Zygopini Lacordaire, 1865: 150

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 : 85-86

Zygopini Lacordaire, 1865: 150

Classificatory history and current circumscription.

This tribe was originally characterized by Lacordaire (1865: 150) for the genera Zygops , Peltophorus , Copturus , Timorus and Hemigaster (= Hemicolpus ) by a more-or-less canaliculate prosternum, a flat, unmodified mesoventrite, and straight, carinate hind femora that can exceed the apex of the abdomen. Presently, the genera placed in Zygopini lack sclerolepidia (except for Arachnomorpha , Lissoderes , and some species of Philenis ) and lack modification to the mesoventrite (except Peltophorus and most species of Philenis ). Davis and Engel (2006) also suggested the "strongly protuberant compound eyes, deeply depressed pronotal lateral-facing surfaces, and relatively large genae", but these features are also shared with several lechriopine genera.

As indicated previously, of the genera currently placed in the Zygopini from the focal region, Zygops and Peltophorus are quite distinct from the rest with a large, exposed pygidium that is at least mostly visible in dorsal view and abdominal ventrites that do not ascend rapidly, a fifth abdominal ventrite that is arcuate in lateral profile (deflected apically downwards by the large pygidium). Additionally, most observed specimens of these genera have a quadrate to transversely rectangular scutellum (visible in Fig. 102b ). The Dominican and Mexican amber fossil genus Geratozygops appears to belong to this group of "true zygopines", and as best could be determined from the images provided by Davis and Engel (2006) and Poinar and Legalov (2013) the species would key out to Zygops in the above key. Latychus , the South American piazurine proposed by Prena et al. (2014: 300) to be the identity of Geratozygops , would run to couplets 7-10, which treats the Piazurini .

The genera besides Zygops and Peltophorus can be identified by having the following combination of characters: a concealed pygidium, strongly ascending abdominal ventrites, and a second funicular article that is subequal to or shorter than article 1 (except Philenis and some Cylindrocopturus ).

Variation in key character systems.

The mesoventrite of most genera and species is unmodified, with exceptions being found in Peltophorus (which has the mesoventrite ventrally produced and nearly cup-like, Fig. 16 ), a few species of Zygops (with the posterolateral margins tumescent or with small processes), most species of Philenis (with a posteromedial semicircular depression and posterolateral tubercles, Fig. 17 ), and a few other species with slight posteromedial depressions (e.g. Archocopturus championi Hespenheide, 2005). The general form of the tibial apex varies little from the typical conoderine form apart from having a very short and curved uncus (in Helleriella Champion, 1906 and Peltophorus , Figs 30 and 33 , respectively), a minute premucro (in Lissoderes and Arachnomorpha , Figs 27 and 31 , respectively), and a premucro oriented at a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis of the tibia (in Phileas Champion, 1906 and Philenis , Figs 32 and 35 , respectively).

Diversity and distribution.

Eighty-three species are currently known from the 11 genera occuring north of South America. An additional 8 genera occur exclusively in South America and two more are also recorded from Africa.

Figures

Figures 99 - 102. Lateral and dorsal habitus images of Zygopini. Scale bars = 2 mm unless otherwise specified. 99 a-b Peltophorus polymitus suffusus [ASUHIC 0016837]. 100 a-b Phileas granulatus [ARTSYS 0000528]. 101 a-b Philenis flavipes [ASUHIC 0065102]; scale bar for 101 a = 1 mm 102 a-b Zygops vitticollis [ASUHIC 0086634]; scale bar for 102 b = 5 mm.

Figures 10 - 18. Variation in the mesoventrite. 10 Lechriops californicus [ASUHIC 0024146] showing relatively parallel carinae marking the lateral margin of the rostral channel and a closure of the channel on the metaventrite 11 Microzygops nigrofasciatus [ARTSYS 0000797] with tubercles anterior to the mesocoxae and slight, arcuate carinae on the anterior region of the mesoventrite (encircling the central scaled region) 12 Paramnemyne decemcostata [ARTSYS 0000798] showing tuberculate posterolateral margins of the mesoventrite and a transverse carina near the posterior margin of the metaventrite 13 Pseudolechriops klopferi [SSAC 0001060] showing a deep ovoid receptacle on the meso- and metaventrite 14 Turcopus viscivorus [ARTSYS 0000530] showing a receptacle on the mesoventrite with prominently carinate posterior margin 15 Lissoderes subnudus [SSAC 0001066] showing a completely unmodified mesoventrite covered with multifid setae 16 Peltophorus adustus [ASUHIC 0031514] showing a ventrally expanded posterior margin of the mesoventrite to receive the rostrum in repose 17 Philenis fuscofemorata [ARTSYS 0000659] with tubercles at the posterolateral margins of the mesoventrite and a deep depression at the posterior margin in between 18 Philinna bicristata [ARTSYS 0000799] showing slight lamellate processes at the posterolateral margins of the mesoventrite as well as transversely flattened projections behind the procoxae.

Figures 19 - 36. Variation in the metatibial apex. 19 Mesotibial apex of Lechriops vestitus illustrating parts of the tibial apex: a) posterior apical angle with large, curved uncus; b) middle of the apex with produced, rounded inner flange; c) anterior apical margin with premucro; d) oblique ridge of premucro; e) apical setal tuft 20 Male Trichodocerus brevilineatus [ARTSYS 0000609] with a tibial uncus arising at the middle of the apex 21 Cratosomus punctulatus mexicanus [ASUHIC 0031510] with thick fascicles of golden setae near the anterior apical margin and a dense setal brush at the posterior apical face 22 Pseudopiazurus centraliamericanus [ASUHIC 0086627] with a large, subapical premucro 23 Piazurus laetus [SSAC 0001077], showing a typical tibial apex for that genus 24 Acoptus suturalis [ASUHIC 0016915] 25 Cylindrocopturinus pictus [SSAC 0001288] with a pointed, premucro-like inner flange 26 Pseudolechriops klopferi [SSAC 0001060] showing an elongate, uncus-like inner flange. 27 Arachnomorpha circumlineata [ARTSYS 0000535] 28 Archocopturus medeterae [ASUHIC 16884] 29 Cylindrocopturus adspersus [ASUHIC 0016896] with a rounded, produced inner flange 30 Helleriella longicollis [ASUHIC 0065241] with a very short uncus 31 Lissoderes cecropiae [ASUHIC 0064707] with an elongate uncus and minute premucro 32 Phileas granulatus [ARTSYS 0000528] with the middle of the apex (between uncus and premucro) sunken 33 Peltophorus adustus [ASUHIC 0012325] with a short uncus and posterodistal setal comb extending halfway to the base of the tibia 34 Zygops erythropygus [ASUHIC 0086640] with short posterodistal setal comb. 35 Philenis flavipes [ASUHIC 0065102] 36 Philinna bicristata [ARTSYS 0000799] with a small tooth at the anterior apical angle.