A revision of the Mascarene weevil genus Syzygops Schonherr (Coleoptera : Curculionidae : Entiminae)

Abstract

The Mascarene genus Syzygops Schönherr (Curculionidae : Entiminae) is revised and a key to the species is provided. Of the 17 species, seven are described as new: S. insignis, sp. nov., S. similis, sp. nov., S. petilus, sp. nov., S. globosus, sp. nov. and S. robustus, sp. nov. from Mauritius, and S. acuminatus, sp. nov. and S. ornatus, sp. nov. from Réunion. Four species previously described, S. prasinus Guérin-Méneville,S. cinereus Guérin-Méneville, S. fuscipes Guérin-Méneville and S. hystrix Rosenschoeld, are considered to be species inquirendae. S. antelmei Hustache is synonymized withS. desjardinsiiGuérin-Méneville andS. laterivirens Fairmaire with S. cyclops Schönherr. Lectotypes are designated for S. alluaudi Hustache, S. vinsoni Hustache, S. laterivirens Fairmaire, S. coquerelii Fairmaire, S. tuberculatus Guérin-Méneville, S. obscurus Hustache and S. aureoviridis Hustache. Eleven of the 17 species considered valid are endemic to Mauritius and six to Réunion. Several of the species display extreme sexual dimorphism. The adults of all species are believed to occur exclusively on ferns. The immature stages are unknown.