Curculionidae Research Articles

Beetles, ants, wasps, or flies? An ethnobiological study of edible insects among the Awaj\xfan Amerindians in Amazonas, Peru

BackgroundInsects are known to be able to provide valuable nutrients to indigenous populations across the Amazon. However, studies on traditional insect use in the Peruvian Amazon are scarce. This study documents edible insect diversity and characterizes their food and collection patterns in eight Awajún communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Additionally, we reviewed what has been known to date about the nutrient composition of the documented species.MethodsThe survey was conducted among the Awajún populations living in the Huampami, Paisa, Achu, and Tseasim communities in the Cenepa district and the Shijap, San Mateo, Kusu, and Listra communities in the Imaza district. Data collection was conducted through a freelisting exercise complemented by a semi-structured inquiry form in the Awajún language. In total, 104 informants (72 men and 32 women) aged between 16 to 73 years were interviewed.ResultsThe Awajún people use at least 12 insect species, with Rhynchophorus palmarum, Atta cephalotes, and Rhinostomus barbirostris being the most important ones. Beetles of the family Curculionidae represent the culturally most salient taxon. In the more accessible and developed Imaza district, the Awajún tend to eat almost exclusively R. palmarum, while in the more isolated and preserved Cenepa district, the community’s preferences are linked with more species. Although men are the main insect collectors, women cited more edible insects on average. The insects are eaten mainly roasted or raw. Further use patterns and differences between the districts are discussed.ConclusionTraditional knowledge related to edible insects and the ecosystems they occur in is widespread among the Awajún populations, and insects still represent an important part of the indigenous food system. This ethnobiological survey discovered five species that are newly recorded as edible insects. Chemical composition of insects deemed edible by the Awajún ought to be analyzed in the future and awareness about their nutritional importance should be raised to harness the potential of this underutilized yet nutrient-rich traditional food.

Clonal Structure of Some Weevil Species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) From Central Ukraine

Abstract The clonal structure of the populations of nine weevil species (family Curculionidae) from central Ukraine was analyzed. Clonal diversity varied extensively among studied species. Th e level of clonal variation of some species (Otiorhynchus ligustici, O. raucus, Liophloeus tessulatus) is high, within some other species (O. tristis, Tropiphorus micans) it is low. Th e constant heterozygosity of lot of genes has been demonstrated that it may be a proof of the hybrid origin of the studied weevil populations. Th e asymmetry of some obtained electrophoretic spectra was observed. Th is can be a consequence of their polyploid nature. Th e signifi cant interpopulation diff erentiation of most of the species studied was demonstrated.

On the Phylogenetic Position of the Weevil Tribe Acentrusini Alonso-Zarazaga, 2005 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae)

Based on intrinsic morphological and extrinsic bionomic characters, the systematic position of the weevil tribe Acentrusini Alonso-Zarazaga, 2005 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae) was determined. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference as well as nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling were used to analyze 34 morphological characters of adults, complemented by four host plant characters associated with particular weevil tribes. Sixteen species belonging to two subfamilies (Brachycerinae, Curculionidae) and seven tribes (Acentrusini, Anthonomini, Ellescini, Erirhinini, Smicronychini, Storeini, Styphlini) of the family Curculionidae and one outgroup species (Attelabidae) were studied. Phylogenetic and multi-dimensional analyses revealed the tribe Smicronychini as most closely related to Acentrusini. Of the tribes of Curculioninae studied, Styphlini, Anthonomini and Ellescini showed a certain degree of phylogenetic relation to Acentrusini, whereas Storeini were found to be least related.

Irradiation for Quarantine Control of Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Coffee and a Proposed Generic Dose for Snout Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea).

Coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is the most serious insect pest of coffee worldwide. Green coffee used in blending and roasting is traded between countries and may be subjected to fumigation for disinfestation of CBB. For example, green coffee shipped to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland must be treated with methyl bromide. Irradiation is an alternative disinfestation treatment option. Dose-response tests were conducted with adult beetles to identify a sterilizing dose, followed by large-scale confirmatory tests with adults infesting coffee berries at 100 Gy (measured doses 84–102 Gy). In total, 6,598 adult CBBs naturally infesting dried coffee berries were irradiated at 100 Gy and produced no viable offspring, whereas 1,033 unirradiated controls produced 327 eggs, 411 larvae, and 58 pupae at 3 wk post treatment. This is the first study to develop a postharvest irradiation treatment for a scolytine bark beetle and supports other studies suggesting 150 Gy is sufficient to prevent reproduction in snout beetles in the superfamily Curculionoidea.

