Cryptorhynchinae

Cryptorhynchinae is a large subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae), with some 6000 species. They are found in most zoogeographic regions although they are most diverse in the Neotropics, Australia and Oceania.

Cryptorhynchinae
Cryptorhynchus lapathi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Curculionidae
Subfamily:	Cryptorhynchinae Schönherr, 1825

Cryptorhynchus lapathi; rostral furrow with mesoventral receptacle (MR), the diagnostic character of the Cryptorhynchinae sensu stricto

They are distinguished by having their rostrum (snout) backwardly directed between their fore coxae in repose, and fitting within a protective channel that usually ends in a cup-like structure on the mesoventrite (ventral mid thoracic segment).^[1] The ends of the tibiae also bear an uncus (small hook-like extensions), a character they share with many other groups of Curculionidae that use woody plants for oviposition. They are merged into the Molytinae in some treatments,^[2] but a recent molecular study shows that Cryptorhynchinae sensu stricto are monophyletic and best kept as an independent subfamily.^[3]

Some species of Cryptorhynchinae are considered agricultural pests, such as the mango seed weevil Sternochetus mangiferae, but the great majority of species live in primary forests, often on deadwood and are threatened by habitat loss. In Europe, the flightless genus Acalles is most diverse, and restricted to woodlands of long-lasting habitat continuity^[4]

According to a biogeographical analysis^[5] Cryptorhynchinae s.s. originated in the Late Cretaceous in South America. Within the ‘Acalles group’ and the ‘Cryptorhynchus group’, several independent dispersal events to the Western Palaearctic via the Nearctic occurred in the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleogene. A southern route via Antarctica allowed the colonization of Australia in the Late Cretaceous, where a diverse Indo-Australian clade probably emerged about 73 million years ago.

Genera

The following genera (among others) belong to the subfamily Cryptorhynchinae:

• Acalles Schönherr, 1825 ^{i c g b}
• Acallocrates Reitter, 1913 ^{i c g b}
• Achopera Pascoe, 1870 ^a
• Anaballus Blanchard, 1849 ^{c g}
• Apteromechus Faust, 1896 ^{i c g b}
• Asytesta Pascoe, 1865 ^{c g}
• Blepiarda Pascoe, 1865 ^{c g}
• Calles Kissinger, 1964 ^{i c g b}
• Canistes Casey, 1892 ^{i c g b}
• Cedilaus Lea, 1912 ^{c g}
• Cnemidoprion Marshall, 1933 ^{c g b}
• Cophes Champion, 1905 ^{i c g b}
• Cryptorhynchus Illiger, 1807 ^{i c g b}
• Didymus Kuschel, 1982 ^{c g}
• Episcirrus Kuschel, 1958 ^{i c g b}
• Eubulus Kirsch, 1870 ^{i c g b}
• Eurhoptus LeConte, 1876 ^{i c g b}
• Euscepes Schönherr, 1844 ^{i c g b}
• Eutinobothris ^b
• Faustinus Berg, 1898 ^{i c g b}
• Gasterocercus de Laporte Castelnau La Ferté-Sénectère & Brullé, 1828 ^{c g}
• Gerstaeckeria Champion, 1905 ^{i c g b} (cactus weevils)
• Hohonus Kissinger, 1964 ^{i c g b}
• Lembodes Schönherr, 1844 ^{i c g b}
• Liometophilus Fall, 1912 ^{i c g b}
• Maemactes Schönherr, 1837 ^{i c g b}
• Neoulosomus O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982 ^{i c g b}
• Paracamptus Casey, 1895 ^{c g b}
• Peracalles Kissinger, 1964 ^{i c g b}
• Poropterus Schönherr, 1844 ^{c g}
• Psepholax A.White, 1843 ^g
• Pseudoacalles Blatchley, 1916 ^{i c g b}
• Pseudomopsis Champion, 1905 ^{i c g b}
• Pseudomus Schönherr, 1837 ^{i c g b}
• Rhyephenes Schönherr, 1837
• Rhynchodes White, 1846 ^{c g}
• Rhynchus Kissinger, 1964 ^{i c g b}
• Sternochetus Pierce, 1917 ^{i c g b}
• Sudus Kissinger, 1964 ^{i c g b}
• Tepperia Kirby, 1910 ^g
• Tragopus Schoenherr, 1837 ^{a c g}
• Trigonopterus Fauvel, 1862 ^{c g}
• Troezon Champion, 1906 ^{c g b}
• Tyloderma Say, 1831 ^{i c g b}
• Zascelis LeConte, 1876 ^{i c g b}
• Zygara Pascoe, 1885 ^{c g}

Data sources: a=AFD,^[6] i = ITIS,^[7] c = Catalogue of Life,^[8] g = GBIF,^[9] b = Bugguide.net^[10]

References

1. Lyal, C.H.C. (1993) Coleoptera: Cryptorhynchinae. Fauna of New Zealand 29. Lincoln, Canterbury. 1–308.
2. Lyal, C.H.C. (2014) 3.7.7 Molytinae Schoenherr, 1823. In: Leschen R.A.B. & Beutel, R.G. (Eds) Handbook of Zoology, Coleoptera, Beetles Volume 3: Morphology and Systematics (Phytophaga). DeGruyter, Berlin, 529–570.
3. Riedel, A., Tänzler, R., Pons, J., Suhardjono, Y. R., & Balke, M. (2016). Large-scale molecular phylogeny of Cryptorhynchinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae ) from multiple genes suggests American origin and later Australian radiation. Systematic Entomology. http://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12170
4. Buse, J., (2012) “Ghosts of the past”: flightless saproxylic weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are relict species in ancient woodlands. Journal of Insect Conservation 16 (1), 93–102.
5. Letsch H., Balke M., Toussaint E.F.A. & Riedel A. (early online) Historical biogeography of the hyperdiverse hidden snout weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Cryptorhynchinae). Systematic Entomology. http://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12396
6. "Australian Faunal Directory: Cryptorhynchini names list for Australia". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
7. "ITIS, Integrated Taxonomic Information System". Retrieved 2018-04-25.
8. "Catalogue of Life". Retrieved 2018-04-25.
9. "GBIF". Retrieved 2018-04-25.
10. "Cryptorhynchinae Subfamily Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-25.

^[1]

Data related to Cryptorhynchinae at Wikispecies

1. Stüben, Peter E. (1 February 2018). The Cryptorhynchinae of the Western Palearctic / Die Cryptorhynchinae der Westpaläarktis. Germany, Mönchengladbach: Curculio Institute. p. 518. ISBN 978-3-00-058038-3.