Lixinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Curculionoidea
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Lixinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lixinae: /ˈlɪksɪniː/

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

Images

Larinus curtus by Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org - See more at: http://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5436296#sthash.LL9XAFIr.dpuf. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Weevil bio control - Black Hills National Forest - 1 by Black Hills National Forest

U.S. Forest Service. Used under a Public domain license.

Larinus turbinatus (8904243897) by Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Larinus turbinatus pronotum by Siga. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Larinus minutus emergence hole by Gary Brown, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Larinus turbinatus (Curculionidae spec.), Elst (Gld), the Netherlands - 3 by Bj.schoenmakers. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Lixinae is a subfamily of true weevils mainly consisting of root feeders; some are important in biological control of weeds, particularly in Western North America. Their presence in diverse habitats and distinctive physical traits allow for differentiation from other beetle families.

Physical Characteristics

Body is elongate in shape, tarsal claws fused at the base, short and telescoping labial palps, and each tibia bears a distal uncus (small hook) with a forwardly directed rostrum.

Identification Tips

Look for tarsal claws fused at the base, an elongate body shape, and check for the rostrum orientation.

Habitat

Usually associated with mesic habitats; members of Cleonini found more in arid habitats, while Lixini prefer more mesic conditions.

Distribution

Approximately 110 species in North America, with about 1,500 species worldwide. Much more diverse in drier regions of the Old World.

Diet

Larvae mine stems or roots; some species, like Rhinocyllus, Larinus, and Microlarinus, feed in flower heads or on seeds.

Ecosystem Role

Some species are used for biological control of invasive weeds, such as knapweeds (Centaurea).

Economic Impact

Several species introduced for weed control, impacting agricultural practices.

Evolution

Believed to have originated in Euroasian lands when the Tethys Ocean diminished, with adaptations occurring in arid conditions of the Ancient Mediterranean.

Similar Taxa

Cleoninae
Curculionidae

Misconceptions

Some older classifications included this group under Molytinae, leading to confusion in taxonomical rankings.