Larides Champion, 1906b: 34

Anzaldo, Salvatore S., 2017, Review of the genera of Conoderinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, ZooKeys 683, pp. 51-138 : 91

Larides Champion, 1906b: 34 Figs 51 , 97

Type species.

Larides cavifrons Champion, 1906 [by original designation].

Gender.

Masculine.

Diagnosis.

Larides is distinct from all other zygopine genera treated here with the exception of Phileas with the short, stout, arcuate rostrum that does not extend much beyond the procoxae, more strongly developed ocular lobes that partially cover the eye, and eyes widely separated at the top and strongly concave in between (Fig. 51 ). The antennae are inserted near the middle of the rostrum, the second antennal funicular article is not longer than the first, the mesoventrite is unmodified, and the hind femora are ventrally toothed and faintly carinate in the distal half. The distinction given by Champion (1906b: 35) between Larides and Phileas in their original descriptions is that Larides has the eyes "less acuminate below and more widely separated above, the antennal club shorter and relatively stouter, and the prothorax and elytra subtruncate at the base" seem insufficient for generic distinction, especially when considering the intrageneric variation of those characters in other conoderine genera. Both Larides and Phileas are monotypic, but Larides cavifrons can be easily separated from Phileas granulatus Champion by the more strongly depressed interocular space and the metatibial apex that has a premucro oriented along the longitudinal axis of the tibia (at a 45° angle in Phileas granulatus ).

Notes.

Couplet 38 in the below key serves to distinguish the genera Larides and Phileas , however, few specimens of Larides and only one of Phileas were observed in this study. Whether the tibial apex character, which easily separates the observed specimens but was not mentioned by Champion in the original descriptions, will hold for generic distinction when additional specimens and species are observed remains to be seen.

Phylogenetic relationships.

Very similar to Phileas , and as noted by R.S. Anderson (1994: 486) they are possibly congeneric, but insufficient material has been observed to comment further. Both genera share with the South American Timorus the short, robust rostrum, ocular lobes that are more developed than in other genera, and similarly shaped eyes.

Host associations.

R.S. Anderson (1994: 486) reports specimens collected on the mistletoe Struthanthus prob. quercicola (Schltdl. & Cham.) D.Don ( Loranthaceae ).

Described species.

One.

Range.

Mexico.

Figures

Figures 46 - 54. Variation in eye shape. 46 Poecilogaster brevis [ARTSYS 0000805] with relatively vertical, separated eyes 47 Arachnomorpha circumlineata [ARTSYS 0000535] showing subcontiguous eyes separated at the top by a broad interocular space 48 Archocopturus medeterae [ASUHIC 0086637] with subcontiguous eyes separated at the top by a thin lanceolate space 49 Cylindrocopturus quercus [ASUHIC 0016905] with vertical, separated eyes 50 Helleriella longicollis [ASUHIC 0065241] with widely separated eyes and a very thin rostrum 51 Larides cavifrons [ASUHIC 0016882], showing a strongly depressed interocular space 52 Male Lissoderes cecropiae [ASUHIC 0064708] showing oval, subcontiguous eyes and an apical antennal insertion on the rostrum 53 Philenis fuscofemorata [ARTSYS 0000659] showing ovoid eyes and slender antennae 54 Zygopsella ruficauda [ARTSYS 0000526] with a sinuous lateral and mesal margin of the eyes which is strongly inflexed at the lower lateral margin.

Figures 95 - 98. Lateral and dorsal habitus images of Zygopini. Scale bars = 2 mm unless otherwise specified. 95 a-b Cylindrocopturus quercus [ARTSYS 0000819]; scale bars = 1 mm 96 a-b Helleriella longicollis [ASUHIC 0065241] 97 a-b Larides cavifrons [ASUHIC 0016882] 98 a-b Lissoderes subnudus [SSAC 0001136]; scale bars = 1 mm.