On the Argentinean species of Aegorhinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

The weevil genus Aegorhinus Erichson, which belongs to the tribe Aterpini (Curculionidae: Cyclominae), is one of the rnost characteristic insect taxa of the Subantarctic biogeographic province of southern Argentina and Chile. Aegorhinus can be easily distinguished from Alastoropolus Kuschel by its relatively short rostrum (width/length < 1.9) and well developed postocu lar lobes, and from Micropolus Kuschel by its flat epistorne, prominent postmenturn in lateral view, scarce body vestiture, and larger body size (> 6.0 mm length). There are seven Argentinean species that are relatively well known (Kuschel, 1952; Morrone & Roig-Juñent, 1995; Morrone, 1996), but there are some Chilean new species that await description (Mario Elgueta, pers. comm.). In this brief note, I provide a key using characters readily visible, that can be used to identify the Argentinean species of Aegorhi