Diario del proyecto Hidden Snout Weevils of North America

25 de junio de 2021

Taxon Photo Upgrades

Of the 55 species represented in this Project, at least one had an incorrect taxon photo, and others had photos that were unclear or did not provide enough detail for algorithmic recognition, so after consultation with BugGuide entries, I have been upgrading the taxon photos with existing iNat Observations, to make them more accurate and useful for identification purposes.

Publicado el 25 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

24 de junio de 2021

Genus Phyrdenus

Data on Genus Phyrdenus (tribe Cryptorhynchini, subtribe Cryptorhynchina)

Wikipedia states that there are 23 named species of Phyrdenus worldwide.

iNaturalist has 15 Observations for only 2 of those species worldwide, with 12 Observations of a single species occurring in North America (namely the US).

P. divergens

A dataset of 2 North American species is found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database - all 13 Observations & Museum-preserved specimens are from the US:

P. divergens
P. muriceus

The BugGuide platform (which only covers the US and Canada), has 28 Observations of a single species - all in the US:

P. divergens

Publicado el 24 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

23 de junio de 2021

Genus Acalles

Data on Genus Acalles (tribe Cryptorhynchini, subtribe Tylodina)

Wikipedia states that there are 576 named species of Acalles worldwide, and that it is a North America genus.

iNaturalist has 45 Observations for only 5 of those species worldwide, with 4 or 5 Observations of a single species occurring in North America (namely the US). I have found made 3 of those Observations at a site in Pennsylvania, attracted to the wall at night by outside lights. A 4th Observation also occurs in Pennsylvania, and the 5th Observation is of an undetermined species, tentatively ID'd as Acalles. The other four iNat species were all observed in Europe.

A. carinatus

A dataset of 24 North American species is found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database - all 49 Observations & Museum-preserved specimens are from the US:

A. carinatus
A. sulcicollis
A. indigens
A. minimus
A. clavatus
A. sablensis
A. crassulus
A. sylvosus
A. perosus
A. subhispidus
A. exhumatus
A. aranus
A. nobilis
A. granosus
A. ventrosus
A. pectoralis
A. hubbardi
A. nuchalis
A. longulus
A. turbidus
A. basalis
A. clathratus
A. sordidus
A. indistincta

The BugGuide platform (which only covers the US and Canada), has 10 Observations of the following 6 species in total - all in the US:

A. sulcicollis
A. indigens
A. minutissimus
A. carinatus
A. costifer
A. clavatus

Publicado el 23 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

22 de junio de 2021

Genus Tyloderma

Data on Genus Tyloderma (subtribe Cryptorhynchina, tribe Cryptorhynchchini, subfamily Cryptorhynchinae)

Wikipedia states that there are 30 named species of Cophes worldwide - this number may come from the scientific paper noted below. iNaturalist has Observations for only 9 of those species worldwide, with 7 of the 9 occurring in North America - 130 Observations (121 in the U.S., 8 in Canada, and 1 in Mexico). I have found the top one at a single site in Pennsylvania.

T. foveolatum
T. baridium
T. nigrum
T. sphaerocarpae
T. aquaticum
T. aereum
T. subpubescens

A larger dataset with many more species is found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database - 278 North American Observations & Museum-preserved specimens over 32 species.

The BugGuide platform (which only covers the US and Canada), has 17 species:

T. foveolatum
T. baridium
T. nigrum
T. sphaerocarpae
T. aquaticum
T. aereum
T. subpubescens
T. angustulum
T. marshalli
T. lecontei
T. fragariae
T. variegatum
T. circumcaribbeum
T. punctatum
T. aporteae
T. pseudofoveolatum
T. capitale

The following very detailed paper discusses this genus:

"Revision of the New World Weevil Genus Tyloderma in America North of Mexico (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), Guillermo J. Wibmer, Department of Florida, The Southwestern Entomologist, Supplement No. 3, May, 1981, pp. 1-95

Abstract

"Thirty species of Tyloderma Say are known to occur in America north of Mexico. A redescription of the genus is provided, and the species are keyed and placed in 10 species groups, which are also defined. Sixteen new species are described...A description or redescription of each species is included, and some important taxonomic characters, including the male phallus, and female 8th sternite and spermatheca are illustrated. Information is presented on host plants, life histories, and natural enemies. Complete distributional records are included and the distributions mapped."