Economic Outcome of Classical Biological Control: A Case Study on the Eucalyptus Snout Beetle, Gonipterus platensis, and the Parasitoid Anaphes nitens

Despite the importance of invasive pests, few studies address the costs and benefits of the strategies used to control them. The present work assesses the economic impact of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis, and the benefits resulting from its biological control with Anaphes nitens in Portugal, over a 20-year period. Comparisons were made between the real situation (with A. nitens) and three scenarios without biological control: 1) replacement of Eucalyptus globulus by resistant eucalypts; 2) insecticide use; and 3) offset of yield losses by imported wood. A cost-benefit analysis was performed to evaluate a programme that aimed to accelerate A. nitens establishment. Although A. nitens provides adequate pest control in several regions, 46% of the area planted with eucalypts is affected by the beetle, causing wood losses of 648 M euros over 20 years. Losses in the three hypothetical scenarios were estimated at 2451 M-7164 M euros, resulting in benefits from biological control of 1803 M–6516 M euros, despite the fact that only partial success was achieved. Anticipating biological control by just one, two, or three years resulted in benefit-cost ratios of 67, 190, and 347, respectively. Because nonmarket values were not accounted for, these figures are likely underestimated.

Evolution of Trichobaris (Curculionidae) in relation to host plants: Geometric morphometrics, phylogeny and phylogeography

The family Curculionidae (Coleoptera), the “true” weevils, have diversified tightly linked to the evolution of flowering plants. Here, we aim to assess diversification at a lower taxonomic level. We analyze the evolution of the genus Trichobaris in association with their host plants. Trichobaris comprises eight to thirteen species; their larvae feed inside the fruits of Datura spp. or inside the stem of wild and cultivated species of Solanaceae, such as potato, tobacco and tomato. We ask the following questions: (1) does the rostrum of Trichobaris species evolve according to the plant tissue used to oviposit, i.e., shorter rostrum to dig in stems and longer to dig in fruits? and (2) does Trichobaris diversify mainly in relation to the use of Datura species? For the first question, we estimated the phylogeny of Trichobaris based on four gene sequences (nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes and mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes). Then, we carried out morphogeometric analyses of the Trichobaris species using 75 landmarks. For the second question, we calibrated a COI haplotype phylogeny using a constant rate of divergence to infer the diversification time of Trichobaris species, and we traced the host plant species on the haplotype network. We performed an ancestral state reconstruction analysis to infer recent colonization events and conserved associations with host plant species. We found that ancestral species in the Trichobaris phylogeny use the stem of Solanum plants for oviposition and display weak sexual dimorphism of rostrum size, whereas other, more recent species of Trichobaris display sexual dimorphism in rostrum size and use the fruits of Datura species, and a possible reversion to use the stem of Solanaceae was detected in one Trichobaris species. The use of Datura species by Trichobaris species is widely distributed on haplotype networks and restricted to Trichobaris species that originated ca. 5 ± 1.5 Ma. Given that the origin of Trichobaris is estimated to be ca. 6 ± 1.5 Ma, it is likely that Datura has played a role in its diversification.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the bamboo snout beetle, Cyrotrachelus buqueti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The bamboo snout beetle Cyrotrachelus buqueti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a destructive forest pest and distributed widely in Southeast Asia. The 15,035 bp complete mitochondrial genome of the species consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 21 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and a control region (GenBank accession no. MG674390). The trnl gene was not found in the C. buqueti mitogenome. The gene order and the orientation of C. buqueti were similar to those found in other Coleoptera species. The nucleotide composition was significantly biased (A, G, C, and T was 38.18%, 10.10%, 16.16%, and 35.56%, respectively) with A + T contents of 73.74%. ATG, ATA, ATT, AAT, and TTG were initiation codons and TAA, TAG, and T were termination codons. All the 21 tRNAs displayed a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS1 which lacked the dihydrouridine arm. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 13 PCGs with 14 other beetles showed that C. buqueti is closely related to Eucryptorhynchus brandti, which agree with the traditional classification.

