ZOOSYSTEMATICA ROSSICA, 22(1): 80–81 25 JUNE 2013 Aphytobius sphaerion (Boheman, 1845), a new species to the fauna of Russia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) Aphytobius sphaerion (Boheman, 1845) – новый вид для фауны России (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) YU.G. ARZANOV & B.A. KOROTYAEV* Ю.Г. АРЗАНОВ, Б.А. КОРОТЯЕВ Yu.G. Arzanov, Institute of Arid Zones SSC, Russian Academy of Sciences, 41 Chekhov Str., Rostov-on-Don 344006, Russia. B.A. Korotyaev, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Universitetskaya Emb., St Petersburg 199034, Russia. E-mail: [email protected]. *Corresponding author. Aphytobius sphaerion (Boheman, 1845), found on Melandrium album (Miller) Krause in the lower basin of the Don River, is recorded for the first time from Russia. Aphytobius sphaerion (Boheman, 1845), собранный на Melandrium album (Miller) Krause в низовьях Дона, впервые приводится для фауны России. Key words: weevils, faunistics, Russia, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Ceutorhynchinae, Aphy- tobius sphaerion Ключевые слова: жуки-долгоносики, фаунистика, Россия, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Ceutorhynchinae, Aphytobius sphaerion INTRODUCTION In 2010, Yu.G. Arzanov found this species in great numbers on Melandrium album Aphytobius Wagner, 1937 is a Mediterra- (Miller) Krause (Caryophyllaceae) before nean genus with 7 known species, none pre- flowering of the latter. Adults were sitting viously recorded from Russia. It is now the on both sides of the leaves, piercing the mid- second genus of the tribe Hypurini known rib from the leaf underside and laing eggs, from Russia, preceded by the predominantly the mean number of the weevils exceeding Saharo-Gobian Anthypurinus Colonnelli, 20 per plant. The abundance of A. sphaerion 1979 recently recorded from Astrachan was high on most plants in a site with a ter- Province (Korotyaev, Khrisanova, 2009). ritory of ca. 600 m2. The habitat is a sandy Aphytobius sphaerion (Boheman, 1845) has steppe rather heavily contaminated with largely Central European distribution and weeds, isolated from the rest area by dense was known so far eastward to Ukraine (Col- thickets of Prunus spinosa L. and small lakes onnelli, 2004). with hygrophytes. Melandrium album is a common ruderal Order COLEOPTERA plant in the steppes of the southern Euro- Family CURCULIONIDAE pean Russia, including Rostov Province and Krasnodar Territory. Several species of Subfamily CEUTORHYNCHINAE the weevil genus Sibinia Germar, 1817 and Aphytobius sphaerion (Boheman, 1845) Lixus brevipes Ch. Brisout, 1866 are com- (Figure) mon on this plant in these regions including The first short series of A. sphaerion was the Taman’ Peninsula (close to the mouth of collected by P.P. Ivliev in 2009 during the the Don River). However, A. sphaerion has soil-zoological research in the vicinities of never been collected before during more the Rogozhkino Village, Rostov Province. than 30-year long surveys by the authors. © 2013 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes YU.G. ARZANOV & B.A. KOROTYAEV. APHYTOBIUS SPHAERION, A NEW SPECIES FOR RUSSIA 81 Figure. Aphytobius sphaerion, female, general view. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REFERENCES We cordially thank P.P. Ivlev (the Donskoy Colonnelli E. 2004. Catalogue of Ceutorhynchi- Natural Park, Rostov-on-Don) for collecting of nae of the World, with a key to genera (In- Aphytobius sphaerion, which stimulated a thor- secta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Barcelona: ough investigation of the Donskoy Natural Park Argania editio. 124 p. and revealing the host plant. We also greatly ap- Korotyaev B.A. & Khrisanova M.A. 2009. preciate making a nice photograph of the adult by Two desert species of beetles new to the Rus- K.V. Makarov (Moscow State Pedagogical Uni- sian fauna (Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae, Cur- versity). The study of the second author was sup- culionidae). Zoosystematica Rossica, 18(1): ported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Re- 62–64. search (project No. 13-04-01002) and Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Received April 23, 2013 / Accepted June 6, 2013 © 2013 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 22(1): 80–81