October - December 2002 561 SYSTEMATICS, MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY Weevils Injurious for Roots of Citrus in São Paulo State, Brazil ANALÍA A. LANTERI1, JERSON C. GUEDES2 AND JOSÉ R.P. PARRA3 1 Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, (1900) La Plata, Argentina 2Depto. Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS 3Depto. Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola, ESALQ/USP, 13 418-900, Piracicaba, SP Neotropical Entomology 31(4):561-569 (2002) Curculionídeos que Atacam as Raízes dos Citros no Estado de São Paulo RESUMO - São registradas dez espécies de Entiminae, Naupactini que ocorrem em Citrus no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A maioria das espécies pertence ao gênero Naupactus Dejean, sendo: N. rivulosus (Olivier), N. tarsalis Boheman, N. curtus Boheman, N. navicularis Boheman, N. versatilis Hustache, N. ambiguus Boheman, e N. cervinus Boheman; uma espécie do gênero Teratopactus, T. nodicollis (Boheman); uma do gênero Parapantomorus, P. fl uctuosus (Boheman); e uma de Symmathetes (gênero revalidado), Symmathetes kollari Schoenherr. As larvas vivem no solo alimentando-se das raízes dos citros, causando danos mais importantes que os adultos que consomem as folhas das plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho é fornecer uma chave, com o diagnóstico e fotografi as dos adultos, para sua identifi cação. Também são apresentadas informações sobre a distribuição geográfi ca das espécies, associação com outras plantas e discutidos aspectos relevantes da sua biologia, com ênfase à oviposição. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Curculionidae, Naupactini, besouro-da-raiz, identifi cação, dano radicular ABSTRACT - Ten species of broad nosed weevils belonging to Entiminae, Naupactini, are recorded as harmful for roots of citrus in São Paulo state, Brazil. Most species belong to Naupactus Dejean, N. rivulosus (Olivier), N. tarsalis Boheman, N. curtus Boheman, N. navicularis Boheman, N. versatilis Hustache, N. ambiguus Boheman, and N. cervinus Boheman; one species was assigned to Teratopactus Heller, T. nodicollis (Boheman); one to Parapantomorus, P. fl uctuosus Schoenherr (Boheman) and one to Symmathetes Schoenherr (a genus herein reinstated), S. kollari Schoenherr. Larvae live in soil and bore on roots of the trees, causing more damages than adults, that feed on leaves. The main goal of this paper is to provide a key, diagnosis and habitus photographs of the species, in order to facilitate their identifi cation. We also provide information on their geographic range in Brazil and previous plant associations, and we discuss some relevant biological features, especially those related to oviposition habits. KEY WORDS: Curculionidae, Naupactini, identifi cation, root damage Weevils injurious for roots of Citrus spp. have increased species of Naupactini that occur in areas of citrus production their occurrence and population densities during the past in São Paulo, however, since their frequences and populations ten years in São Paulo state, Brazil. Due to the damage densities are low, they are not included in the present study. The caused, some species could become primary insect pests in most important damages are caused by the larvae, that live in certain areas. This fact, associated to their scarce systematic soil and are root feeders. Adult specimens feed on leaves and knowledge, as well as the lack of biological and behavioral other green parts of the plants. The major threat for production information, made diffi cult their control managment, being of citrus in São Paulo, is that species herein studied occur in current practices expensive and not very effective. natural forests of the area, being usually frequent and abundant, Until present, we have identifi ed ten species of broad- therefore migrations from native plants to citrus groves are nosed weevils, attacking citrus in São Paulo. They belong to expected to be a common behaviour. subfamily Entiminae, tribe Naupactini, and most of them have The main goal of this contribution is to provide system- been assigned to Naupactus Dejean, a genus with more than atic and some biological information on the weevil species 150 described species, distributed along the Neotropics, from harmful for citrus in São Paulo, in order to facilitate their Mexico to Argentina, being Brazil the country with the highest recognition, and to contribute to take more effective strate- species diversity (Wibmer & O’Brien 1986). There are other gies of control and pest management. 