Star Wars in food stores – automated detection, determination and laserelimination of insect pests

In a project supported by funds of the German government (PT BLE), we test a mobile camera system, scanning surfaces in storage warehouses or food processing industry. If insects are detected they are compared with morphological data in store to decide if the detected individual is a target pest. In case a target pest is determined with high probability, a laser beam is directed to the target to eliminate the insect by heat. The concept is to develop a system that is able to learn and identify more and more different species over time. First aims of the project are to improve reliability of species detection and identification in contrast to the grain with different light spectra and camera parameters. Reaction tests under different light conditions of the two exemplary insects grain weevil Sitophilus granarius (Col., Curculionidae) and Indianmeal moth Plodia interpunctella (Lepid., Pyralidae) will be carried out. Further the project will investigate laser beam wavelengths and intensities not damaging surfaces and items beneath or next to targets. The system could be utilized to support IPM in well-sealed structures for storage or processing of food and feed stuffs.

A novel report on morphological study of Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)from district Bannu KPK, Pakistan

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus commonly known as Red Palm Weevil is a worldwide distributed and destructive pest of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) belonging to the family Curculionidae and order Coleop...

Phylogenomic Data Yield New and Robust Insights into the Phylogeny and Evolution of Weevils.

The phylogeny and evolution of weevils (the beetle superfamily Curculionoidea) has been extensively studied, but many relationships, especially in the large family Curculionidae (true weevils; > 50,000 species), remain uncertain. We used phylogenomic methods to obtain DNA sequences from 522 protein-coding genes for representatives of all families of weevils and all subfamilies of Curculionidae. Most of our phylogenomic results had strong statistical support, and the inferred relationships were generally congruent with those reported in previous studies, but with some interesting exceptions. Notably, the backbone relationships of the weevil phylogeny were consistently strongly supported, and the former Nemonychidae (pine flower snout beetles) were polyphyletic, with the subfamily Cimberidinae (here elevated to Cimberididae) placed as sister group of all other weevils. The clade comprising the sister families Brentidae (straight-snouted weevils) and Curculionidae was maximally supported and the composition of both families was firmly established. The contributions of substitution modeling, codon usage and/or mutational bias to differences between trees reconstructed from amino acid and nucleotide sequences were explored. A reconstructed timetree for weevils is consistent with a Mesozoic radiation of gymnosperm-associated taxa to form most extant families and diversification of Curculionidae alongside flowering plants-first monocots, then other groups-beginning in the Cretaceous.

Taxonomic study on the subfamily Curculioninae (Col., Curculionidae) in East Azarbaijan province with one species as new record for Iran

The present faunistic study was performed in East Azarbaijan province, northwest of Iran, in 2015–2016. A total of eleven species belonging to four genera of the subfamily Curculioninae were studied. Rhinusa eversmanni Rosenschoeld, 1838 is recorded for the first time from Iran. Photos of adult habitus of the newly recorded species along with a key to the Iranian species of the snout beetles identified in this study are provided.

Effect of flower traits and hosts on the abundance of parasitoids in perennial multiple species wildflower strips sown within oilseed rape (Brassica napus) crops

Reducing the use of insecticides is an important issue for agriculture today. Sowing wildflower strips along field margins or within crops represents a promising tool to support natural enemy populations in agricultural landscapes and, thus, enhance conservation biological control. However, it is important to sow appropriate flower species that attract natural enemies efficiently. The presence of prey and hosts may also guide natural enemies to wildflower strips, potentially preventing them from migrating into adjacent crops. Here, we assessed how seven flower traits, along with the abundance of pollen beetles (Meligethes spp., Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and true weevils (Ceutorhynchus spp., Coleoptera: Curculionidae), affect the density of parasitoids of these two coleopterans in wildflower strips sown in an oilseed rape field in Gembloux (Belgium). Only flower traits, not host (i.e. pollen beetles and true weevils) abundance, significantly affected the density of parasitoids. Flower colour, ultraviolet reflectance and nectar availability were the main drivers affecting parasitoids. These results demonstrate how parasitoids of oilseed rape pests react to flower cues under field conditions. Similar analyses on the pests and natural enemies of other crops are expected to help to develop perennial flower mixtures able to enhance biological control throughout a rotation system.

