin of eye; flagellomere I wider and
Integument reddish brown covered by whit- longer than any of the following flagellomeres, about
ish decumbent and erect scales, denser especially 1.4 times as long as II; III‑V subequal, about as wide
on sides of pronotum and on elytral disc. Each as long; VI and VII slightly wider than long; club fu-
supra-ocular ridge with a brush of large and erect siform, sutures inconspicuous, about 2.2 times as long
dark orange scales. Elytra more or less parallel- as wide, and nearly as long as the flagellomeres II‑VII
sided, only narrowed near jointly rounded elytral combined. Eyes oval, narrowed ventrally, dorsally
apices; elytral declivity very abrupt, with a sinu- separated by slightly less than rostrum width at base;
ous transverse band of spatulate and erect white ommatidia coarse, with 9 to 10 facets at widest point
scales. and about 22 on length; dorsal outer margin of eyes
fringed with oval orangish scales. Frons with a pair of
supra-ocular ridges, more prominent in males, each
Description one with a brush of hirsute, spatulate dark orange
scales; with an elongate feeble depression between
Length (in mm, rostrum excluded): male 4.2‑5.0; fe- eyes. Rostrum and remaining parts of dorsum of head
male 5.5‑6.4. with elongate dark orange scales, ventrally glabrous.

Figures 4-5: Pacholenus monteiroi sp. nov., head, lateral views; 4, male holotype; 5, female paratype. (Scale = 0.5 mm).
 Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 48(30), 2008 349

Pronotum about as long as wide, widest about the larger one and the apex of femur; tibiae short
middle, with lateral sides gently curved towards apex and strongly curved. Legs with white and setiform
and base; front margin produced into a bilobed medi- scales. Ventrites I and II, and III and IV, with about
an projection, protruded above head; postocular lobes the same length, but II about 1.4 times as long as
rounded, well indicated; vibrissae well developed. III and IV combined; sutures between ventrites I and
Surface with coarse and more or less sparse foveolate II obliterated; ventrite II with distal margin regularly
punctures, which are masked by the cover of white de- curved from base, slightly shorter than III and IV
cumbent scales; vestiture longer and denser at lateral combined.
sides; region of bilobed projection with dark orange
and dark brown elongate scales. Male genitalia: Median lobe of aedeagus 4 times as
Scutellum rounded, covered by white scales. long as wide, basal apodeme very slightly shorter than
Elytra slightly wider than pronotum, 2.6‑2.7 median lobe; apex very acuminate; internal sac (= en-
times as long as wide, more or less parallel-sided, only dophallus) with a small, foliaceous and concave scler-
narrowed near jointly rounded apices; elytral declivity ite, surrounded by microtrichiae. Apodemes of tegmen
very abrupt near apex, declivous region of each ely- about 0.7 times as long as apodemes of aedeagus.
tron deeply concave. Striae very coarse, formed by fo- Ventral integument darker than integument of
veolate punctures, about as large as interstriae width. dorsum and of legs.
Surface covered by small, white decumbent scales;
with some sparse blak elongate scales on sutural inter- Etymology: It is a pleasure to name the new species in
striae. Interstriae I (= sutural interval) slightly raised honor of Dr. Ricardo F. Monteiro, in recognition of
near base and more strongly raised on elytral decliv- his significant contributions to the knowledge of the
ity; interstriae III weakly raised near base; dorsal sur- biology of weevils.
face of elytra with a sinuous transverse band of white
scales, beginning in elytral suture and reaching striae Geographic distribution: Southeastern Brazil, from Rio
IX; with, erect, dark brown spatulate scales in front de Janeiro south to São Paulo, along the coast.
of white transverse band, forming clusters on raised
elytral suture and on prominent tuberosity formed by Type locality: BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro state, Carape-
confluence of interstriae III‑V. bus, Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba.
Front femora bearing four long stiffed setae;
each femur with one large triangular tooth, inner Host relationships: Pacholenus monteiroi develops as a
margin straight, outer margin sinuous, and with stem gall-former in Calyptranthes brasiliensis Spreng
one smaller tooth, very acuminate, placed between (Myrtaceae).