The article notes: "Little biological data are available for most species of Tyloderma. The genus includes terrestrial, semiaquatic and aquatic species...Adult Tyloderma are primarily nocturnal, and large numbers of those associated with semiaquatic vegetation have been obtained by sweeping at night around ponds, lakes, marshes or along roadside ditches...A simple but effective method of obtaining adults during daytime is treading. In those cases where the plants are mainly underwater, the adult weevils tend to hold to the stems and also remain underwater during the daytime but come up at night on the emergent vegetation for a fresh air supply, to feed and to mate. If one pushes the plants down vigorously several times, the weevils release their hold on the stems and surface, where they float or more commonly start swimming...The larvae are usually stem borers that pupate in the stems of the host plants..."

Publicado el 22 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

21 de junio de 2021

Genus Cryptorhynchus

Data on Genus Cryptorhynchus (subtribe Cryptorhynchina, tribe Cryptorhynchchini, subfamily Cryptorhynchinae)

Wikipedia states that there are 480 named species of Cophes worldwide. iNaturalist has Observations for only 6 of those species worldwide, with 5 of the 6 occurring in North America - 200 Observations in the U.S. and Canada only. I have found the top one at a single site in Pennsylvania, attracted to the wall at night by outside lights.

C. fuscatus (US, C)
C. lapathi (US, C) - The Poplar-and-Willow Borer
C. tristis (US)
C. helvus (US)
C. obliquus (US)

A larger dataset with one more species is found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database - 364 North American Observations & Museum-preserved specimens over 6 species as follows:

C. lapathi
C. fuscatus
C. tristis
C. helvus
C. obliquus
C. minutissimus

The BugGuide platform (which only covers the US and Canada), has a similar number of Observations of the following 4 species in total - all in the US:

C. lapathi
C. fuscatus
C. tristis
C. helvus

The following paper discusses this genus:

"A Review of the Genus Cryptorhynchus Illiger 1807 in the United States and Canada (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), Robert Anderson, Canadian Museum of Nature, The Coleopterists Bulletin 62, Mar, 2008, pp. 168-180

Abstract

"The genus Cryptorhynchus Illiger 1807 is reviewed for the United States and Canada. Five species [see below] are recognized... Sternochetus woodruffi Sleeper is a new junior synonym of C. helvus. Cryptorhynchus minutissimus LeConte is transferred provisionally to Acalles Schoenherr near Acalles sablensis Blatchley as Acalles minutissimus (LeConte), new combination...A key to the five species is presented along with brief diagnoses, and summaries of natural history and distribution."

C. lapathi
C. fuscatus
C. tristis
C. helvus
C. obliquus

Publicado el 21 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

20 de junio de 2021

Genus Cophes

Data on Genus Cophes (tribe Gasterocercini, subfamily Cryptorhynchinae)

Wikipedia states that there are 8 named species of Cophes worldwide. iNaturalist has Observations for only 4 of those species worldwide, with 67 of the 68 Observations occurring in North America - all of those in the U.S., and the last being a questionable Observation in Costa Rica. I have found the top two at a single site in Pennsylvania, attracted to the wall at night by outside lights.

C. obtentus
C. fallax
C. oblongus
C. longiusculus

A larger dataset with more species is found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database - 184 North American Observations & Museum-preserved specimens over 6 species as follows:

C. obtentus (US)
C. fallax (US, C)
C. oblongus (US)
C. longiusculus (US, M, Panama)
C. texana (US)
C. yucatanus (M)
C. quadricostatus (Panama)

The BugGuide platform (which only covers the US and Canada), has 63 Observations of the following 5 species in total - all in the US:

C. obtentus
C. fallax
C. oblongus
C. longiusculus
C. texana

E. Sleeper, in a 1955 paper, enumerated 5 North American species, with a slightly different mix that may be attributable to taxonomic changes over the years.