Patterns of species richness in two African-centered, aridity-adapted flightless weevil lineages (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea)

Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) represent a remarkable proportion of global biodiversity, yet studies addressing their biogeography remain scarce. The arid parts of sub-Saharan Africa harbour several interesting weevil lineages, the most spectacular being the larger flightless weevils such as the Microcerinae and Brachycerus. Here we map the species richness of these two groups to identify hotspots in their diversity, and make inferences regarding the factors that may have contributed to the observed patterns. Exceptional richness values in both groups are found in southern Africa, and more specifically in the Nama Karoo, which is unremarkable in terms of plant diversity. By comparisons, plant diversity hotspots such as the Succulent Karoo and the Cape Floristic Region appear to have high, but not exceptional, weevil richness. Species richness levels were also high in the grassland and savanna areas of south-eastern Africa, which are not arid. The representation of genera considered here and their closest relatives, suggest an African origin for both lineages. This, combined with recent insights into weevil evolution, raise the possibility that advanced weevils as a whole (the family Curculionidae) originated in Africa and that some of its earliest offshoots survived and subsequently diversified here thanks to multiple factors, relating to climate and plant diversity alike.

The developmental transcriptome of the bamboo snout beetle Cyrtotrachelus buqueti and insights into candidate pheromone-binding proteins.

Cyrtotrachelus buqueti is an extremely harmful bamboo borer, and the larvae of this pest attack clumping bamboo shoots. Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) play an important role in identifying insect sex pheromones, but the C. buqueti genome is not readily available for PBP analysis. Developmental transcriptomes of eggs, larvae from the first instar to the prepupal stage, pupae, and adults (females and males) from emergence to mating were built by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in the present study to establish a sequence background of C. buqueti to help understand PBPs. Approximately 164.8 million clean reads were obtained and annotated into 108,854 transcripts. These were assembled into 24,338, 21,597, 24,798, 21,886, 24,642, and 83,115 unigenes for eggs, larvae, pupae, females, males, and the combined datasets, respectively. Unigenes were annotated against NCBI non-redundant protein sequences, NCBI non-redundant nucleotide sequences, Gene Ontology (GO), Protein family, Clusters of Orthologous Groups of Proteins/ Clusters of Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG), Swiss-Prot, and KEGG Orthology databases. A total of 17,213 unigenes were annotated into 55 sub-categories belonging to three main GO categories; 10,672 unigenes were classified into 26 functional categories by KOG classification, and 8,063 unigenes were classified into five functional KEGG categories. RSEM software for RNA sequencing showed that 4,816, 3,176, 3,661, 2,898, 4,316, 8,019, 7,273, 5,922, 5,844, and 4,570 genes were differentially expressed between larvae and males, larvae and eggs, larvae and pupae, larvae and females, males and females, males and eggs, males and pupae, females and eggs, females and pupae, and eggs and pupae, respectively. Of these, three were confirmed to be significantly differentially expressed between larvae, females, and males. Furthermore, PBP Cbuq7577_g1 was highly expressed in the antenna of males. A comprehensive sequence resource of a desirable quality was constructed from developmental transcriptomes of C. buqueti eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. This work enriches the genomic data of C. buqueti, and facilitates our understanding of its metamorphosis, development, and response to environmental change. The identified candidate PBP Cbuq7577_g1 might play a crucial role in identifying sex pheromones, and could be used as a targeted gene to control C. buqueti numbers by disrupting sex pheromone communication.

Environmental risk assessment of the egg parasitoid Anaphes inexpectatus for classical biological control of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis

Classical biological control is a valuable tool against invasive pests, but concerns about non-target effects requires risk assessment studies. Potential non-target effects of Anaphes inexpectatus Huber and Prinsloo (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) were assessed for a classical biological control programme against the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis (Marelli) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). No-choice tests were conducted with 17 non-target species to assess host specificity, including 11 curculionids. In behavioural observations, A. inexpectatus showed no interest in any of the non-target species, but two weevil species were parasitised within five days of exposure, although at significantly lower rates than G. platensis. In choice tests, only one non-target, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was parasitised, at a rate of 0.6%, while 50.0% of G. platensis eggs were parasitised. Based on the host specificity test results and the potential host fauna found in the target area, the likelihood of non-target effects resulting from the release of A. inexpectatus is considered to be negligible.

