Description of immature stages of Gymnetron species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae), with particular emphasis on the diagnostic morphological characters at the generic and specific levels

By

Skuhrovec, Jiří
Gosik, Rafał
Caldara, Roberto
Toševski, Ivo
Batyra, Aleksandra

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-3-23

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1090

Pages

45--84

Subjects

Biology , Mature larva , Mecinini , Mecinini , Morphology , Pupa , taxonomy , weevils

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1090.78741

 

Abstract

The immature stages of the following five PalaearcticGymnetronspecies are described for the first time:G. tibiellumDesbrochers des Loges, 1900,G. veronicae(Germar, 1821),G. rotundicolleGyllenhal, 1838,G. melanarium(Germar, 1821), andG. villosulumGyllenhal, 1838. These species belong to four different groups previously established according to a phylogenetic analysis: the first two belong to theG. veronicaegroup and the other three to groups respectively bearing their name (G. rotundicolle,G. melanarium, andG. villosulumgroups). All these species exhibit several diagnostic characters distinguishing them from each other. Some characters that can be used to separateGymnetronfrom other genera in the tribe are also suggested. Three highly significant characters for the larvae and three for the pupae were identified. For the larvae they are: (1) labial palpi with single palpomeres, (2) all spiracles unicameral, and (3) epipharynx with a single pair ofmesor none at all. For the pupae they are: (1) the pronotum with prominent pronotal protuberances, (2) abdominal segment VIII with a conical abdominal protuberance dorsally, and (3) very short or even reduced urogomphi. The species studied here are compared with thoseGymnetronspecies already known and with other genera in the tribe Mecinini. Keys to the larvae and pupae described here are provided. All the characters used for identification are illustrated by photographs or drawings.