Two new species of Optatus Pascoe and Macroptatus Heller (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae), with a reappraisal of generic characters.

Macroptatus deppens Prena new species is described from México and El Salvador. Optatus stockwelli Prena new species is described from Panamá. Optatus Pascoe, 1889 and Macroptatus Heller, 1906 are maintained as distinct genera based on the development of the prosternal process separating the procoxae. Other previously used characters on the rostrum, tarsus, and metaventrite grade together across species or are deemed species-specific. Species of these genera appear to be associated with Annona fruits.

New combinations and synonymies in the weevil genus Lyterius Schnherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), with a conspectus of historical works on Daldorffs Sumatran beetles.

In preparation for a future taxonomic revision, we explore provenance, collectors, original owners and current repositories of the type material for three available genus-group names, Lyterius Schnherr, 1844, Barisoma Motschulsky, 1863 and Plaxes Pascoe, 1885, which have been applied to a group of small, relatively flat weevils associated with Pandanaceae. Lectotypes are designated for Rhynchaenus musculus Fabricius, 1802 and Plaxes impar Pascoe, 1885. The lectotype of Rh. musculus is designated as neotype for Curculio abdominalis Weber, 1801, making the species names objective synonyms (reestablished synonymy), with C. abdominalis having date priority. The names Barisoma Motschulsky and Plaxes are placed in synonymy with Lyterius (new synonymies). Five valid species names are recognised in Lyterius, L. abdominalis (Weber), L. dispar (Faust, 1896) new combination, L. impar (Pascoe) new combination, L. instabilis Boheman, 1844 and L. pandanicola (Motschulsky, 1863) new combination. We also provide an overview of the early descriptive works on Sumatran beetles collected by Daldorff and their original owners.

The genus Crostis Casey (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) in North America.

The originally monobasic genus Crostis Casey, 1922 (type species Crostis subexplanata Casey, 1922 from Brazil) is redefined based on two named and approximately 15 unnamed species occurring between the southern United States and northern Argentina. Three oblong-ovate northern species here grouped informally as the Crostis boreas species group are described: Crostis boreas Prena Anderson new species from Arkansas and Texas in the U.S.A. and Quertaro and Tamaulipas in Mexico, Crostis boreodes Prena Anderson new species from Guanajuato and Michoacn in Mexico, and Crostis caperata Prena Anderson new species from Chiapas in Mexico. The South American Baridius thoracicus Kirsch, 1875 is transferred from Lamprobaris Champion, 1908 to Crostis, as Crostis thoracica (Kirsch) new combination.

Review of Anthobaris Hustache and description of a new species from Costa Rica (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae).

The small Neotropical weevil genus Anthobaris Hustache, 1951 is studied for the first time since its description. Anthobaris affabra of authors [=Baridius affaber Boheman, 1844] is distinguished from the true A. affabra [=Centrinus affaber Boheman, 1844] and removed from the genus. Three species are recognized: the type species A. rugosicollis Hustache, 1951 from Argentina and Bolivia, A. affabra (Boheman, 1844) new combination from Brazil, and A. comptior Prena new species from Costa Rica. Anthobaris denticulata Hustache, 1951 is a junior subjective synonym of A. affabra (new synonymy). Collections of A. rugosicollis from Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia suggest that these weevils might be associated with the sunflower genus Smallanthus (Compositae).

Acythopeus glyptorhis, a new gall-inducing weevil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae) damaging gac vines in Southeast Asia.

Acythopeus glyptorhis Prena, sp. n. is described from northern Vietnam, Taiwan and Hainan Island (China). Existing host records of other cucurbit-associated Baridinae are reviewed. They are native to the Old World and may include as many as 80 species.

Three Eurasian malvid-associated Baridinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with widely different vestiture: congeneric or not?

