New species of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitona</Emphasis> Germ. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from Transcaucasia and Northeastern Turkey

New species of the weevil genus Sitona Germ. are described: Sitona transcaucasicus sp. n. from the highlands of the Republic of Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan), S. davidiani sp. n. from the highlands of Southern Daghestan (Russia), Republic of Nakhichevan, and Northeastern Turkey, and S. abchasicus sp. n. from subalpine and alpine belts of Abkhazia and southeasternmost Krasnodar Territory (Russia).     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">merkli</Emphasis> group of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The merkli group of the weevil genus Plinthus is revised. Plinthus navarsati Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. is described from Northeastern Turkey. New data on the morphology and geographical distribution of P. merkli Frivaldszki, 1894, P. cavazzutii Meregalli, 1985, and P. latipennis Meregalli, 1985 are given, with a key to all the four species of the merkli group.     

A new species of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> germ., subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dibredus</Emphasis> Rtt. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Entiminae), from Southeastern Turkey

Otiorhynchus schuberti sp. n. (subgenus Dibredus Reitter, 1912) is described from Kahramanmara? Province in Southeastern Turkey. It is closely related to O. nudiformis Reitter, 1914 and, less closely, to O. rufimanus Hochhuth, 1847, but differs from both in a small bidentate tooth on the fore femur.     

New data on the taxonomy,distribution, and ecology of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> germar (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The subgenus Pocusogetus Rtt. of the genus Otiorhynchus Germ. is revised. The subgenus includes O. rosti Strl., O. shapovalovi Davidian et Yunakov, O. obsulcatus Strl., O. fischtensis Rtt., and O. gusakovi sp. n. closely related to O. fischtensis (both from Mt. Fisht, the Western Caucasus). O. fischtensis is transferred from the subgenus Vicoranius Rtt., its lectotype is designated. A key to species of Pocusogetus is given. The systematic position of the subgenera Pocusogetus and Vicoranius in the genus Otiorhynchus is discussed. New data on the geographical distribution and ecology of the little-known species of the subgenera Obvoderus Rtt., Pseudoprovadilus Magnano, and Clypeorhynchus Yunakov et Arzanov are given. Some features of ecological differentiation between Otiorhynchus species in the alpine and subalpine zones of the Caucasus are discussed.     

New species of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudorchestes</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from the central Palaearctic region

Three new species of the genus Pseudorchestes Bedel are described. Pseudorchestes olgae sp. n. known only from the Dzhanybek Research Station is similar to Ps. abdurakhmanovi Korotyaev, 1993 from Daghestan and Southwestern Kazakhstan but differs in the narrower frons, sparse white scales on the frons and on the underside of the head, longer and narrower antennal club, less strongly curved hind tibia, and larger size. Pseudorchestes tschernovi sp. n. from the Lower Volga River basin, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan differs from all the known congeners, except for Ps. convexus sp. n. from the Trans-Altai Gobi (Mongolia), in the strongly reduced wings which are only half as long as the elytra, and from the latter species, in the longer rostrum, paler antennae and legs, wide and apically excised scales on the elytra, and in the antennal club short and ovate in both sexes and lacking dense velvety pubescence in the male.     

Three new species of the Weevil Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> Germ. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Entiminae) from the Caucasus

Three new species of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822 are described from the Caucasus: O. titarenkoi sp. n. in the subgenus Motilacanus Reitter, 1912 and O. dittae sp. n. and O. zierisi sp. n. in the subgenus Eprahenus Reitter, 1912. The incivilis species-group is transferred from the subgenus Choilisanus Reitter, 1912 to the subgenus Eprahenus (new subgeneric placement).     

On discovery of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nanomicrophyes</Emphasis> Pic, 1908 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) in China

A new subgenus Sinomicrophyes subgen. n. with four new species Nanomicrophyes belousovi sp. n. (type species), N. korolevi sp. n., N. oblongus sp. n., and N. kabaki sp. n. from Western China is erected in the genus Nanomicrophyes Pic, 1908 previously known from a single species distributed in the Caucasus. A map of the genus Nanomicrophyes range is provided with a brief discussion of the N. cyanipennis (Weise, 1880) distribution.     

On oviposition in weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larinus</Emphasis> Dej. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The following actions performed by females of several Larinus Dej. species during egg laying are described: search of an appropriate place on the plant, making the hole for the egg, oviposition proper, and sealing the hole. The hole preparation takes the longest time and the greatest effort. Only one individual usually completes development in one flower head. Females of Larinus vulpes Ol. prefer larger flower heads for oviposition and occasionally lay eggs into stems. The ability of females to distinguish the flower heads with already laid eggs is discussed. Species of Larinus may be divided into two groups with “early” and “late” oviposition. The evolution of egg laying in the genus Larinus is discussed.     

A review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Rhynchitidae) from the Russian fauna: 1. Subgenera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudapoderites</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Japonodeporaus</Emphasis>

The genus Deporaus from the Russian fauna is revised. Four species (D. pacatus, D. azarovae, D. septentrionalis, and D. hartmanni) of the subgenera Pseudapoderites and Japonodeporaus are found. Keys to the subgenera and to the species of the subgenus Pseudapoderites are given. The genus Deporaus, subgenera Pseudapoderites and Japonodeporaus, and four species are redescribed. The distribution of these species in Russia is discussed.     

A review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Rhynchitidae) from the Russian fauna: 2. Subgenera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Roelofsideporaus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis>

The subgenera Roelofsideporaus and Deporaus s. str. of the genus Deporaus with four species (D. affectatus, D. unicolor, D. nidificus, and D. betulae) recorded from the Russian fauna are revised. Keys to the species of the subgenus Roelofsideporaus and to the females of the subgenera Roelofsideporaus and Deporaus s. str. are given. The distribution of D. nidificus in Russia is not confirmed.     

