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Simple Summary: The taxonomic status of O. smreczynskii Cmol., 1968 as a valid species was finally confirmed on the basis of the results of molecular, morphological and anatomical studies. An urban species, with a distribution closely associated with human activities, this weevil is regarded as a pest of gardens and ornamental plants. The set of characters used for its identification is provided. The structure of the female genitalia turned out to be useful for differentiating the sister species O. smreczynskii and O. rotundus. The entire life cycle, morphology of immatures and phenology of O. smreczynskii were examined in detail both in the laboratory and in the field. Host plants are listed and the unique feeding signs of O. smreczynskii are illustrated. The revised distributions of O. smreczynskii and O. rotundus show that the bisexual O. rotundus is being displaced by the parthenogenetic O. smreczynskii. The hypothetical origin of O. smreczynskii given here is based on the natural distribution of its host plants. The mature larva and pupa of Otiorhynchus smreczynskii are described and illustrated with complete chaetotaxy for the first time. Five larval instars and the factors for larval growth are determined, and the larval development of this species is comprehensively described. In order to confirm species affiliation, selected larvae were subjected to genetic analysis (mtCOI). Host plants and unique feeding signs of some Entiminae species are presented, and all available data on development are documented and interpreted. Additionally, the morphometry of 78 specimens (48 of O. smreczynskii and 30 of O. rotundus) was examined in order to verify the usefulness of morphological features in distinguishing both species. The female genitalia of both species are illustrated, described and compared with each other for the first time. Finally, the updated distribution of O. smreczynskii is given, and a possible origin of O. smreczynskii and O. rotundus is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mature larva of the weevil species Orobitis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758), one of only two Palaearctic members of the supertribe Orobitiditae, is re-described, while the pupa is described for the first time. The biology of this species was studied at two sites in Germany. It was reared from seed capsules of Viola canina L. (Violaceae), and feeding holes were observed on V. riviniana Rchb. Adults of Orobitis cyanea and O. nigrina Reitter, 1885, specialists of Viola, show a well-developed escape mechanism, to which contribute a smooth surface, a rounded, nearly spherical body shape, and a seed-imitating thanatosis behaviour. The molytine weevil Leiosoma cribrum (Gyllenhal, 1834), the only other known weevil specialist of Viola in Europe, has a smooth surface, also, and is the most spherical species of the genus. The unique characters of the larva and pupa of Orobitis cyanea are discussed in regard to the systematic position of this taxon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mature larva of Sciaphilus asperatus is redescribed and illustrated, and the pupa is described for the first time. Supplements to the identification keys for larvae and pupae of selected Palaearctic Entiminae genera and species are given. Data on the life history, especially oviposition capacity and voltinism, of S. asperatus are provided and discussed, and the number of the six larval instars was confirmed. The economic importance of S. asperatus is briefly highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mature larva and pupa of Graptus triguttatus triguttatus and the mature larva of Peritelus sphaeroides are described for the first time. The larvae of Philopedon plagiatum and Tanymecus palliatus are re-described. Five larval instars were determined in Tanymecus, thereby correcting doubtful data in the literature. The relationship between larval growth, number of larval instars, head width of the mature larva, and the adult weevil is explained using the example of Tanymecus. The nearly constant ratio of subsequent larval instars in head width ratio, termed "growth factor" and derived from Dyar's ratio, is used for the determination of larval instars. Larval collecting and breeding data are discussed in relation to their significance for the clarification of life-cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A couple of different members of the coleopteran genus Otiorhynchus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are becoming increasingly important as pests of nursery and ornamental plants in global horticulture. Although adult weevils are morphologically distinguishable by skilled personnel, high potential for misidentification is given for cryptic larval stages. For developing and applying efficient pest management strategies the determination of the respective species is however a prerequisite, because each species may have a different phenology or a varying susceptibility to pesticides. Here, we report on the development of a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method for differentiation among 16 Otiorhynchus and seven other weevil species independent of their developmental stage. An ≈780–bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II was amplified and subsequently digested with at most four restriction enzymes generating species–specific fragment patterns. The assay was validated on a total of 127 individuals and the obtained fragment patterns correctly identified 23 different weevil species. The PCR–RFLP method reported here is cost–effective, robust, and fast and could be used in the future by plant protection services for diagnostic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1992 to 2009, 334 trees were sampled by insecticidal knockdown on Borneo, Malaysia. Here, we describe the taxonomic composition of the 9671 specimens and 1589 species Curculionoidea collected (with additional notes on Cerambycidae). We found a largely unknown fauna with an assumed proportion of over 80% of species new to science, including all 33 Apionidae and 26 Ceutorhynchinae species. Specialists could usually identify only a few specimens leaving the remaining beetles for further investigation. The samples contain numerous genera, two tribes (Egriini, Viticiini), one subfamily (Mesoptiliinae) and one family (Belidae) new to Borneo and several genera not recorded west of the Wallace line before. These data show how little is known about canopy diversity. The lack of taxonomic knowledge implies a respective lack of autecological knowledge and is alarming. Some taxa differed conspicuously between primary and disturbed forests. In contrast to common literature, our results let us conclude that current efforts to narrow down the extent of tropical diversity and its ecological importance must consider the enormous species diversity of the canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]