Figures 6-7: Pacholenus monteiroi sp. nov., aedeagus of holotype; 6, lateral view; 7, dorsal view. (Scale = 0.2 mm).
350 Vanin, S.A.: A new species of Pacholenus

Remarks abrupt, with tumescences on sutural area and in the

confluences of interstriae II‑V, and has a transverse
Pacholenus monteiroi is best characterized by the band of white scales. The new species is, up to now,
prominent supra-ocular ridges, each one with a brush the smallest member of the genus (4.2‑6.4 mm); an-
of large and erect dark orange scales (Figs. 3 and 4), other small species is P. hispidus, but it is slightly larger
unique in the whole genus. In the other known spe- (6.7‑8.5 mm) and well characterized by the strong
cies of Pacholenus, the frons close to the upper margin scaly tumidity of suture on elytral declivity.
of eyes are not elevated, but has a similar brush of The known host of P. monteiroi is Calyptran-
erect, spatulate, orange scales. thes brasiliensis Spreng, and those of P. pelliceus are
Males are distinguished from females by the Gomidesia martiniana Berg and G. fenzliana Berg
beak being slightly shorter, more abruptly curved near (Vanin et al. 2000). Thus, these two species of the ge-
antennal insertion, and more rugose and more scaled nus Pacholenus develops as stem-galls of plants of the
than that of female. Furthermore, the supra-ocular family Myrtaceae. According to Souza et al. (2007),
ridges and the brushes are more developed in males. Calyptranthes brasiliensis Spreng is a brush or a tree
Pacholenus monteiroi should be confused with which may reach eight meters high, ranges from Bahia
P. canescens, both species sharing the elytral interstri- south to Santa Catarina, and may inhabit the Tropical
ae III weakly raised near base and the whitish dorsal Rain Forest, the Restinga vegetation and the “Mata de
vestiture. However, in P. canescens the elytral declivity Tabuleiro” of Espírito Santo state. Details concerning
is not abrupt, without tumescence or special vesti- the gall structures and the weevil biology will be pub-
ture, while in P. monteiroi the elytral declivity is very lished elsewhere by Dr. Monteiro and collaborators.

Key to species of Pacholenus

(modified from Vanin & Reichardt, 1976).

1. Supra-ocular ridges well developed, each one with a brush of large and erect dark orange scales (Figs. 3
and 4). Elytral declivity with a sinuous transverse band of white spatulate and erect scales (Figs. 1
and 2)................................................................................................................ P. monteiroi sp. nov.
Supra-ocular ridges absent, but in some species a tuft of erect large scales may be present. Elytral
declivity without a transverse band of white scales...........................................................................2
2(1). Apical margins of each elytron produced into a caudate process.........................................................3
Apical margins of each elytron not produced into a caudate process, sutural angle jointly rounded or
acuminate........................................................................................................................................4
3(2) Caudate process of elytra large (length about two times the base width, in lateral view) and strongly
curved upwards. Dorsal surface of elytra without V-shaped, light bands... P. penicillus Boheman, 1836
Caudatate process of elytra short (length about equal to base width, in lateral view) and not curved
upwards. Dorsal surface of elytra with two V-shaped, light bands, one beginning at humeri and
reaching about middle of elytra on suture, and the second beginning near middle and reaching the
upper part of the declivity on suture.......................................P. bifasciatus Reichardt & Vanin, 1976
4(2) Interstriae I not raised on elytral declivity and with normal vestiture... P. canescens Vanin & Reichardt, 1976
Interstriae I raised on elytral declivity and with a tuft of strong, erect spatulate scales.........................5
5(4) Elytra more or less parallel-sided, abruptly narrowed towards rounded apices; scaly protuberance on
suture weakly raised, elytral declivity oblique when viewed laterally......... P. pelliceus Boheman, 1836
Elytra with margins slightly widened from base to middle, and then regularly narrowed towards the
jointly acuminate apices; scaly protuberance on suture more strongly raised, elytral declivity almost
perpendicular when viewed laterally..........................................P. hispidus Vanin & Reichardt, 1976

Additions to the geographic distribution of be worthwhile to report the data found in the la-
Pacholenus spp. bels of new material of that genus incorporated into
the entomological collection of the Museu de Zoo-
Considering the scarcity of specimens of Pa- logia, since the publication of Vanin & Reichardt
cholenus species in collections, I thought it would (1976).
 Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 48(30), 2008 351

