Weevils - Entomological Society of Canada

Scolytidae, or bark-beetles, which have already been treated (Bright
1976). The families included in this part are: Anthribidae, Apionidae,
Attelabidae, Brentidae, Ithyceridae, Nemonychidae, Platypodidae, and
Rhynchitidae.
This work describes 90 species and provides keys to all taxa.
Sections on individual species include a description, information on host
plants and distribution, such biological information as exists, and
pertinent references. A distribution map, showing all known localities
where the species has been found in Canada or Alaska (or both) is
provided for each species ifthere are enough localities known to form a
pattern. Since this book's primary audience are nonspecialists in
Coleoptera, the descriptions include only those characters that are
needed for accurate identification or comparison. Synonymy and
literature references are also limited to those that provide the most
information to the user. For complete descriptions or references, please
consult the following: Kissinger (1968) for Apionidae; Arnett (1960) for
all families; O'Brien and Wibmer (1982) for a checklist for aII families
treated herein, except Brentidae, Anthribidae, and Platypodidae;
Valentine (1960) for Anthribidae; Wood (1979) for Platypodidae;
Hamilton (1969, I97L, 1974) for Nemonychidae, Attelabidae, and
Rhynchitidae; and Kuschel (1989) for Nemonychidae.
With few exceptions, all members of Curculionoidea are
phytophagous. The superfamily includes some of the most destructive
pests affecting humans and their agricultural or forestry activities. The
larvae of weevils attack plants from almost every aspect, and it is at this
stage that the insects cause the most damage; larvae of broad-nosed
Curculionidae generally live free in the soil and feed on roots; larvae of
other Curculionidae develop in the roots of herbaceous plants; still
others cause galls to form on the roots and stems. Many species burrow
in the stems of plants, and other species are leaf miners. Adults of some
species deposit their eggs in the developing flower buds, whereas others
place the egg in the seedpods ofplants. Some species attack dead or dying
trees, whereas others apparently attack vigorous, healthy trees. Many
species attack tree fruits, and a whole host of forms live under the bark
and in the wood of dead tree trunks and limbs. Members of Anthribidae
feed on fungus, dead wood, and dried plant material, or on stored food
products. Adult Attelabidae are leafrollers, and the larvae feed on the
dead tissue within the roll.
In number of species the superfamily Curculionoidea is one of the
largest of all the groups of Coleoptera, with an estimated 40 000 species
known around the world. In Canada the group is exceeded in size only by
Staphylinidae, mainly because Staphylinidae are well adapted for
success in northern environments. Curculionoidea is essentially a
southern group and is not abundant in northern regions. Of the 90
species included herein, only six are known to extend north of 55'
latitude, and a signifrcant proportion (45Vo) of the 90 species do not
occur north of 50' latitude.