Hoherius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Anthribidae
Genus: Hoherius
Species:
H. meinertzhageni
Binomial name
Hoherius meinertzhageni
(Broun, 1880)

Hoherius meinertzhageni, the ribbonwood fungus weevil, is an endemic New Zealand beetle[1] that has been recorded feeding on the ribbonwood species Plagianthus regius and Plagianthus divaricatus and the mountain lacebark, Hoheria glabrata.[2]

Taxonomy and description

This species was described by Thomas Broun from a specimen that was collected by F.H. Meinertzhagen, in Napier, New Zealand.[3] This holotype specimen is stored in the Natural History Museum, London.[4] Broun originally placed the species within the anthribid genus Araeocerus and named the species after its collector.[3] The genus Hoherius is monotypic and named after the plant genus Hoheria due to its association with this beetles' larvae. [4] This species is remarkable for its distinctive flat and white rostrum, which is as wide as the thorax in male specimens. The antennae are twice as long as the body. The elytra have a varied colour of brown, black and green.[3] This species is sexually dimorphic with males conspicuously larger than females. There is further dimorphism among males, with larger males demonstrating broadened heads with longer mandibles and antennae than smaller males.[5]

Distribution

H. meinertzhageni has a widespread distribution across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, from Auckland to Southland. It has been collected from sea level to over 1000 metres above sea level.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "NZOR Name Details - Hoherius meinertzhageni (Broun, 1880)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Martin, Nicholas. "Plant-SyNZ". Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research, New Zealand. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Broun, Thomas (1880). Manual of the New Zealand Coleoptera. Wellington. pp. 563–4. Retrieved 19 August 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. 1 2 3 Holloway, BA (2018). "Fauna of New Zealand 3: Anthribidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)": 124–127. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.3. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ↑ Painting, Christina J. (August 2022). "Size and shape variation in the male dimorphic head weapons of an anthribid weevil (Hoherius meinertzhageni)". Evolutionary Ecology. 36 (4): 643–662. doi:10.1007/s10682-021-10127-8. S2CID 255404440.
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