Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series Volume 8 Number 2 Article 1 11-1966 Rhynchophora beetles of the Nevada Test Site Vasco M. Tanner Department of Zoology and Entomology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib Part of the Anatomy Commons, Botany Commons, Physiology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Tanner, Vasco M. (1966) "Rhynchophora beetles of the Nevada Test Site," Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series: Vol. 8 : No. 2 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib/vol8/iss2/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. ^( Brigham Young University Science Bulletin RHYNCHOPHORA BEETLES OF THE NEVADA TEST SITE by VASCO M. TANNER s^tC 3 1956 UNIVERSITY BIOLOGICAL SERIES — VOLUME VIII, NUMBER 2 ^ NOVEMBER, 1966 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN BIOLOGICAL SERIES Editor: Dorald M. Aixked, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Associate Editor: Eabl M. Chbistensen, Department of Botany, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Members of the Editorial Board: Beck, Bacteriology J. V. C. Lynn Haywabd, Zoology W. Derby Laws, Agronomy How^AED C. Stutz, Botany Wblmer W. Tanner, Zoology, Chairman of the Board Stanley Welsh, Botany Ex officio Members: RUDGERRuDGER H. Walker,^ Dean, College of Biological and Agricultural ScienceSciences Ernest L. 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TANNER BIOLOGICAL SERIES — VOLUME VIII, NUMBER 2 NOVEMBER, 1966 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2 LIST OF THE SPECIES 2 SYSTEMATIC AND ECOLOGICAL DISCUSSION 7 Trigonorhinus irregularis 7 Thinoxenus nevadensis 7 Thricolepis inortuita 8 Eucyllus vagans 9 E. unicolor 9 Aragnomus hispidulus 10 Cryptolepidus leechi 11 C. nevadicus 11 C. aridus 11 C. cazieri 12 Ophrtjastes varius 13 O. gemirmtus 14 Orimodema protracta 14 Paracimbocera atra 15 P. artemisiae 15 Miloderes mercuryensis 16 Dirotognathus sordidus 17 Cleonus denticollis 17 C. lobigerinus 17 Smicromjx imbricatus '. 18 Smicrouyx sp 18 Promecotarsus densus 19 Apion varicome . 19 Auletobius humeralis 19 Auletobius sp 20 Myrmex lineata lineata 20 Magdalis Iccontei tenebrosa , 21 Macrorhoptus hispidus 22 Anthonomus peninsularis 23 A. haematO])us confusus 23 A. hirtus 23 A. omatulus 24 A. sphaeralceae 24 A. cycliferus 24 A. tenuis 24 Epimechus gracilis 25 Brachyogmus ortuttus 25 Tychius prolixus 26 Zascelis irrorata 26 Ceutorhynclius adjunctus 27 C. tescorum 27 Onychobaris mystica 27 O. near depressa 28 Yuccaborus frontalis 29 NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF SOME NEVADA TEST SITE WEEVILS 29 REFERENCES 31 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page L Cidciulru ochrctis, general morphology 3 2. Trigonorhinus irregularis, dorsal view 7 3. Thinoxenus nevadensis, dorsal view 8 4. EiicijUus Vdgans, dorsal view 9 5. Cnjptolcpidus aridus, dorsal view 12 6. Cnjptolepidus aridus, female genitalia 12 7. Cnjptolepidus aridus, spermatheca 12 S. Mitodcres mercuryensis, dorsal view 16 9. Miloderes mercuryensis, aedeagus 16 10. Magdalis lecontei tenebrosa 21 11. Map of the areas of the Nevada Test Site 33 12. Extent of the major plant communities of die Nevada Test Site 34 LIST OF TAXONOMIC KEYS Page Families of Rhynchophora 4 Subfamilies of Anthribidae 4 Subfamilies of Curculionidae 4 Species of Eucyllus 8 Species of Cryptolepidus 10 Species of Ophryastes 13 Species of Paracimbocera 15 Species of Miloderes 15 Species of Promecotarsus 19 Genera of Myrmecinae 20 Genera of Anthonomini 21 Species of Macrorhoptus 22 Subgenera of Anthonomus 23 Species of Zascelis 26 Species of Yuccahorus 28 RHYNCHOPHORA BEETLES OF THE NEVADA TEST SITE' by Vasco M. Tanner" INTRODUCTION It is interesting to contemplate the progress representing 28 genera and 44 species was col- that is taking place in the accumulation of in- lected. formation and imderstanding of the large and The fauna of this southern portion of the interesting group of snout beetles, the Rhyncho- Great Basin is tvpicalh Sonoran in its insect ele- phora. Following the major contributions made ments. The summers are iiot and long; whereas by LeConte, Horn, Say, Casey, Blatchley, Leng, the winters are mild and short. Allred, Beck, and Fall, Schaeffer, and Dietz, there was a decided Jorgensen (1963a) reported temperatures of 112° lull and lack of interest in the study of the wee- F in July. Van Dyke (1939) pointed out that the vils. Within the past 30 vears, however, many Sonoran fauna is a peculiar one, well adapted new workers have been attracted to the study of to its environment. The dominant gi'oups of in- the