Author
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Prena, Jens |
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Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2010 Publication Date: 6/16/2010 Citation: Prena, J. 2010. The Middle American species of Peridinetus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae). Zootaxa. 2507:1-36. Interpretive Summary: Weevils are an extremely diverse group of usually small-sized insects with many agricultural pest species included that cause billions of dollars in damage annually. This research reviews 24 species and one subspecies from Middle America that develop in plants of the black pepper family. Six species new to science are described, illustrations are provided, and a key to identify the adults is provided. The results will allow agriculturalists and action agencies, such as APHIS, to better identify and recognize potential pest species. Technical Abstract: The weevil genus Peridinetus Schönherr is reviewed for mainland Middle America. Conophoria Casey is included in Peridinetus as a new junior synonym. Twenty-four species and one subspecies are recognized. Peridinetus ecuadoricus Casey stat. res., P. frontalis Chevrolat and P. pictus Kirsch are newly recorded for the study area. Newly described are P. imperialis sp. n. (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador), P. lugubris sp. n. (Costa Rica, Ecuador), P. notabilis sp. n. (Costa Rica), P. odone sp. n. (Costa Rica, Panama), P. rubens sp. n. (Costa Rica, Panama) and P. wyandoti sp. n. (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador). Peridinetus laetus Champion is considered a subspecies of P. sanguinolentus Chevrolat (stat. n.) and the overlooked precedence of P. jelskii Chevrolat over P. maculiventris Chevrolat is reestablished. Conophoria cana dispersa Casey is a new junior synonym of P. canus Champion. Peridinetus melastomae Champion is emended to P. melastoma for grammatical reasons. Habitus images for most species and an identification key are provided. |
