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Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-29
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A new Lixini genus from southern Africa with description of ten new species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Biodiversity Application & Research Center, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD,
via delle Giunchiglie, 56, 00172 Roma
Lixini taxonomy Tricholarinus new taxa Berkheya southern Africa

Abstract

A new southern African Lixini genus, Tricholarinus gen. nov. is described, with the type species designated as Larinus criniger Gyllenhal, 1835. Ten new species are also described and illustrated: T. afrikaans Gültekin & Lyal sp. nov., T. inheems Gültekin & Lyal sp. nov., T. malvernicus Gültekin & Colonnelli sp. nov., T. namibicus Gültekin & Colonnelli sp. nov., T. natalicus Gültekin & Lyal sp. nov., T. osellai Gültekin & Colonnelli sp. nov., T. pinetownensis Gültekin & Lyal sp. nov., T. titanic Gültekin & Colonnelli sp. nov., T. transvaalicus Gültekin & Lyal sp. nov. and T. zululand Gültekin & Lyal sp. nov. Five previously described species are transferred from Larinus Dejean, 1821 to the new genus as Tricholarinus criniger (Gyllenhal, 1835) comb. nov., T. squalidus (Gyllenhal, 1835) comb. nov., T. hirtus (Gyllenhal, 1835) comb. nov., T. hirtellus (Fǻhraeus, 1871) comb. nov., and T. velatus (Faust 1894) comb. nov. Lectotypes of Larinus criniger Gyllenhal, 1835, L. squalidus Gyllenhal, 1835, L. hirtus Gyllenhal, 1835, L. hirtellus Fǻhraeus, 1871 and L. velatus Faust, 1894 are designated. A key to the genera of Lixinae: Lixini similar to Larinus and with vestiture of erect setae is included, along with a key to species of Tricholarinus. Digital images showing distinctive morphological characters are presented. At least some species of Tricholarinus are associated with the Asteraceae genus Berkheya Ehrh.

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