562 Lanteri et al. Material and Methods fully developed; and Pantomorus Schoenherr, small species (6 to 10 mm), lacking humeri and metathoracic wings. From Samples were taken during years 2000 and 2001, from a phylogenetic perspective these characters are not suffi cient eight localities of São Paulo state, having extensive citrus to separate genera, and consequently, in recent years several cultivation: Analândia, Barretos, Boa Esperança do Sul, Casa species of Pantomorus have been transferred to Naupactus Branca, Divinópolis, Pederneiras, Piracicaba e Itapetininga. or to other genera of Naupactini. Collections were done in groves of about 50 to 100 acres, in which 40 to 50 trees of Citrus sinensis (varieties Natal, Pera Key to Species of Broad-Nosed Weevils Harmful and Valência) were sampled. to Roots of Citrus in São Paulo State Adults were collected by beating the treetops, and using cuadrate sheets of 4 m, extended under them, to get the speci- 1. Pronotum with one tubercle on the middle of each fl ank. mens that fall down from foliage. Some adults were killed in Humeri with distinct tubercles. Funicular article 2, more than alcohol 70% for future systematic studies, and others were twice as long as article 1 (Fig. 1c). Three pairs of tibiae with a kept alive for biological research under laboratory condi- line of denticles on inner surface, those of fore tibiae, strong (Fig. tions at ESALQ/USP (Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz 1f, g). Ovipositor with unguiculate, strongly sclerotized hemis- de Queiroz) Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e ternites and lacking styli (Fig. 3c). Oviposition of single eggs Zoologia Agrícola, Piracicaba, SP. Specimens for system- (Fig. 3k)...........Teratopactus nodicollis (Boheman) (Fig. 2a). atic studies were mounted, labeled, and housed as voucher 1’. Pronotum and humeri lacking tubercles. Funicular article specimens at the entomological collections of ESALQ and 2, twice as long as, to same length of article 1 (Fig. 1d). Fore Museo de La Plata (Argentina). tibiae with a line of denticles on inner surface, middle and Diagnoses and the key to species, are based on external hind tibiae lacking denticles. Ovipositor with moderately to morphological characters easy to recognize macroscopically slightly sclerotized hemisternites and having styli (Fig. 3d). or using an stereoscopic microscope (e.g. for features of Oviposition in clusters of eggs...........................................2 vestiture). The only internal character that was taken into ac- count is the distal part of the ovipositor, because it can be seen 2. Species 15 mm to 23 mm long (large size). Humeri very without dissecting the genitalia, at the end of the body. prominent. Elytral base bisinuate. Metathoracic wings fully d Identifi cations of species were confi rmed through com- eveloped..............................................................................3 parisons with type material hold at Naturhistoriska Riksmu- 2’. Species 6 mm to 13 mm long (medium to small size). seet, Stockholm, Sweden. Specimens from the entomological Humeri reduced to absent. Elytral base straight. Metathoracic collections of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de wings vestigial to absent.....................................................4 São Paulo (Brazil); Departamento de Zoologia da Univer- sidade Federal do Paraná (Brazil), and Museo de La Plata 3. Eyes strongly convex (Fig. 1b). Pronotum with curved an- (Argentina) were examined to obtain additional information terior margin and a longitudinal median groove. Integument on distribution of species. lacking scales, except a pattern of narrow squamose stripes, For each species, habitous photographs (dorsal view), colour greenish, orange, yellowish or redish, on pronotal disc synonyms, geographic range (country records and state and elytra...............Naupactus rivulosus (Olivier) (Fig. 2b). records within Brazil), plant associations and biological 3’. Eyes moderately convex (Fig. 1a). Pronotum with straight information related to oviposition, are provided. anterior margin and lacking median groove. Integument usually Acronyms for Brazilian states cited in the text are as fol- lacking scales, except two broad squamose stripes along sides lows: BA, Bahia; GO, Goiás; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de of pronotum and elytra, colour greenish iridescent, greenish Janeiro; MG, Minas Gerais; MT, Mato Grosso; SP, São Paulo; with yellowish powder, or whitish......................................... PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul. ................................Naupactus tarsalis Boheman (Fig. 2c). Results and Discussion 4. Pronotum globose, strongly convex dorsally (Fig 1j). Fore femora strongly robust, distinctly wider than middle Taxonomic Placement of Species. Among the species herein and hind femora. Fore tibiae strongly curved inwards near studied, seven belong to Naupactus Dejean, N. rivulosus distal end, with line of large denticles on inner surface (Olivier), N. tarsalis Boheman, N. curtus Boheman, N. (Fig. 1g)..................Naupactus curtus Boheman (Fig.