Abstract
Because of the very fragmentary knowledge of immature stages of
weevils of the tribe Anthonomini and because of current interest in
the taxonomy of this group, a comprehensive taxonomic study of larvae
of the tribe was undertaken. The objectives of this study were to
describe and illustrate the available larvae of the tribe and to
construct a key for their identification. An attempt was also made
to compare the relationships of species based on larval characters
with those based on adult characters.
A total of 51 species representing 9 genera was included in
this study: These genera with the number of species treated
indicated in parenthesis were as follows: Anthonomopsis (1);
Smicraulax (1); Furcipus (1); Coccotorus (1); Tachypterellus (1);
Loncophorus (1); Pseudanthonomus (1); Anthonomus (43); and
Epimechus (1).
The number, length and arrangement of setae on the head caрsule, structure of the mouthparts, and the number and arrangement of setae on the thorax were found to be important as taxonomic
characters. Characters of value for defining the tribe Anthonomini
could not be satisfactorily determined; however, a few characters
of possible use for this purpose were suggested.
Most of the 51 species treated could be separated on the basis
of morphological characters. However, it was necessary to use host
plant and distributional data for the separation of a few closely
related species. A detailed description of each species was
presented. Taxonomic characters of the larvae were illustrated.
Larvae of Anthonomopsis, Smicraulax, Furcipus, Coccotorus and
Pseudanthonomus have characters by which they can be recognized on
the generic level. Larvae of the remaining genera (Tachypterellus,
Loncophorus, Anthonomus and Epimechus) apparently do not possess
unique generic characters.
Larval characters were also found useful for determining
relationships of some species of Anthonomus. Certain groupings of
species (subgenera Anthonomorphus and Cnemocyllus) based on larval
characters are evident and agree with those based on adult characters, while in others (Squamosus Group in part), the characters of
the two forms do not agree in this respect. It is hoped that knowledge of the larvae, supplementing adult and pupal characters, will
contribute to a better understanding of the natural relationships of
the various species, species-groups and genera of the tribe
Anthonomini.