Weevils - Entomological Society of Canada

Auletobius blatchleyi Voss, 1935:240 (unnecessary replacement
name).
Description. Length I.8-2.2 mm. Integument dark reddish
brown; head and pronotum usually darker than elytra. Pubescence on
elytra consisting of yellowish and white setae, the white setae forming
irregular crossbands. Head and pronotum with setae all white or
intermixed with yellow. Head strongly convex, transversely impressed
behind eyes; surface with small, close, rather weakly impressed
punctures. Rostrum glabrous, minutely reticulate, with scattered, fine,
shallow punctures. Antennae inserted in basal quarter of rostrum.
Pronotum very slightly longer than wide, widest at middle; sides weakly
arcuate, very weakly constricted before anterior margin; disc convex,
with large, deeply impressed, close punctures; interpuncture space
shining. Elytra 1.4 times longer than wide, at base 1.6 times wider than
pronotum; strial punctures large, deeply impressed, placed in even
rows; interstriae as wide as or slightly narrower than striae, shining,
with scattered minute points; disc weakly impressed on basal quarter,
somewhat inflated behind.
Distribution. Newfoundland to Ontario, south through the
eastern United States to Florida and Texas. New Brunswick:
Penobsquis, Pokemouche, and Tabusintac. Newfoundland: Gander and
Terra Nova National Park. Nova Scotia: Annapolis Royal, Bridgetown,
and Tusket. Ontario: 8 km east ofArthur, Constance Bay, Marmora, and
Mer Bleue. Quebec: Covey Hill, Kazabazta, Laniel, Mistossimi, and
Schwarz.
Comments. Adults of this species are readily recognized by the
evenly punctured strial rows. Adults are also the smallest of any species
in this genus in Canada. This species is evidently not closely related to
any other Canadian species and cannot be confused with any other
weevil. Adults of A. cctssandrae feed exclusively on the leaves of
sweet-fern, Comptonia peregrina. Adults have also collected on
bayberry (Myrica cerifera) and leatherleaf (C hamaedaphne c aly culata)
and were swept from flowers of huckleberry (Rubus species). Adults eat
holes complet-ely through the leaf. Females oviposit in the leaf and then
cut the terminal leaf primordia of the host plant. The leaf falls to the
ground and slowly decays, providing food and protection for the larvae.
Two generations are produced every year. In Wisconsin, adults emerge
in early June, and the females oviposit in and cut many leaf primordia in
the latter half of the month. Eggs hatch in about 10 days, and larval
development is rapid. Pupation occurs in mid July, and adults begin
emerging about mid to late July. Females of this first generation oviposit
in and cut leaf primordia throughout the latter half of July and most of
August. Larvae ofthis second generation reach the fourth instar by the
end of September. The insects overwinter in the fourth-instar larval
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