A preliminary overview of the Brazilian Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) with an illustrated key for genera, and a checklist with distribution information

Abstract

Here we examine the taxonomic diversity of the Brazilian Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) and provide an update based on the literature and through examination of material in primary Brazilian collections. Ten genera and 89 species are valid and we include 30 (25 genera, 5 species) new distribution records. Chrysapion Kissinger, 1968 is first reported in Brazil, restricted to the northeast. Ranges now include the Amazon (three genera and one subgenus) and Atlantic (four genera and one subgenus) forests, the Pantanal (five genera) and Cerrado (three genera). The ranges of several genera now include more than one new biome. An identification key (including images of adults and illustrations of male genitalia) also includes the 10 Brazilian genera of Apioninae for the first time.

Description of the larva and pupa of Apion brevicorne Gerstaecker, 1854 (Coleoptera: Brentidae: Apioninae) with biological information

“…Adults tend to feed on the foliage of the larval host plant. Larvae feed on a variety of plant parts, including roots, inflorescences, seeds, and other tissues where they are endophagous and often form galls (Alonso-Zarazaga & Wanat, 2014;De Sousa et al, 2019). The most diverse group of apionines (supertribe Apionitae) feed on at least 23 families (15 orders) of angiosperms, including the widespread plant family Fabaceae (Anderson & Kissinger, 2002;Badenes-Perez & Jhonson, 2007;Lima et al, 2008;Maia, 2012;Alonso-Zarazaga & Wanat, 2014).…”

“…Apionine species can be found from high altitudes to sea level wherever they occur (Anderson & Kissinger, 2002;Alonso-Zarazaga, 2004;Oberprieler et al, 2007;Alonso-Zarazaga & Wanat, 2014). The Apioninae includes about 205 genera and subgenera (Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal, 1999;Alonso-Zarazaga & Wanat, 2014), seven supertribes and nine tribes (Alonso-Zarazaga, 1990;Bouchard et al, 2011;De Sousa et al, 2019). The supertribes Antliarhinitae, Cybebitae, Mecolenitae, Myrmacicelitae and Tanaitae comprise less than 60 species in Africa and the Australo-Pacific region.…”

“…The Apionini is the most diverse tribe with 15 subtribes and ca. 1,350 species (Kuschel, 1995;Wanat, 2001;Bouchard et al, 2011;Alonso-Zarazaga & Wanat, 2014;Winter et al, 2017;De Sousa et al, 2019).…”

“…Ten genera remain incertae sedis within the Apionitae (Kissinger, 1968(Kissinger, , 2002(Kissinger, , 2003(Kissinger, , 2005a(Kissinger, , 2005bWibmer & O'Brien, 1986;Alonso-Zarazaga, 2004;De Sousa et al, 2019). A recent, updated, classification of the Apioninae in Brazil includes 10 genera, two new species, and a new record, for a current total of 89 species (De Sousa & Ribeiro-Costa, 2018;De Sousa, et al, 2019). Fifty-three species remain incertae sedis, including Apion brevicorne Gerstaecker, 1854 (see De Sousa et al, 2019).…”

“…A recent, updated, classification of the Apioninae in Brazil includes 10 genera, two new species, and a new record, for a current total of 89 species (De Sousa & Ribeiro-Costa, 2018;De Sousa, et al, 2019). Fifty-three species remain incertae sedis, including Apion brevicorne Gerstaecker, 1854 (see De Sousa et al, 2019). We assume that this species most likely does not belong in Apion, which is monophyletic and includes 16 species restricted to the Palearctic region (Alonso-Zarazaga, 1990).…”