Curculionidae of this country. Attention has sects in this fauna are such coleopterous families been turned to careful curating and amassing in as the Tenebrionidae or darkling beetles (Tan- permanent collections of the old and newly col- ner and Packham, 1965), the Meloidae or blister lected specimens of Nearctic species. Major con- beetles, and somewhat related Alleculidae and tributions by recent workers which must be con- Oedemeridae, and a certain large element of sulted when studying this insect complex have broad-nosed weevils like the Brachyrhinae been made bv such authorities, to name a few, (Otorhvnchinae) as well as numerous genera of as Pierce, Van Dyke, Buchannan, Ting, Sleeper, Buprestidae or jewel beetles. Other dominant Warner (Mrs. Spilman), Kissinger, Burk, Gilbert, insects than the beetles which favor these areas and Anderson. are the Bombyliidae or bee flies (Allred, Johnson, Two timely and useful recent contributions and Beck, 1965) and the Asilidae or robber flies are Amett's "The Beetles of the United States, A among the Diptera. The great portion of the Manual for Identification," and Kissinger's "Cur- adult beetles are nocturnal, burving themselves culionidae of America North of Mexico, A Key to in the soil during the day, and most of their the Genera 1964." These bring together and make larvae are subterranean in habit. Many of the available information on the weevils that will nocturnal forms are somber in color or with very greatly facilitate research work on this difficult little color, the diurnal forms often gray and group. many of them very hairy, as is true of many There is great need for careful internal as desert plants. Though so very distinct and highly well as external morphological studies of the modified, I am convinced that most of this fauna weevil genera. Without doubt, the more than has been derived from the Neotropical or South 3,600 genera can be reduced in number and a American fauna. Species of the tribe Anthono- better understanding of their phvlogenv brought mini which live mainlv in the flowers, fruits, and to light. Too little is known about the immature seeds of plants are well represented. stages and food habits of the United States The plant communities of the test site were weevils. It is the aim of this study to classify deteiTnined and discussed by Allred, Beck, and those collected at the Nevada Test Site (Fig. 11) Jorgensen (1963a, 1963b). They used t^^'o major according to latest available studies and to report tvpes of vegetation at the test site which they their seasonal abundance and plant hosts. No divided into plant communities (Fig. 12). The special effort was made to collect Rhynchophora; Desert Scrub tvpe was divided into the Larrea- only specimens that were trapped along with Franseria, Gravia-Lycium, Coleogyne, Atriplex- other insects or were occasionally taken from Kochia, and Salsola communities. The Desert plants came into this collection. The collecting Woodland t\^:>e was designated as one commun- extended from autumn, 1959 to and including ity, the Pinyon-Juniper. Some areas were not the summer of 1965. A total of 310 specimens typical of the above plant communities, and iReport B,Y,U-A,EC. COO-1 355-U. Field work npleted under AEC ATi III )--.Sl. and .Vrdl-ll-l U 2Departnient of Zoology and Entomology, Brigha Young University, Pr Brigham Young University Science Bulletin Allred et al. proposed that mountain areas, natur- collected are given. Specimens taken in can traps al springs, reservoirs, and playas be grouped to- are related only to the plant community where gether as mixed communities. trapped. This may not be entirelv accurate since In this study the weevil species are discussed it does not account for the flight or movement of under plant relationships, and the number of the specimens from contiguous areas. specimens collected, month and year of collec- Very little information, if any, on the life tion, and plant host or plant communities where history of species of this study was obtained. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to many individuals who were University, who kindly furnished liis opinion on associated the collecting, preparing, fur- species of Antlionomini, with and some and Harold J. nishing of ecological information on the weevils Grant, Academy of Natural Science of Pliiladel- from the Nevada Test Site. Tins study was made phia, who made it possible for the author to com- possible by a grant to Brigham Young University pare and study many species of the Mason from the Atomic Energy Commission, contract weevil collection at the academy. Mrs. Rose Ella AT(ll-l)-786.