Microzurus Heller, 1895: 13

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 : 81

Microzurus Heller, 1895: 13 Figs 58 , 85

Type species.

Microzurus rhombus Heller, 1895 [by monotypy].

Gender.

Masculine.

Diagnosis.

Microzurus can be differentiated from Copturus by the lack of a ventral tooth on the profemora, a thin fifth tarsomere with minute tarsal claws (Fig. 58 ), and costate elytral intervals. Champion (1906: 89) described two species that have shallow or absent modification to the mesoventrite - no material was observed of the species without modification ( M. edentatus Champion, 1906), but the species would still be easily recognized as a Microzurus by the concealed scutellum, minute tarsal claws, and absent ventral tooth on the pro- and mesofemora. The second funicular article is not longer than the first and the hind femora are carinate and ventrally toothed. The observed species have a similarly apically laterally flanged receptacle of the mesoventrite as in Copturus , though it is usually much less prominent.

Phylogenetic relationships.

Hespenheide (1984) suggested a relationship between Microzurus and Cylindrocopturinus . Microzurus is here interpreted as closely related to Copturus , but the position of those two genera within the lechriopines is uncertain. See entry on Copturus .

Host associations.

Hespenheide (1984: 316) reported the possibility of seed-feeding based on label data. Costa-Lima (1956: 219) mentions South American species on fruits of Campomanesia Ruiz & Pav. and Psidium guajava ( Myrtaceae ).

Described species.

Three species are known from the focal region and an additional four species are known from South America ( Wibmer and O’Brien 1986: 266).

Range.

Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama; South America.

Figures

Figures 55 - 66. Miscellaneous morphological structures. 55 Hoplocopturus sulphureus [ARTSYS 0000801] with an overlay showing an elongate second funicular article that is more than twice the length of the first 56 Lissoderes subnudus [SSAC 0001064] with an overlay showing a second funicular article that is subequal to the first, and seven distinct funicular articles 57 Philinna bicristata [ARTSYS 0000799] showing a funiculus composed of six articles 58 Microzurus sp. [SSAC 0001290] showing a short, slender fifth tarsal article and minute claws 59 Philides comans [ARTSYS 0000804] with a broad tooth at the base of the tarsal claw 60 Left metafemoral apex of Piazurus trifoveatus [SSAC 0001118] that is unarmed at the mesal and lateral faces 61 Left metafemoral apex of Cylindrocopturinus pictus [SSAC 0001288] with a tooth only at the mesal face 62 Left metafemoral apex of Peltophorus polymitus seminiveus [SSAC 0001117] showing a small tooth at both mesal and lateral faces 63 Left metafemoral apex of Hoplocopturus sulphureus [ARTSYS 0000801] showing a small tooth at the lateral face and an acuminate process at the mesal face 64 Metaventrite of Pseudopiazurus centraliamericanus [SSAC 0001291] showing deep, arcuate sulc 65 Lateral view of the metathorax of Euzurus ornativentris [ARTSYS 0000796] showing a large tubercle in anterior to the metacoxa 66 Dorsal view of the profemora of Copturomimus caeruleotinctus [SSAC 0001059] showing denuded, striolate regions.

Figures 83 - 86. Lateral and dorsal habitus images of Lechriopini. 83 a-b Macrocopturus lynceus [SSAC 0001085] 84 a-b Macrolechriops spinicoxis [ARTSYS 0000529]. 85 a-b Microzurus championi [ASUHIC 0031507] 86 a-b Microzygops nigrofasciatus [ARTSYS 0000802]. Scale bars = 2 mm.