Pacholenus pelliceus Boheman, 1836. BRAZIL. P. monteiroi ocorrem em ambos os estados, enquanto
Rio de Janeiro state, Maricá, G. Martiana & R.F. que P. penicillus apenas no Rio de Janeiro; P. hispidus
Monteiro col. II. 1993 (1 male, 1 female, MZSP). ocorre em São Paulo, sendo a espécie do gênero com a
São Paulo state, Botucatu, 14.IX.1972, O. Chamma distribuição mais ampla, sendo encontrada desde Minas
col. (1 female, MZSP). The occurrence of P. penicillus Gerais até Santa Catarina.
was ratified for the Rio de Janeiro state by Vanin et al.
(2000); this species is now recorded for the first time Palavras-Chave: Distribuição geográfica;
for the state of São Paulo. Galha caulinar; Gorgulhos; Pacholenini; Região
Pacholenus penicillus Boheman, 1836. BRAZIL. Neotropical.
Rio de Janeiro state, Casemiro de Abreu, Barra de São
João, 15.VI.1992. J. Becker col. (2 exs., MZSP). Up
to now, the exact locality of the single now specimen Acknowledgments
of this species remained unknown. The locality where
the two examined specimens were collected, Casemi- I am most grateful to Dr. Ricardo F. Monteiro
ro da Rocha, in the sate of Rio de Janeiro and near the for allowing me to study the specimens collected and
coast, agrees well with the possible geographic range reared by him. I also thank Eduardo Baena (MZUSP)
of the species hypothesized by Vanin & Reichardt for skillfully producing the “auto montage” photogra-
(1976). phs used herein.
Considering the new described species and the
new distributional data, the number of Pacholenus spe-
cies recorded for the states of Rio de Janeiro and São References
Paulo are raised to three; P. pelliceus and P. monteiroi
occur in both states, while P. penicillus is only known Boheman, C.H. 1836. In: Schoenherr, C.J. Genera et species
curculionidum cum synonymia hujus familiae. Paris, Roret;
from Rio de Janeiro; P. hispidus occurs in São Paulo, Lipsiae, Fleisher, v. 3, pt. 1, p. 101‑103.
being the most widespread species of the genus, rang- Lawrence, J.F. & Britton, E.B. 1991. Coleoptera. In: CSIRO,
ing from Minas Gerais through São Paulo and Paraná Insects of Australia. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne,
to Santa Catarina. v.2, p. 543‑695.
Schoenherr, C.J. 1826. Curculionidum dispositio methodica cum
generum characteribus, descriptionibus atque observationibus
variis seu Prodomus as Synonimiae Insectorum. Lipsiae, Fleisher,
Resumo pt. 4, 338 p.
Schoenherr, C.J. 1836. Genera et species curculionidum cum
synonymia hujus familiae. Paris, Roret; Lipsiae, Fleisher, v. 3,
Nova espécie de Pacholenus Schoenherr do sudeste do pt. 1, 505 p.
Brasil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae), e novas Souza, M.C.; Morim, M.P. Conde, M.M.S. & Menezes, L.F.T.
ocorrências de espécies do gênero. Pacholenus monteiroi 2007. Subtribo Myrciinae Berg (Myrtaceae) na Restinga de
sp. nov. (localidade-tipo Brasil, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Marambaia, RJ, Brasil. Acta botanica brasileira, 21(1):49‑63.
Vanin, S.A. & Reichardt, H. 1976. Revision of the genera of
Carapebus, Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba) Pacholenini, a neotropical tribe of Hylobiinae (Coleoptera,
é descrita e ilustrada. Esse gorgulho se desenvolve em Curculionidae). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 29(19):155‑176.
galhas caulinares de Calyptranthes brasiliensis Spreng Vanin, S.A.; Monteiro, R.F. & Ferraz, F.F.F. 2000. Ecological
(Myrtaceae). A nova espécie é facilmente distinta das studies of Pacholenus pelliceus Boheman, 1836, a stem gall-
former, with description of fullgrown larva (Curculionidae,
outras cinco conhecidas do gênero devido à presença Molytinae). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 41(17):247‑257.
de uma crista supra-ocular proeminente. Uma chave Wibmer, G.C. & O’brien, C.W. 1986. Annotated checklist of
atualizada para identificação das espécies de Pacholenus the weevils (Curculionidae sensu lato) of South America
é fornecida. Três espécies de Pacholenus ocorrem nos (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea). Memoirs of the America
Entomological Institute, 39:1‑563.
estado do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo; P. pelliceus e
Recebido em: 07.07.2008
Aceito em: 11.11.2008
Seção de Publicações do MZUSP

Impresso em: 19.12.2008