PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



VOL. 21 FEBRUARY, 1919 No. 2 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WEEVILS OF THE 

 SUPERFAMILY CURCULIONOIDEA. 



BY W. DWIGHT PIERCE. 



In 1916 the writer 1 published a synopsis of the classification 

 of the Rhynchophora which he has adopted as far as the division 

 into superfamilies is concerned, leaving the details as to lower 

 groups for future discussions. It is of course to be understood 

 that continued studies of morphological and biological characters 

 may lead to many modifications in the system now in use. 



A number of general observations of importance have been made 

 which may be mentioned at this time and will be followed up from 

 time to time by detailed studies. 



1. The structure of the larvae and pupae of weevils is of very 

 great importance in the taxonomy of the group. 



2. All the species of weevil larvae and pupae so far studied 

 can be identified and separated from each other by good charac- 

 ters. 



3. It will ultimately be possible for the systematist to identify 

 whatever larvae are submitted, at least to the genus. Such in- 

 formation if quickly obtained may save months of time. 



4. The characters of the immature stages will often decide 

 doubtful questions as to the location of a group in the classifica- 

 tion. One such example is the finding that Gymnaetron is 

 related to Anthonomus. 



5. The use of the thoracic sclerites is of greater importance 

 even than was ascribed to them by LeConte and Horn, but \\v 

 have much detailed work to do before beginning a more extensive 

 use of these characters. 



6. The genera of weevils are usually definitely defined groups 

 separable not only on morphological but also on biological char- 

 acters. The writer has found a number of genera, such as Rhyn- 

 chites and Apion, which contain many subgenera, to be really 

 separable into valid genera on the basis of both habit and struc- 

 ture. 



1 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 51, No. 2159, pp. 461-464, Dec. 



21 



