Taxonomic review of the stem-inhabiting trehala-constructing Larinus Dejean, 1821 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): New species, systematics and ecology

Abstract

Trehala are unusual insect pupal chambers that are sweet and have been used as human food. They are formed by only four Larinus Dejean species which develop in plant stems. This group is revised taxonomically, and a new key is provided. A new synonymy is proposed: Larinus nidificans Guibourt, 1858 [= Larinus multiguttatus Reitter, 1901, syn. n.]. Lectotypes for Larinus maculatus Gyllenhal, 1836, Larinus hedenborgi Boheman, 1845, and Larinus rudicollis Petri, 1907 are designated. Larinus capsulatus sp. n. from northeastern Turkey is described, and a differentiating redescription of L. rudicollis is provided. Ecological information on the trehala-building L. capsulatus and L. rudicollis is presented. Larinus hedenborgi is a new record for Turkey, Iran and Egypt.

Description of the immature stages of Larinus vulpes and notes on its biology (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Lixinae)

“…The absence of preimaginal development outside of flower heads is a characteristic of not only L. vulpes but also for the genus Larinus in general. Only six Larinus species construct analogous capsules (pupal chambers) with a sweet taste (known as “trehala”) on plant stems, namely: L. capsulatus Gültekin, 2008; L. hefenborgi Boheman, 1845; L. nidificans Guibourt, 1858; L. ruficollis Petri, 1907 ( Gültekin 2008 ); L. trehalanus Gültekin and Shahreyary-Nejad, 2015 ( Gültekin and Shahreyary-Nejad 2015 ); and L. onopordi (Fabricius, 1787) ( Khnzoryan 1951 ). According to Zwölfer et al (1971) , larvae of L. vulpes sometimes construct capsules on the stems, but the authors did not provide further details for this observation.…”

New Data onConorhynchus hololeucus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…Trehala are constructed on the outside of stems by larvae in the genus Larinus Dejean, 1821 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Lixinae). New data on 4 trehala constructing species of Larinus were recently presented by Gültekin (2008). Trehala-like capsule constructions have also been observed in several genera of Cleonini, including Conorhynchus Motschulsky, 1860, Trichocleonus Motschulsky, 1860, Scaphomorphus Motschulsky, 1860and Pachycerus Schoenherr, 1823(Volovnik 2010, and the Lixini genus Hypolixus Desbrochers, 1898(Nikulina 1989.…”

Cleonini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Lixinae) are monophyletic and flightless: tribe overview, rampant adult homoplasy and illustrated global diversity

“…The extremely arid conditions of the Negev Desert were linked with a seemingly unique example of Conorhynchus pistor living most of its adult life underground in a mud structure affixed to the plant roots and benefiting the host plant (Salsola inermis) through a tri-party symbiotic interaction with a bacterium (Klebsiella pneumonia) that supplies nitrogen to the system (Shelef et al 2013). It should be noted, however, that such seemingly protective structures are not unique to Cleonini, since aerial pupation chambers termed "trehala" have also been reported in some Lixini (Larinus; Gültekin 2008, Gültekin & Shahreyary-Nejad 2015. With so much variety among a few species adequately known, it is plausible to think that behavioral aspects of the developmental biology of Cleonini will form a future fertile research ground.…”