Fungi and insects associated with Euphorbia ingens die-off in South Africa

Euphorbia ingens, landmark succulent trees in savannas of South Africa, have been dying in large numbers over the last 10–15 years. Initial studies conducted in the Limpopo province of South Africa revealed a diverse group of biotic agents including fungi, beetles and moths associated with dying trees, but due to the limited geographic extent of these studies, it was not known if the same agents were associated with dying trees regionally. In this study, diseased and insect-infested trees were sampled for fungal pathogens and insects at six sites in four provinces located across South Africa. Fungi were identified based on morphology and DNA sequencing of the ITS, LSU, β-tubulin and TEF 1-α gene regions, and insects were identified based on morphology. Fungal isolates were identified as Aureovirgo volantis, Fusarium solani, Lasiodiplodia × egyptiacae, Ophiostoma thermarum and a Readeriella species. Five insects were identified, all in the family Curculionidae, including two ambrosia beetles, Cyrtogenius africus and a Stenoscelis species. All fungi and insects collected are known to be opportunistic and occur on stressed trees as secondary agents of mortality or disease. These results suggest that the die-off is not related to attack of the trees by aggressive insects or pathogens, but rather that E. ingens in this region is under stress from environmental factors that supports the ability of opportunistic insects and pathogens to establish.

Pre-selection and biological potential of the egg parasitoid Anaphes inexpectatus for the control of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis

The Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis (Marelli), causes severe damage to eucalypt plantations in several countries, despite the presence of the parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Girault). Climate and/or host–parasitoid mismatch may explain A. nitens shortcomings in some areas in Portugal, Spain, Chile, South Africa, or Australia. Because additional parasitoids may be needed to achieve reliable control of this pest, Anaphes inexpectatus Huber and Prinsloo, retrieved from field surveys conducted in Tasmania (the pest’s native habitat), was selected for pre-release studies in Portugal. Life history traits of A. inexpectatus and A. nitens were compared at six temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C), including development times, thermal constants, viability, parasitism, and behaviour. Temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 °C were adequate for development, while at 25 and 30 °C, deleterious effects of temperature were detected, particularly in A. nitens. Development thresholds were similar for A. inexpectatus and A. nitens (6.0 and 5.4 °C, respectively), but A. nitens needed 313 degree-days to complete development, while A. inexpectatus needed 263 degree-days. Globally, A. nitens produced more progeny, parasitised more eggs, and lived longer than A. inexpectatus. Net reproductive rates were higher for A. inexpectatus at lower temperatures (10 and 15 °C), and higher for A. nitens at moderate temperatures (20 and 25 °C). In addition, A. inexpectatus evidenced higher tolerance to the highest temperature tested (30 °C). Anaphes inexpectatus is likely to establish under field conditions and may enhance parasitism of G. platensis.

Effect of agrochemicals on macroinvertebrate assemblages in Pampasic streams, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fil: Solis, Marina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnologia Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnologia; Argentina

COMPOSITION, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, CHOROLOGY AND GENESIS OF SNOUT BEETLES OF PTOCHUS SCHOENH GENUS AND CREATION OF MAPS OF THEIR AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF DAGHESTAN

Abstract. Aim. aim of the work was to study the characteristics of the ecology, the chorology and genesis of thesnout beetles of Ptochus genus in Dagestan, as well as designing the maps of their ranges. Materials and methods . work was based on the materials of expedition and ecology-faunistic studies conducted from 1999 to 2017 in various regions of using the basic entomological methods. For mapping were used the following source materials: the database created by the authors for the study group, the map of the Republic of taken fromthe National Atlas of Russia, topographic maps from MapInfo 15.2 and maps made in Adobe Illustrator CreativeCloud. Results . characteristics of the ecology and geographic distribution of the snout beetles of Ptochus genus in have been studied; the following maps are created: The areas of the snout beetles of Ptochus genus of Dagestan and The areas of the snout beetles of Ptochus genus of the Botlikh trench of Conclusion . In the fauna of Dagestan, 7 species of Ptochus snout beetles, associated with arid steppe and semidesert landscapes,ed distribution maps and bioecological features, a hypothesis was put forward on the genesis of the study group in the territory of Dagestan.

Snout beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of East Azerbaijan, Iran

A study on the fauna of snout beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of East Azerbaijan Province (Northwest Iran) was conducted in 2014 to 2016. A total of 19 species, belonging to 4 subfamilies (Baridinae, Entiminae, Lixinae, and Molytinae) and 18 genera were collected and identified.