Abstract
The genus Elaeidobius Kuschel, 1952 (Curculionidae, Curculioniae, Derelomini) is an Afrotropical genus associated with the male inflorescences of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. The activity of species in this genus is critical for pollen transportation and for the fruit set of this economically important palm. In this study, the genus Elaeidobius was revised using an integrative taxonomic approach, combining traditional taxonomic treatment of species and an analysis of sequences of mitochondrial genes (COI and COII). A total of eight species is now recognized: five now formally included within it [E. bilineatus Hustache, 1924) comb. nov., E. kamerunicus (Faust, 1898) comb. nov., E. plagiatus (Fåhraeus, 1844) comb. nov., E. singularis (Faust, 1898) comb. nov., E. subvittatus Faust, 1898)], one transferred here from the genus Prosoestus to the genus Elaeidobius, E. spatulifer (Marshall, 1950) comb. nov., and two newly described species (E. pilimargo Haran & Kuschel sp. nov., E. piliventris Haran & Kuschel sp. nov.). The following new synonymies are proposed: Prosoestus armatus Voss, 1956 = E. bilineatus (Hustache, 1924) comb. nov. and Derelomus uelensis Hustache = E. singularis (Faust, 1898). An illustrated key to the species is provided with photographs of the adult habitus and male genitalia.
Highlights
The Derelomini Lacordaire, 1865 (Curculionidae, Curculioninae) constitute a tribe of weevils mainly associated with the inflorescences of angiosperms, containing around 265 species assembled in 40 genera (Lacordaire 1865; Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal 1999; Franz 2006; Caldara et al 2014)
The genus Elaeidobius has received attention due to its association with the inflorescences of the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq., Arecaceae) a species native to tropical Africa, where it is traditionally used by local populations for its oil (Sheil et al 2009)
The identity of species was established by comparison with types borrowed from IRSNB, MRAC, NHMB, NHMUK and MTD (Derelomus bilineatus Hustache, 1924; D. callosus Hustache, 1924; D. ciliatus Hustache, 1924; D. congoanus Hustache, 1924; D. elaeisae Bondar, 1942; D. kamerunicus Faust, 1898; D. maynei Hustache, 1924; D. singularis Faust, 1898; D. subvittatus Faust, 1898; D. uelensis Hustache, 1932; Prosoestus armatus Voss, 1956 and P. spatulifer Marshall, 1950)
Summary
The Derelomini Lacordaire, 1865 (Curculionidae, Curculioninae) constitute a tribe of weevils mainly associated with the inflorescences of angiosperms, containing around 265 species assembled in 40 genera (Lacordaire 1865; Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal 1999; Franz 2006; Caldara et al 2014). In the Afrotropical region itself, 6 genera are recognized: Adisius Fairmaire, 1903, Elaeidobius Kuschel, 1952, Liosthenus Fairmaire, 1901, Lomederus Marshall, 1932, Derelomus Schoenherr, 1825 and Psilocaulus Fairmaire, 1901 (Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal 1999) Among these genera, the genus Elaeidobius has received attention due to its association with the inflorescences of the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq., Arecaceae) a species native to tropical Africa, where it is traditionally used by local populations for its oil (Sheil et al 2009). The genus Elaeidobius was first created by Kuschel (1952) for Derelomus elaeisae Bondar, 1942 in a key of New World genera of Derelomini. Guillermo Kuschel undertook extensive revision work on all Old World Derelomini, including a description of new genera more than 10 years ago. HARAN J.M. et al, Revision of the genus Elaeidobius Kuschel (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)
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