Review of the genera of Conoderinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
Author
Anzaldo, Salvatore S.
School of Life Sciences, PO Box 874501, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287 - 4501, USA
sanzaldo@asu.edu
text
ZooKeys
2017
2017-07-07
683
51
138
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.683.12080
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.683.12080
1313-2970-683-51
D7FD86CA6374480C821BA10C26CDDF32
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1149788
Philides Champion, 1906b: 129
Figs 59
, 104
Type
species.
Philides anthonomoides
Champion, 1906 [by monotypy].
Gender.
Masculine.
Diagnosis.
Philides
is easily differentiated from all other genera treated here except
Philinna
by the following characteristics: the body, especially the lateral surfaces, are densely covered in multifid setae; the antennal funiculus has 6 instead of 7 articles (as in Fig.
57
for
Philinna
); the tibial apex does not have an uncus at the posterior apical angle and has either a small process at inner apical angle (as in Fig.
36
for
Philinna
) or no process at all; the tibial apex is subcircular in cross-section (not laterally compressed as in all other genera) and with distinct fringe of spine-like setae around the apex; the prosternum behind the procoxae has ventrally projecting laterally compressed tubercles (as in Fig.
18
for
Philinna
); the mesoventrite is vertical, unmodified or with posterolateral margins modified into somewhat projecting lamellae (as in Fig.
18
); the first elytral interval has elongate, stout setae crossing over the suture in roughly posterior half (Fig.
104b
); and the fifth abdominal ventrite is strongly emarginate to accommodate the exposed pygidium.
Philides
differs from
Philinna
in the presence of tarsal claws with a broad tooth (Fig.
59
; seen in
Philides comans
Champion, 1909, but not all observed specimens identified to
P. anthonomoides
had this tooth) and in overall appearance, with the known species of
Philides
belonging to the "shiny black" mimicry complex of
Hespenheide (1995
: 149). Some observed specimens identified as
P. anthonomoides
have the mesoventrite unmodified, with slight projections at the posterolateral margins or with the mesoventrite strongly excavated apically to receive the rostrum.
Phylogenetic relationships.
The numerous characters that differentiate this genus and
Philinna
from the rest of the conoderines treated here suggest improper placement in
Conoderinae
, as suggested by
Lyal et al. (2006)
due to the lack of sclerolepidia and differently constructed mesoventrite. Champion (1906: 130) and
Hespenheide (1992
: 2, 2002: 756) noted the similarity of these genera with
Tachygonini
(a group sometimes included in the
Conoderinae
but since relegated to a subtribe in the
Curculioninae
:
Rhamphini
, treated there most recently in
Caldara et al. 2014
) in having multifid setae covering much of the body. Further similarities of these three genera are the stout,
crossed
setae along the elytral suture. Tachygonines, however, have a more conoderine-like tibial apex than either
Philides
and
Philinna
, being laterally compressed and with an uncus at the posterior apical angle. Specimens were not observed for two of the three genera currently placed in the
Tachygonina
, reserving a reconsideration of the placement of the subtribe for future phylogenetic study.
Philides
also bears a resemblance to the Old World conoderine tribe
Lobotrachelini
, but the observed species of that tribe also differ from
Philides
and
Philinna
in having a more typical conoderine tibial apex. The only other genus treated here without simple tarsal claws is
Psomus
Casey, which does not have a similar broad, flat tooth as in
Philides
.
Host associations.
The larva of at least one species is an inquiline in galls made by a buprestid (
Medianero et al. 2007
).
Described species.
Two. Numerous undescribed species and related genera occur in Central America (H. Barrios, personal communication). One additional described species is known from South America (
Rheinheimer 2011
).
Range.
Mexico, El Salvador, Panama; South America (
Rheinheimer 2011
).