Based on biological, morphological, distributional and genomic data, it is concluded that the malvid-associated Baris albosparsa (Faust), Malvaevora timida (Rossi) and Squamobaris aurea Pajni, Kohli Kumar are monophyletic and distinct from Baris Germar. Squamobaris Pajni, Kohli Kumar is synonymized with Malvaevora Zaslavskij (new synonymy). Baris albosparsa and S. aurea are transferred to Malvaevora (new combinations). Baris timida polita Reitter, B. subtilina Reitter, Baridius landgrebii Hochhuth and Baridius striatopunctatus Gistel are synonymized with M. timida and Baris striatopunctata Reitter is synonymized with Melanobaris carbonaria (Boheman) (new synonymies). Lectotypes are designated for B. timida polita and B. landgrebii. Baris striolala Aurivillius is recorded from China for the first time.

Nomenclatural changes, new country records and range extensions of Baridinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from China.

Thirteen relatively frequently collected species of baridine weevils from mainland China were mapped to improve our understanding of biogeographic patterns and distributional ranges of Baridinae in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. This simple case study showed that taxonomists tend to underestimate the spatial scope required in regional investigations and descriptive works often resulting in widespread species being described numerous times. Several apparently uncommon species with uncertain relationships, known previously only from moderately high latitudes in the Palaearctic region, showed Oriental affinities. In each region, species may occur over many thousands of kilometers not only in East-West but also in North-South directions. New synonyms are Mimophilus Faust (=Baridiomorphus Voss), Acythopeus inflatirostris Voss (=Acythopeus proximus Voss), Baris albisquama Zaslavskij (=Baris ljaodunensis Zaslavskij), Mimophilus tragicus Faust (=Baridiomorphus conicollis Voss), Moreobaris deplanata (Roelofs) (=Acythopeus patruelis Voss), Baris pilosa Roelofs (=Baris blennus Marshall, =Baris piliventris Zaslavskij, =Baris pygidialis Voss, =Baris suvorovi Reitter), Baris artemisiae (Panzer) (=Baris corvina Voss), Pellobaris melancholica (Roelofs) (=Paracythopeus collaris Voss), Pteridobaris maritima (Roelofs) (=Baris quinquecarinata Zaslavskij) and Ulobaris kuchenbeisseri Hartmann (=Baris pseudospitzyi Zaslavskij, =Baris ussuriensis ussuriensis Zaslavskij, =Baris ussuriensis chinganensis Zaslavskij). New combinations are Athesapeuta gracilis (Voss) (from Eumycterus Schönherr), Athesapeuta inornata (Voss) (from Baris Germar) and Nespilobaris inflatirostris (Voss) (from Acythopeus Pascoe). Baridius vestitus Perris (not Boheman) and Baris pygidialis Hustache (not Voss) are newly recognized primary homonyms. A lectotype is designated for Moreobaris deplanata. Twenty-four species are recorded newly from China. 

A taxonomic revision of Limnobaris Bedel in the strict sense (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae), with particular emphasis on the species found in China.

The genus name Limnobaris Bedel is applied in a restricted sense to baridine weevils with a covered pygidium and non-prominent, decussate mandibles which occur on sedges in the Palaearctic Region and immediately adjacent parts of tropical Southeast Asia. Calyptopygus Marshall and Pertorcus Voss are syn. n. of Limnobaris. Some species from Africa and the Americas are maintained provisionally in Limnobaris in the widest sense but will need to be transferred to other genera in future studies. A total of eleven species is recognized in Asia, two of which are widespread and occur also in the Western Palaearctic Region. Limnobaris martensi Korotyaev sp. n. is described from Nepal. Pertorcus tibialis basalis Voss is raised to species rank, as L. basalis (stat. prom.). New or reestablished synonyms are L. dolorosa (Goeze) (= L. jucunda Reitter, = L. koltzei Reitter), L. tibialis (Voss) (= Pertorcus tibialis pilifer Voss) and L. t-album (Linnaeus) (= L. bedeli Reitter, = Baridius crocopelmus Gyllenhal, = L. sahlbergi Reitter, = L. scutellaris Reitter, = Baris t-album sculpturata Faust). Calandra uniseriata Dufour is considered a junior synonym of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (syn. n.). A key for identification and a distribution map are provided.