C. gibba
C. cognata
C. hieroglyphica
C. longiuscula
C. texana

Ref: "A Synopsis of the Genus Cophes in the United States and Mexico (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)," by Elbert L. Sleeper, Deptartment of Zoology & Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, The Ohio Journal of Science 55(3), May, 1955, pp. 188-191

"The purpose of this paper is to review the North American species in the genus Cophes Champion, and aid other workers in determining these species. The genus was first recorded as occurring in the United States by the late Dr. E. C. Van Dyke in 1930*."

*"New Rhynchophora (Coleoptera) from Western North America," E. C. Van Dyke, Pan-Pacific Entomologist 6, pp. 140-166

Publicado el 20 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

19 de junio de 2021

Genus Eubulus

Data on Genus Eubulus (subtribe Cryptorhynchina, tribe Cryptorhynchini, subfamily Cryptorhynchinae)

The Wikipedia page for Cryptorhynchinae states that there are 204 named species of Eubulus worldwide. iNaturalist has Observations for only 7 of those species worldwide (56 Observations), with 5 of the 7 occurring in North America - 3 North of Mexico and 2 in Mexico only. I have found the top two at a single site in Pennsylvania.

E. obliquefasciatus (US)
E. bisignatus (US, C)
E. parochus (C)
E. brevis (M)
E. marginatus (M)
E. triangularis
E. miniatus

A similarly-sized North American dataset with a different mix of species is found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database - 44 Observations & Museum-preserved specimens as follows:

E. bisignatus (US)
E. parochus (US & C)
E. nimbatus (Panama) [Yes, Panama is part of North America, as I just learned]
E. alticarinatus (Panama)

The BugGuide platform (which only covers the US and Canada), has 40 Observations of the following species in total for the 2 countries (39 in the US and 1 in Canada):

E. bisignatus
E. obliquefasciatus
E. parochus

The 3 US & Canadian species recorded on these 3 platforms are mirrored by professional findings published in 2002 by R. S. Anderson.

A more recent article can be found on jstor.org:

"A Review of the Genus Eubulus Kirsch 1869 in the United States and Canada (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae)," by Robert S. Anderson, The Coleopterists Bulletin, Vol. 62, No. 2 (Jun., 2008), pp. 287-296 (10 pages), Published By: The Coleopterists Society

Abstract:

"The genus Eubulus is reviewed for the United States and Canada. Three species are recognized; E. parochus (Herbst), E. bisignatus (Say) and E. obliquefasciatus (Boheman), resurrected name. A neotype is designated for Eubulus bisignatus (Say). A key to the three species is presented and natural history information and distributions are summarized. Three additional specimens of Eubulus collected in North America, but not assigned to species, are discussed."

This paper states that:

"Like most Cryptorhynchinae, adults are associated with dead limbs of various trees. North American species are associated with Junglandacaea [Walnut], Fagacaea [Beech], and Aceracaea [Maple]." The site where I have made my Observations is adjacent to many American beech trees and a few Maple trees.

The authors also discuss an interesting study by Halik & Bergdahl (2002 and 2006), on the role of E. parochus in the distribution of pathogenic fungal spores as the larvae mine beneath the bark of freshly downed butternut (white walnut) limbs.

E. bignatus and E. obliquefasciatus are noted as being attracted to lights, which is how I made my Observations.

Publicado el 19 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

18 de junio de 2021

Project Launch Day

Welcome! I have started this project because in the past two weeks I have observed eight species of Cryptorhynchinae at a single address in Martin's Corner, West Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA, and I'm fascinated by these little critters. In all of North America to date there are only 798 iNat Observations (although BugGuide and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database have more), so it appears that this subfamily of Beetles is relatively understudied. I am not an entomologist, so I don't bring any specialized knowledge to the table, but I do want to learn, and I hope this project will attract the attention of some experts who can help us all out with positive identifications.

At the outset, site stats show that of the 798 continental Observations, 152 are of the Poplar-and-Willow Borer, Cryptorhynchus lapathi. 55 species are represented, with 484 Observers and 153 Identifiers.

I look forward to exploring the data we collect and learning more about each of these 55 species!

Cheers,

kidneymoth

Publicado el 18 de junio de 2021 por kidneymoth kidneymoth | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

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