Microcholus
LeConte, J.L., 1876
Species Guides
1- Microcholus striatus(flower weevil)
Microcholus is a of flower weevils in the Curculionidae, established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1876. The genus contains at least four described , all named by LeConte in the late 19th century. As flower weevils, members of this genus are presumed to be associated with flowering plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The genus is part of the extraordinarily diverse weevil family, which contains over 80,000 described species worldwide.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Microcholus: /ˌmaɪkroʊˈkoʊləs/
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Identification
Microcholus can be distinguished from other flower weevil by a combination of characters described in LeConte's original works, though modern diagnostic features require examination. The four described species—M. erasus, M. laevicollis, M. puncticollis, and M. striatus—were differentiated based on subtle variations in punctuation, striation patterns, and pronotal . Specific identification keys for this genus are not widely available in general entomological literature.
Distribution
of Microcholus have been recorded from North America, based on the geographic scope of LeConte's 19th-century collecting and descriptions. The precise ranges of individual species are not well documented in readily accessible sources.
Similar Taxa
- Other flower weevil genera in CurculionidaeMicrocholus shares the general habitus of small to medium-sized weevils associated with flowers, but lacks the distinctive features that define better-known such as Anthonomus or Tychius. Differentiation requires examination of rostral proportions, antennal insertion points, and detailed body .
More Details
Taxonomic history
All four described were named by John Lawrence LeConte, the most prolific 19th-century American coleopterist. Three species were described in 1876, with M. erasus added in 1880. The has received limited subsequent taxonomic attention.
Data deficiency
No observations of Microcholus are recorded in iNaturalist, and the appears to be rarely encountered or reported in modern entomological surveys. This may reflect genuine rarity, undercollection, or taxonomic obscurity rather than absence.