Life history and larval morphology of Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a new weevil to the United States.

Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal has been collected in south Florida, presumably introduced through trade with countries in its native range. Very little information has been published on the biology or taxonomy of this insect. We conducted studies to investigate various aspects of its life history and host plant associations. The pre-imaginal life stages of E. magnificus are described for the first time. Dimensions of the adult, egg, larval, and pupal stages are also provided; head capsule measurement revealed five larval instars. All life stages of E. magnificus were collected at several sites in Broward and Miami-Dade counties from the host plant Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis (Vitaceae). Eggs were laid singly within the succulent, young subterminal portion of the host plant stem, one or two occurring between two nodes. Gall formation was apparent by the first to third instar and continued to increase in size until pupation which occurred within the gall. Predators and pathogens appeared to be responsible for considerable mortality in the field; there was no evidence of parasitism of any of the life stages. Greenhouse studies were undertaken to determine E. magnificus development time and host specificity. Adult weevils attacked grape cultivars (Vitis spp.) and feeding opened the stems to fungal agents but no physical evidence of larval development was apparent on grapes.

Life history and larval morphology of Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a new weevil to the United States

Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal has been collected in south Florida, presumably introduced through trade with countries in its native range. Very little information has been published on the biology or taxonomy of this insect. We conducted studies to investigate various aspects of its life history and host plant associations. The pre-imaginal life stages of E. magnificus are described for the first time. Dimensions of the adult, egg, larval, and pupal stages are also provided; head capsule measurement revealed five larval instars. All life stages of E. magnificus were collected at several sites in Broward and Miami-Dade counties from the host plant Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis (Vitaceae). Eggs were laid singly within the succulent, young subterminal portion of the host plant stem, one or two occurring between two nodes. Gall formation was apparent by the first to third instar and continued to increase in size until pupation which occurred within the gall. Predators and pathogens appeared to be responsible for considerable mortality in the field; there was no evidence of parasitism of any of the life stages. Greenhouse studies were undertaken to determine E. magnificus development time and host specificity. Adult weevils attacked grape cultivars (Vitis spp.) and feeding opened the stems to fungal agents but no physical evidence of larval development was apparent on grapes.

Se ha recolectado, en el sur de Florida, a Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal. Se efectuaron estudios de investigación sobre varios aspectos del ciclo biológico, y asociaciones entre el picudo y plantas hospederas. Se describen aquí por primera vez los estados inmaduros de E. magnificus. Se dan a conocer las dimensiones de los estados de adulto, huevo, larva y pupa. Las medidas de la cápsula cefálica revelaron que hay cinco estadios en esta especie. Todos los estados de E. magnificus fueron colectados en la planta hospedera Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicholson y C.E. Jarvis (Vitaceae) en varios lugares localizados en los condados de Broward y Miami-Dade. Los picudos depositan un o dos huevos dentro de la parte más tierna del tallo que se encuentra entre dos yemas laterales localizadas en la región subterminal de la planta hospedera. En esta región, aparece una agalla, la cual es más visible cuando la larva esta entre el primer y tercer estadios. La agalla crece en tamaño hasta empupamiento, el cual ocurre dentro de esta. Los depredadores y patógenos parecen ser responsables por una gran mortalidad de estados inmaduros en el campo; En el campo, no se observó ningun indice de parasitismo en esta especie. Se llevaron a cabo estudios en casa de malla con el fin de determinar el tiempo de desarrollo y especificidad de hospederos de E. magnificus. Los picudos atacaron cultivares de uva (Vitis spp. - Vitaceae). No se observó el desarrollo larvario de E. magnificus en Vitis L.