Purealus beckelorum

Separated from all other Cleonini by the combination of widely separated procoxae and a distinctly raised, roughened (tumescent and asperate) base of elytral interval 3 on the elytra. Cannot be placed in the superficially similar genera Apleurus or Scaphomorphus due to a unique mix of characters shared partially with each genus and the absence of diagnostic characters defining those genera. Body moderately robust, wingless, with body length 7.8–9.4 mm.

Arid, open habitats including sandy flats, alkaline areas around lakes, and dirt roadways. Found in tiger beetle habitat associations. One specimen collected in beach wash-up along a lake shore.

Southern High Plains of the United States: western Texas (Gaines and Pecos Counties) and eastern New Mexico (Lea and Quay Counties). Type locality: McKenzie Lake, Gaines County, Texas.

Winter-active. Specimens collected in October, November, December, and March.

Ground-dwelling; specimens observed walking on the ground surface. Not found on vegetation despite extensive searching of shrubs and herbs in collection localities.

• ApleurusShares some characters but lacks the diagnostic features defining Apleurus monophyly; distinguished by widely separated procoxae and tumescent elytral interval 3 base.
• ScaphomorphusShares some characters but lacks the diagnostic features defining Scaphomorphus monophyly; distinguished by widely separated procoxae and tumescent elytral interval 3 base.

• new genus
• wingless
• ground-dwelling
• winter-active
• rare
• endemic
• cryptic
• cleonine weevil
• southern High Plains
• monotypic genus

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Purealus beckelorum, a new genus and species of cleonine weevil from western Texas and eastern New Mexico (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Lixinae, Cleonini)