Conoderinae

Conoderinae is distinguished from other curculionid subfamilies by a combination of characters including: extraordinarily convex body shape in many groups (especially Orobitiditae); bent rostrum; fused meso- and metasternum; first ventrite no longer than second; and claws with appendages fused in entire median process. Some groups possess unique stridulatory devices. The subfamily includes species with striking aposematic coloration, including iridescent blue-green scales, red-eyed fly mimicry patterns, and bold pronotal striping or spotting.

Primarily tropical middle-elevation wet forests, where species are commonly found on the underside of foliage and on upright or fallen tree trunks. Some lineages occupy temperate deciduous woodlands, forest edges, nutrient-poor grasslands, limestone grasslands, marshes, sand dunes, and cliffs. Saproxylic species occur in dead branches of fallen trees.

Worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in the Neotropics. Five tribes and 62 genera occur in the New World, with 39 extant genera in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. No genera are endemic to the Caribbean. Palaearctic representatives include species ranging from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean, with extensions into Siberia, central and east Asia, and Asia Minor. Some species have been recorded from China.

Highly variable across the subfamily and poorly documented for most taxa. Larvae of some lineages are predispersal seed predators, feeding and developing within fruits (e.g., Hemicolpus in Rubiaceae; Orobitis cyanea in Violaceae). Other groups are thought to be mainly wood or stem borers as larvae. Host associations include Urticaceae (stems and petioles), Lecythidaceae (dead branches), Cecropia (leaves), Araceae, and Cactaceae (Opuntia).

• Rubiaceae - larval development in fruitsHemicolpus species; Central American species from Randia, South American species from Tocoyena formosa and Randia ferox
• Violaceae - larval development in seed capsulesOrobitis cyanea from Viola canina, with feeding holes on V. riviniana; also V. arvensis and V. tricolor
• Pinaceae - larval galleries in dead branchesEuryommatus mariae from fallen Picea abies
• Hamamelidaceae - host plant associationEuryommatus berytensis with Liquidambar orientalis
• Urticaceae - stems and petioles
• Lecythidaceae - dead branches
• Cecropia - leavesfor Lissoderes and Pseudolechriops
• Araceaetwo Philenis species associated
• CactaceaeCylindrocopturus species associated with Opuntia

Immature stages are known only from a few species of agricultural or research importance. Larvae of seed-feeding species develop within fruits or seed capsules, with pupation occurring inside the larval feeding chamber. Wood-boring species construct galleries in dead branches. Larval morphology varies considerably among supertribes; the mature larva and pupa of Orobitis cyanea exhibit unique characters that support the systematic isolation of Orobitiditae.

Adults are very active and alert, exhibiting squirrel-like behavior; quick to fly when threatened. Many species perch motionlessly on tree trunks. Most species are thought to be diurnal. Some lineages exhibit specialized escape mechanisms: Orobitis cyanea displays seed-imitating thanatosis behavior combined with a smooth, rounded, nearly spherical body shape. Multiple independent origins of mimicry complexes occur: 'red-eyed fly' mimicry (evasive mimicry of red-eyed flies), 'striped/spotted' patterns (bright pronotum with red to white elytral markings), and 'shiny blue' iridescent coloration. Timorus sarcophagoides mimics flesh-flies (Sarcophagidae). Some species have limited dispersal due to reduced or non-existent wings.

Predispersal seed predators in some lineages, potentially influencing plant reproductive success. Saproxylic species contribute to decomposition of dead wood. Members of mimicry complexes participate in multi-species defensive associations. Poorly known ecosystem roles for the majority of species due to lack of biological data.

Some species associated with agricultural or economically important plants, including Opuntia (prickly pear cacti). Generally not considered major agricultural pests. Taxonomic interest due to complex classification and mimicry evolution. Some species extremely rare and of conservation interest in Europe (e.g., Euryommatus mariae).

• MolytinaeSome molytine weevils share similar convex body shapes and seed-feeding habits; Leiosoma cribrum is also a Viola specialist with spherical body form, but differs in tribal and supertribal placement
• Baridinae (sensu stricto)Historical confusion in classification; Bariditae now placed within Conoderinae as a supertribe, but previously treated as separate subfamily

• Curculionidae
• weevils
• true weevils
• seed predators
• wood borers
• mimicry
• myrmecophily
• aposematic coloration
• Neotropical
• tropical forest

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Morphology of immature stages, biology, and systematic position of the Violet seed weevil, Orobitis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Curculionidae, Conoderinae, Orobitiditae, Orobitidini)
• A Review of Philenis Champion, 1906 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), with Descriptions of New Species from Central and South America
• Review of the genera of Conoderinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
• A remarkable new species of flesh-fly mimicking weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) from Southeastern Brazil
• Adult Postabdomen, Immature Stages and Biology of Euryommatus mariae Roger, 1856 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), a Legendary Weevil in Europe
• A New Eulechriopsfrom Arizona and México (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) with Distributional Notes for Other Species in the Genus
• Cylindrocopturus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) Species Associated withOpuntia(Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) Species
• <h1>An annotated checklist of supertribe Bariditae Schönherr, 1833 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Conoderinae) in southeastern Baltic region</h1>
• Two New Species of Lissoderes Champion, 1906 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) with Comments on the Ecology of the Genus
• Figure 14 from: Gosik R, Sprick P (2022) Morphology of immature stages, biology, and systematic position of the Violet seed weevil, Orobitis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Curculionidae, Conoderinae, Orobitiditae, Orobitidini). ZooKeys 1121: 59-82. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1121.86888
• A new seed-feeding species of Hemicolpus Heller, 1895 from south Brazil and redescription of Hemicolpus abdominalis Hustache, 1938 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae)
• On the occurrences of Euryommatus berytensis (Marseul, 1868) and E. mariae Roger, 1856 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) in the western Palaearctic, and further considerations on the host plant of E. berytensis
• Phenotypic analysis of aposematic conoderine weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae) supports the existence of three large mimicry complexes
• Figure 12 from: Gosik R, Sprick P (2022) Morphology of immature stages, biology, and systematic position of the Violet seed weevil, Orobitis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Curculionidae, Conoderinae, Orobitiditae, Orobitidini). ZooKeys 1121: 59-82. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1121.86888
• Figure 6 from: Gosik R, Sprick P (2022) Morphology of immature stages, biology, and systematic position of the Violet seed weevil, Orobitis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Curculionidae, Conoderinae, Orobitiditae, Orobitidini). ZooKeys 1121: 59-82. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1121.86888