Review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">granulosus</Emphasis> Subgroup of the Weevil Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The granulosus subgroup of Plinthus is revised. Plinthus frivaldszkyi Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. mananauricus Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. from the Caucasus are described. New data on the morphology and geographic distribution of P. granulosus Reitter, 1884, P. abdurakhmanovi Davidian, 1995, and P. kataevi Davidian, 1992 and a key to five species of the granulosus subgroup are presented.     

On Records of Three Additional Species of the Weevil Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> Germ. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Entiminae) on Lilacs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Syringa</Emphasis> L.) in St. Petersburg

In the summer and autumn of 2017, two mostly Southeastern European weevils Otiorhynchus albidus Stierlin, 1861 and O. asphaltinus Germar, 1824, and also O. rotundus Marseul, 1872, previously unknown from Russia, were found in numbers on Syringa vulgaris L. and S. josikaea Jack. in St. Petersburg. New data on the distribution of O. smreczynskii and a key for differentiation of O. rotundus, O. smreczynskii and closely allied to the latter O. ukrainicus Korotyaev, 1984 from southeastern Ukraine and eastern Crimea are reported.     

A revision of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podococcus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arecaceae</Emphasis>)

Summary  A taxonomic revision of the palm genus Podococcus (Arecaceae) is presented. Two species are recognised: P. barteri, a species relatively widespread in a coastal band from Nigeria to the D. R. Congo and P. acaulis, a species previously considered conspecific to P. barteri, almost exclusively confined to Gabon. The taxonomic history, morphology, distribution and conservation status of the genus and each species are discussed     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phuphanochloa,</Emphasis> a new bamboo genus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poaceae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusoideae</Emphasis>) from Thailand

Summary  A new monotypic bamboo genus Phuphanochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from north-eastern Thailand is described, together with a new species, P. speciosa.     

New Data on the Taxonomy of the Weevil Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caucasoplinthus</Emphasis>, Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The taxonomic composition of the subgenus Caucasoplinthus Davidian, 1995 is revised. The immunis and granulosus groups are downgraded to subgroups of the silphoides and fallax groups, respectively; the voriseki subgroup is transferred from the fallax to the fausti group. Plinthus attilai Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. ljudae Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. are described from Turkey and Abkhazia, respectively. New data on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of some little-known species are presented. The following new synonymy is established: Molytes vittatus Motschulsky, 1839 (= Meleus irroratus Reitter, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus faldermanni Faust, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus difficilis Faust, 1884, syn. n.).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quinua</Emphasis> and Relatives (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> subsect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Celluloid</Emphasis>)

Traditionally viewed as an Andean grain crop,Chenopodium quinoa Willd. includes domesticated populations that are not Andean, and Andean populations that are not domesticated. Comparative analysis of leaf morphology and allozyme frequencies have demonstrated that Andean populations, both domesticated(quinua) and free-living(ajara), represent an exceptionally homogeneous unit that is well differentiated from allied domesticates of coastal Chile(quingua) and freeliving populations of the Argentine lowlands(C. hircinum). This pattern of relationships indicates that Andean populations represent a monophyletic crop/weed system that has possibly developed through cyclic differentiation (natural vs. human selection) and introgressive hybridization. Relative levels of variation suggest that this complex originated in the southern Andes, possibly from wild types allied withC. hircinum, with subsequent dispersal north to Colombia and south to the Chilean coast. Coastal populations were apparently isolated from post-dispersal differentiation and homogenization that occurred in the Andes. Other data point toward a center of origin in the northern Andes with secondary centers of genetic diversity subsequently developing in the southern Andes and the plains of Argentina. Comparative linkage of South American taxa, all tetraploid, with North American tetraploids of the subsection will eventually clarify this problem. While the possibility of a direct phyletic connection betweenC. quinoa and the Mexican domesticate(C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae,) cannot be excluded, available evidence indicates that the latter represents an autonomous lineage that is associated with the basal tetraploid, C. b. subsp.berlandieri, through var.sinuatum, whereas South American taxa show possible affinities to either var. zschackei or var.berlandieri. An extinct domesticate of eastern North America,C. b. subsp.jonesianum, represents either another instance of independent domestication, possibly from subsp. b. var.zschackei, or a northeastern outlier of subsp.nuttalliae.     

Identification of the ambrosia fungus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xyleborus monographus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">X. dryographus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae,Scolytinae)

The scolytid ambrosia beetles Xyleborus monographus and X. dryographus were investigated to identify their nutritional ambrosia fungi. The examination of the oral mycetangia of the beetles, the specialized organs for fungal transport, revealed the dominant occurrence of Raffaelea montetyi, a fungus that was also predominant in the beetle tunnels in the immediate vicinity of the feeding larvae. R. montetyi was previously known only as the ambrosia fungus of the platypodid ambrosia beetle, Platypus cylindrus. These beetle species inhabit the same habitat, mainly trunks of oaks in the Western Palaeartic. The possibility of an exchange of the symbiotic fungus between the ambrosia beetles within their common breeding place is discussed. Consequently, the previous hypothesis of a species-specific association of a single ambrosia fungus with a single beetle species is questioned. A phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences classified R. montetyi within the Ophiostomatales of the ascomycetes. The investigation of conidiogenesis of R. montetyi by SEM supported this taxonomic placement and showed the development of the conidia by annellidic percurrent proliferation, identical to the conidiogenesis reported for many anamorph states of the Ophiostomatales.     

On the bionomics of the weevil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dorytornus cinereus</Emphasis> Hochhuth (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) in Magadan Province

An observation of unusual bionomics of the weevil Dorytornus cinereus Hochhuth (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) made in May 1975 in the vicinity of Magadan is confirmed, supplemented with additional data, and documented with photographs.