Cryptorhynchus Illiger, 1807

Anderson, Robert S., 1807, A Review of the Genus Cryptorhynchus Illiger 1807 in the United States and Canada (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 62 (1), pp. 168-180 : 168-169

Cryptorhynchus Illiger

Cryptorhynchus Illiger 1807:330 . (Complete generic synonymy is presented in Alonso-Zarazaga and Lyal (1999) and is not repeated here.)

Type species. Curculio lapathi Linnaeus 1758 by subsequent designation ( ICZN 1967 :83) .

Diagnosis. Within North America, Cryptorhynchus can be recognized by the following combination of characters. Body size 4.5–9.5 mm in length. Head with eyes separated by slightly less than width of rostrum; eyes partially covered by postocular lobe when head in repose. Rostrum more or less evenly curved, mandibles prominent when closed with visible inner acute tooth. Pronotum

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slightly produced over head but vertex visible in dorsal view. Elytra with intervals flat or with intervals 3 and 5 very slightly convex and with tufts or patches of erect dark scales giving them a more elevated appearance; vestiture of broad scales only, no hairs. Middle coxae widely separated by distance greater than width of coxa. Legs with femora each with one (may be small) or two teeth; tibiae with outer edge simple, not carinate.

Diversity. Cryptorhynchus is a large, cosmopolitan genus. Only a very few species are temperate and the vast majority are tropical in their distributions. For example, some 120+ species are known from Central America (O’Brien and Wibmer 1982). Anderson (2002) mistakenly stated that only four species are present in North America (erroneously excluding C. tristis LeConte and C. woodruffi (Sleeper)) . With the nomenclatural changes reported herein, five species are now recognized as occurring in North America.

Nomenclatural changes. Cryptorhynchus minutissimus LeConte 1876:254 is here removed from Cryptorhynchus and provisionally placed in the genus Acalles Schoenherr as Acalles minutissimus (LeConte) , new combination. It is much smaller in size than other North American Cryptorhynchus and is very similar to Acalles sablensis Blatchley. Both possess a distinct and relatively long metepisternal suture, similar abdominal structure (length of ventrites and depth of sutures), lack teeth on the femora, and have a very similar dorsal scale pattern. Undoubtedly, the definition of Acalles will require modification itself as the continued inclusion of both Old World and New World species in the same genus is questionable. The combination Cryptorhynchus obliquus Say has also been resurrected (see discussion under that species).

Based upon these changes, some modifications to couplet 25 of the key to genera of Cryptorhynchinae in Anderson (2002) can be made as follows.

25(24) Elytra with alternate intervals 3, 5, 7 and 9 elevated and sharply carinate, lacking any tufts of erect scales..................................... Eubulus

- Elytra with intervals 3 and 5 flat to very slightly elevated, not carinate, with tufts or patches of suberect or erect broad, dark scales giving them a more elevated appearance.................................. Cryptorhynchus