Otiorhynchus (Podonebistus) gasparoi sp. n., un curculionide anoftalmo della Grecia (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Otiorhynchini)

Abstract

Otiorhynchus (Podonebistus) gasparoi sp. n. from Megalo Spiliò Monastiraki (Acarnania - Greece) is described. This new, blind species, collected in a cave, is very closely related to some eyeless Otiorhynchus from Epirus and Jonian islands (Greece): O. (P.) doriae (Solari & Solari, 1903), O. (P.) imprevisus Magnano, 1998 and O. (P.) loebli (Osella, 1974) (all included in the subgenus Podonebistus Reitter, 1912 of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1824). Otiorhynchus (Podonebistus) gasparoi is easily distinguishable by pronotum subparallel-sided, metafemora with very large tooth, elytral punctures vanishing and interstriae with long half-lifted setae. The taxon, probably rizophagous on Quercus coccifera L. roots, was collected in the Megalo Spiliò cave jointly to other cave-dwelling arthropods, like the Pseudoscorpiones (an undescribed species of Neobisium), Isopoda, Orthoptera and as some Coleoptera Carabidae like Duvalius (Euduvalius) ruffoanus Casale, Giachino, Vailati & Vigna Taglianti, 1996 and Laemostenus (Antisphodrus) giachinoi Casale, 1997.