Otiorhynchus

Otiorhynchus
Otiorhynchus
O. sulcatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Entiminae
Genus: Otiorhynchus
Germar, 1822
Synonyms

Brachyrhinus Latreille, [1802][1]

Otiorhynchus (often spelt as Otiorrhynchus) is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae. Many species of the genus, particularly the black vine weevil (O. sulcatus) and the strawberry root weevil (O. ovatus), are important pests, both as larvae and as adults. Larvae feed on plant roots. Adults are flightless with fused elytra and feed at night on plant foliage.[2][3] In many species of the genus at least some races are polyploid and parthenogenetic, while the rest of the races and species are diploid and bisexual. Otiorhynchus weevils, particularly O. scaber, have been a popular subject for studies of the evolution of parthenogenesis. The genus is native to the Palearctic region. However, sixteen species were inadvertently introduced to North America and have become widespread there. Due to their parthenogenesis, for all of them except O. ligneus, O. meridionalis and O. porcatus only female weevils have been found in North America.[2][3]

Partial Species List


  • Otiorhynchus.jpg

References and notes

  1. ^ A ruling by the 1972 ICZN has suppressed the name Brachyrhinus and conserved the name Otiorhynchus.
  2. ^ a b Warner, R.E. & F.B. Negley. 1976. The genus Otiorhynchus in America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 78 (3): 240-262.
  3. ^ a b Donald E. Bright, Patrice Bouchard. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 25: Coleoptera. Curculionidae. Entiminae. Weevils of Canada and Alaska. Vol. 2. Ottawa, NRC Research Press, 2008. ISBN 0660194007. P. 111-131.


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