Naupactus, Dejean, 1821

Kuschel, Guillermo, 2008, Curculionoidea (weevils) of New Caledonia and Vanuatu: Basal families and some Curculionidae, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 197, pp. 99-250 : 121

Genus NAUPACTUS Dejean

Naupactus Dejean, 1821: 94 (type species Curculio rivulosus Olivier ). — Schoenherr 1833: 567. — Lanteri & Marvaldi 1995: 206.

DESCRIPTION. — Head not constricted across behind eyes. Rostrum with median sulcus not extending much beyond imaginary line across head from hind margin of eyes; with rather sharp carina close to sides. Antennae passing below eyes to reach front margin of prothorax. Eyes weakly protruding, slightly asymmetric. More sharply curved in front than at back. Mandibular scar distinctly grooved. Corbel plate rudimentary.

DISTRIBUTION. — Over most of the Neotropic.

BIOLOGY. — Larvae are free living soil inhabitants feeding on roots, adults feeding on fresh leaves and tissues.

ETYMOLOGY. — ‘Naupáctus’ is apparently just a toponym referring to the old Greek port Náupaktos (meaning ‘boat tie-up’).

REMARKS. — A large genus with hundreds of species, most of them full-winged. The Naupactus group of genera ( Naupactini ) is well-characterised by special features of the ovipositor. Females have a very long, slender ovipositor, much like that of Irenimus Pascoe of the Brachyolus group of genera described by Kuschel (1969). The proximal hemisternites are largely depigmented and membranous, except for flexible rods, in either group. This group, however, differs in having proximal hemisternites that are considerably longer and vaginae that are considerably shorter than in the Brachyolus group.