The Genus Herpisticus Germar, 1823 From The Canary Islands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Tanymecini)

The taxonomic review of the genus Herpisticus Germar, 1823, endemic to the Canary Islands, is undertaken with support of molecular data (mtCOI). The morphological study includes the description of the larva and pupa of this genus. To the 5 previously known species, 20 taxa have been added, comprising the resurrection of H. eremita var. γ lanatus Wollaston, 1864 as valid species, H. grancanariensis Palm 1974 as valid subspecies of H. subvestitus Wollaston, 1864, and the following new taxa: H. famarae n. sp. from Lanzarote; H. betancuriae n. sp., H. jandiensis n. sp. and H. rectipes n. sp. from Fuerteventura; H. subvestitus pseudolanatus n. ssp., H. guanarteme n. sp., H. denudatus n. sp., H. gigas n. sp., H. guayarmina n. sp., H. tasarticus n. sp., H. scopulus n. sp., and H. nanus n. sp. from Gran Canaria; H. daute n. sp. and H. aridicola n. sp. from Tenerife; H. gomerensis n. sp., H. hispidus n. sp. and H. bobadillae n. sp. from La Gomera; and H. hierrensis benahoare n. ssp. from La Palma. Except for the subspecies H. hierrensis hierrensis, which is present on the islands of El Hierro and La Palma, all the other taxa are mono-insular endemics. Identification keys (♂), distribution maps, and photographs of imagos of all 25 taxa are provided, as well as some general comments on the biology of the group, its potential as agricultural pest, and conservation perspectives.

This study was partly supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (CGL2017-85718-P) and D. Suárez was funded by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training through an FPI PhD fellowship (PRE2018-083230).

Peer reviewed