M. Guadalupe Del Río

Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Teratopactus Heller (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

Teratopactus Heller (Entiminae : Naupactini) is a broad-nosed weevil genus widespread in South America. This first taxonomic revision of the genus includes seven species: T. capucinus (Perty) (type species; syn. T. senex (Boheman)); T. elegans (Lucas), comb.nov.; T. gibbicollis (Boheman); T. nodicollis (Boheman) (syn. T. angulicollis (Lucas), T. paulanus (Fonseca & Autuori), T. serripes (Boheman), and T. perpastus (Boheman), syn. nov.); T. retusus (Boheman); T. tuberculatus (Arrow); and T. vittatus (Mannerheim), comb.nov. All species except T. tuberculatus have a strong ovipositor lacking styli, T. elegans, T. nodicollis and T. vittatus show well developed humeri bearing a strong tooth and T. retusus, T. capucinus and T. gibbicollis are characterised by a strongly gibbous pronotum and reduced humeri. Teratopactus nodicollis is the most variable and widespread species (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay), T. tuberculatus and T. elegans range through Brazil and Paraguay and the remaining species are endemic to Brazil. The first cladistic analysis of the genus Teratopactus plus two outgroups, using 36 morphological characters, established synapomorphies and revealed relationships between the species in a single cladogram with the following topology: (T. tuberculatus ((T. elegans (T. nodicollis– T. vittatus)) (T. retusus (T. capucinus–T. gibbicollis)))).

Taxonomy of the Monotypic Genus Trichaptus Pascoe (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), a Potential Weevil Mimic of Mutillidae

Abstract Trichaptus Pascoe is a genus of broad-nosed weevils (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Naupactini) endemic to Brazil with a single species, T. mutillarius (Perty), that resembles wasps of the family Mutillidae (Hymenoptera), particularly those of the tropical genera Traumatomutilla André and Hoplomutilla Ashmead. Based on morphological characters of the antennae, eyes, mouthparts, legs, and female and male genitalia, Trichaptus is closely related to Briarius [Fischer de Waldheim] (syn. of Lamprocyphus Marshall). The purpose of this contribution is to redescribe Trichaptus, to diagnose its only known species, and to illustrate its diagnostic features, including genitalia and mouthparts. This information is necessary to undertake a phylogenetic analysis of the whole Naupactini tribe, our main research goal.

Taxonomic revision of Thoracocyphus Emden (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Thoracocyphus Emden is a genus of broad-nosed weevils (Entiminae: Naupactini) with only two species: T. denticollis Emden and T. hatschbachi Bondar. Both taxa are endemic to Brazil and range in the states of Goias, Minas Gerais and Parana. Based on morphological characters of the antennae, eyes, mouth-parts, corbel plates and spermatheca, Thoracocyphus is closely related to Briarius [Fischer de Waldheim] (syn. of Lamprocyphus Marshall). The strong denticles located on the inner face of the three pairs of tibiae, and the presence of tubercles on the sides of the pronotum and humeri indicates that Thoracocyphus is more closely related to Teratopactus Heller. This contribution includes redescriptions of the genus and its species, a dichotomous key, habitus photographs and illustrations of the diagnostic characters of the external morphology, mouth-parts and genitalia.

Taxonomic revision of Melanocyphus Jekel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Melanocyphus Jekel is a broad‐nosed weevil genus (Entiminae: Naupactini) endemic to the high Andes of Colombia, that includes two species, M. bispinus (Boheman) and M. lugubris (Boheman), mainly differentiated by the presence or absence of humeral teeth. Based on characters of the cuticle, vestiture, morphology of the antennae, rostrum and genitalia, Melanocyphus appears most closely related to Amitrus Schoenherr, a genus distributed in similar habitats and at similar elevations in Bolivia and Peru. Since the type species had not been designated, we proposed Cyphus bispinus (original combination) as type of Melanocyphus. This contribution includes redescriptions of the genus and its species, a dichotomous key, habitus photographs and illustrations of the diagnostic characters of the external morphology and genitalia.

Thoraconaupactus, A New Brazilian Genus Of Broad Nosed Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) Associated With Leucaena (Fabaceae)

ABSTRACT A new monotypic genus of Naupactini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Thoraconaupactus del Rio and Lanteri is described based on the new species Thoraconaupactus vaninii del Río and Lanteri (Type locality: Brazil, Bahia, Itaji). Two different morphotypes are distinguished by characters of the vestiture: one from Itaji, with integument brown, smooth, and vestiture mostly setose; the other from Ibiraba with integument black, rugose and vestiture mostly squamose. Thoraconaupactus is similar to Naupactus Dejean and Teratopactus Heller in several characters, and shows some unique features such as the strongly transverse pronotum with a sub-basal tooth-like projection on each side. Specimens were collected in association with a species of Leucaena (Fabaceae). The paper includes habitus photographs and line drawings of genitalia, mouthparts, and other external features of taxonomic value.