Hylobiini

Hylobiini can be distinguished from other Molytinae tribes by morphological characters of the genus Heilipus and related genera, though specific diagnostic features for the tribe as a whole are not detailed in available sources. The subtribes are distinguished by genus-level assemblages: Epistrophina contains genera such as Cyriaspis and Epistrophus; Hylobiina contains the large genus Heilipus along with Hylobius, Pachylobius, and numerous other genera; Incertae sedis includes genera of uncertain placement such as Achelocis and Tranes.

Associated with forests and woodlands containing host plants in the family Lauraceae. In the United States, found in coastal plains, swampy areas, and forests with potential native Lauraceae hosts including pondberry, pondspice, redbay, and sassafras. In Brazil, occurs in south and southeast regions in association with Lauraceae fruit-bearing trees.

Americas. The genus Heilipus contains 89 described species with 28 species occurring in Brazil. The sole United States representative, Heilipus squamosus, occurs in the southeastern United States and has been recorded from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Variable across genera. Heilipus species function as seed predators, with larvae developing within fruits of Lauraceae. Heilipus squamosus larvae feed under bark near ground level and can girdle trees. Host plants include avocado (Persea americana), pondberry (Lindera melissifolia), pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), redbay (Persea borbonia), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), Ocotea puberula, and Nectandra angustifolia.

• Lindera melissifolia - suspected native hostpondberry, unconfirmed by rearing records
• Litsea aestivalis - suspected native hostpondspice, unconfirmed by rearing records
• Persea borbonia - suspected native hostredbay, unconfirmed by rearing records
• Sassafras albidum - suspected native hostunconfirmed by rearing records
• Persea americana - pest hostavocado, confirmed host for Heilipus squamosus in Florida
• Cinnamomum camphora - non-native hostcamphor, recorded for Heilipus squamosus
• Ocotea puberula - confirmed hostrearing records for Heilipus vividaensis and H. draco in Brazil
• Nectandra angustifolia - confirmed hostrearing records for Heilipus vividaensis and H. draco in Brazil
• Diospyros virginiana - possible hostwild persimmon, three specimens from Virginia, unconfirmed
• Apocynum cannabinum - possible hostdogbane hemp, one observation from Virginia, unconfirmed

Larvae of Heilipus species develop within fruits of Lauraceae, acting as seed predators. Heilipus squamosus larvae feed under bark near ground level and can girdle trees; an unidentified larva similar in size to adult was found causing feeding damage to the root collar at the base of a pondberry plant.

Heilipus squamosus adults are found on host plants; debarking damage has been observed on pondspice and redbay branches. The species was historically considered rare outside avocado-producing areas but appears more abundant based on recent citizen science observations. Sympatric occurrence of closely related Heilipus species on shared host plants has been documented in Brazil.

Seed predator on Lauraceae fruits. Heilipus squamosus is a pest of avocado, causing 8-10% tree loss in Florida groves during the 1940s-1950s. Potential association with threatened and endangered native Lauraceae: pondberry is federally endangered and pondspice is federally threatened. The tribe may be affected by the spread of laurel wilt disease, which threatens native Lauraceae hosts.

Heilipus squamosus was a major pest of avocado in Florida during the mid-20th century, causing significant economic damage. The species was historically rare in collections, with only 57 specimens known, but citizen science data has revealed it to be more widely distributed than previously recognized.

• Other Molytinae tribesHylobiini is distinguished within Molytinae by its subtribal structure and association with Lauraceae, though specific morphological distinctions from other tribes are not detailed in available sources.

• weevil
• Lauraceae
• seed predator
• pest
• bark borer
• Americas
• avocado pest
• forest insect

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Sympatric species of Heilipus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Hylobiini) on fruits of Lauraceae: a new species from Brazil and redescription of Heilipus draco (Fabricius, 1801)
• Heilipus squamosus (LeConte, 1824): clarification of the correct name for the “avocado tree girdler” with updates on its biology and distribution (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae, Hylobiini)
• Figure 1 from: Anzaldo SS, Díaz-Grisales V (2022) Heilipus squamosus (LeConte, 1824): clarification of the correct name for the “avocado tree girdler” with updates on its biology and distribution (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae, Hylobiini). Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e85499. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e85499
• Figure 2 from: Anzaldo SS, Díaz-Grisales V (2022) Heilipus squamosus (LeConte, 1824): clarification of the correct name for the “avocado tree girdler” with updates on its biology and distribution (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae, Hylobiini). Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e85499. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e85499
• Supplementary material 1 from: Anzaldo SS, Díaz-Grisales V (2022) Heilipus squamosus (LeConte, 1824): clarification of the correct name for the “avocado tree girdler” with updates on its biology and distribution (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae, Hylobiini). Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e85499. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e85499
• Supplementary material 2 from: Anzaldo SS, Díaz-Grisales V (2022) Heilipus squamosus (LeConte, 1824): clarification of the correct name for the “avocado tree girdler” with updates on its biology and distribution (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae, Hylobiini). Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e85499. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e85499