Larinus

Larinus is a genus of true weevils, comprising about 180 species, mostly in the Palaearctic region with some species introduced to North America. Turkey appears to have a significant diversity of the group, with more than 50 species recorded in the eastern part of the country.

Several of these beetles are used as agents of biological pest control against noxious weeds. They feed on flower heads, destroying the developing seeds of the weeds.

Description

In simple terms, Larinus are black weevils with stocky bodies. They are rounded and slightly oblate dorsoventrally. They are covered in sparse hairs.

According to a more detailed description, Larinus are stocky in shape unlike the related genus Lixus. The rostrum is almost always shorter than the pronotum or as long as the pronotum. There are antennal furrows on the rostrum and these do not extend forward to the tip. The eyes are flat or slightly bulging. The pronotum is always transverse and strongly narrowed towards the front. On the sides of the pronotum are light gray or yellowish hairs. The elytra are short, usually about 1.5 times as long as their total width. The apices of the elytra are rounded together. In fresh specimens, the elytra are mottled with irregular patches of pale hairs. The legs are short and robust.

Ecology

Larvae of Larinus live in flower heads of plants in the family Asteraceae. They consume ovarioles, achenes and receptacle tissue. They also pupate in flower heads. Adults feed on leaves, stems, flowers, buds, peduncles and possibly pollen of their host plants.

Species

These species belong to the genus Larinus:

• Larinus araxicola Gultekin, 2006
• Larinus bombycinus <small>Lucas, H., 1847</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus brevis
• Larinus bronni <small>Heyden, C. von & Heyden, L. von., 1866</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus byrrhinus <small>(Sparrman, A., 1785)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus cardopatii <small>Lucas, H., 1847</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus carlinae <small>Olivier, 1807</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus carthami <small>Olivier, 1807</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus centaurea Oliver, 1807
• Larinus centaurii <small>Olivier, 1807</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus cuniculus <small>Olivier, 1807</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus curtus <small>Hochhuth, 1851</small><span style="color:gray">^b</span> (yellow star thistle flower weevil)
• Larinus cylindrus <small>Hoffmann, 1963</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus cynarae <small>(Fabricius, J.C., 1787)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus filiformis Petri
• Larinus flavescens
• Larinus gigas
• Larinus gravidus <small>Olivier, 1807</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus grisescens Gyllenhal
• Larinus hierolosymae <small>Desbrochers, 1896</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus iaceae <small>(Fabricius, J.C., 1775)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus jaceae <small>(Fabricius, 1775)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus latus <small>(Herbst, J.F.W., 1783)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus longirostris <small>Foerster, B., 1891</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus minutus <small>Gyllenhal, 1835</small><span style="color:gray">^b</span> (seedhead weevil)
• Larinus nanus <small>Lucas, H., 1847</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus numidicus <small>Desbrochers, 1892</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus obtusus <small>Sturm, 1826</small><span style="color:gray">^b</span> (knapweed seedhead weevil)
• Larinus ochreatus <small>Schoenherr, 1835</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus onopordi <small>(Fabricius, J.C., 1787)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus orientalis Capiomont, 1874
• Larinus planus <small>(Fabricius, 1792)</small><span style="color:gray">^{i g b}</span> (Canada thistle bud weevil, 2016 synonym of L. carlinae)
• Larinus pollinis <small>(Laicharting, J.N.E. von, 1781)</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus scolymi <small>Germar, 1824</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus senilis <small>Fabricius, 1801</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus serratulae <small>Capiomont, 1874</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus sibiricus
• Larinus sturnus <small>Schaller, 1783</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus turbinatus <small>Gyllenhal, 1835</small><span style="color:gray">^b</span>
• Larinus ursus <small>Germar, 1824</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>
• Larinus vulpes <small>Olivier, 1807</small><span style="color:gray">^g</span>

Data sources: i = ITIS, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net

References