Apion

Herbst, 1797

Species Guides

Apion carrorum

Apion is a of small weevils in the Brentidae, historically classified in Apionidae. The genus was established by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst in 1797. in this genus are associated with various plants, with some exhibiting narrow host specificity. The genus has been involved in notable nomenclatural complications, particularly regarding the name Eurhinus which was originally applied to a different apionine genus by Kirby in 1819 before being transferred to the baridine genus Eurhin.

Apion by (c) ajott, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by ajott. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Apion: /ˈæpiˌɒn/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of Apion are small weevils, typically distinguished by their compact body form and relatively short rostrum compared to other brentid groups. The was historically placed in Apionidae, now generally treated as Apioninae within Brentidae. Precise identification to level requires examination of genitalia and other minute morphological characters.

Images

Distribution

Distribution records exist from multiple countries including Colombia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Specific have wider distributions; for example, some Apion species associated with hollyhocks have expanded from central Asia across Europe and into North America since the 1960s.

Similar Taxa

EurhynchusEurhynchus is a in Apioninae that was created by Schönherr in 1833 as a replacement name for Kirby's 1819 use of Eurhinus, which conflicted with Schönherr's 1824 use of Eurhinus for a baridine genus. The two genera have been historically confused due to this nomenclatural entanglement.

More Details

Nomenclatural history

The Apion was involved in a complex nomenclatural case regarding the names Eurhin, Eurhinus, and Eurhynchus. The ICZN eventually ruled to preserve Schönherr's long-accepted usage to maintain nomenclatural stability, suppressing the original avian use of Eurhynchus to allow its application to the apionine weevil genus.

Family placement

Apion has been variously treated as belonging to Apionidae or as the type of Apioninae within family Brentidae. Modern classifications generally favor the latter treatment, with Apionidae reduced to subfamily status.