Trigonorhinus riddelliae
Trigonorhinus riddelliae is a of fungus weevil in the Anthribidae. It belongs to the tribe Eugonini, which comprises small to medium-sized weevils often associated with fungal substrates. The Trigonorhinus is characterized by its distinctive triangular rostrum shape. This species is part of a poorly studied group of North American anthribids with limited published biological information.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Trigonorhinus riddelliae: /ˌtraɪɡənoʊˈraɪnəs rɪˈdɛli.aɪ/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Trigonorhinus riddelliae can be distinguished from other Trigonorhinus by the combination of: triangular rostrum with lateral margins converging strongly toward the apex; antennal scape extending beyond the margin of the ; and specific elytral sculpturing patterns. The species name honors the collector, suggesting the type series was based on specimens from a specific collector's efforts. Close examination of rostral shape and antennal proportions is required for accurate species-level identification within this .
Distribution
United States (type locality and associated collection records)
Similar Taxa
- Trigonorhinus rotundatusShares the triangular rostrum characteristic of the but differs in rostral proportions and antennal scape length relative to position
- Other Eugonini generaSimilar small anthribid but distinguished by the unique triangular rostrum shape that gives Trigonorhinus its name
More Details
Taxonomic Note
The epithet 'riddelliae' is a Latin genitive form honoring a female collector, likely Mrs. Riddell or a collector with the surname Riddell. This follows the standard practice in entomology of using genitive case for patronyms. The species was described in the 20th century as part of revisions to North American Anthribidae, though exact publication details require verification against primary literature.
Data Limitations
This is known from few specimens in museum collections. Published biological data including associations, seasonal activity, and stages are absent from the accessible literature. Most information about the species comes from taxonomic descriptions rather than ecological studies.