Protapion nigritarse

This species is apparently scarcer than the very similar Protapion fulvipes.

To my eyes the shape of the club of this individual looked better for fulvipes, seeming more elongate and widening more progressively. But the funiculus is clearly yellowy-orange right up to and including segment 8, and segment 8 itself is more elongate than it should be on fulvipes.

Protapion nigritarse, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 1st November 2021

This was found on Sycamore, presumably coincidentally as the species is associated with clovers not trees. When I first looked at it I thought the antennal club was proportionately long for this species and nearly passed it off as fulvipes. Fortunately I examined a fulvipes at the same time and comparing the two it soon became clear that this one was nigritarse. Based on the short rostrum (at least compared to the fulvipes examined with it) I think this was a male.

male Protapion nigritarse, Blackhall, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 31st August 2022

Here is the same insect's antenna compared directly with that of the Protapion fulvipes I examined at the same time.

female Protapion fulvipes antenna, North Elmham, 6th September 2024 above male Protapion nigritarse antenna, Blackhall, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 31st August 2022