Sitona | |
---|---|
Sitona macularius | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Curculionidae |
Subfamily: | Entiminae |
Tribe: | Sitonini |
Genus: | Sitona Germar, 1817[1] |
Species | |
100+ |
Sitona is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described.[2] Sitona is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandibles, by the absence of an oval scar on the mandibles, by short and broad rostrum with a deep, longitudinal, median groove, and by dense scales on the body.[3]
Sitona specialize on legumes, plants of the family Fabaceae. The larvae eat the root nodules[4] and the adults eat the leaves. Several species of Sitona are important agricultural pests of legumes, especially in its native regions and introduced populations in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.[2]
Species include: