Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
The melon weevil, Acythopeus curvirostris (Boheman), is a speciescomplex comprising at least four allopatric forms, here regarded as subspecies. Of the seven available species-group names, three are retained for subspecies and four placed in synonymy; an eighth name is proposed for the fourth subspecies. The generic and subgeneric placements of the melon weevil and its relatives are discussed. The following check-list of the species of Acythopeus (Carpobaris) summarizes the present position (synonyms all new): A. (C.) curvirostris (Boheman) (=traegardhi (Aurivillius)), A. (C.) c. granulipennis (Tournier) (=colocynthae Voss, globulicollis Voss, cucumidis Voss), A. (C.) c. persicus subsp. n., A. (C.) c. citrulli Marshall, A. (C.) alcyoneus (Erichson) (=atrocoeruleus (Boheman)), A. (C.) cucurbitae (Marshall), A. (C.) speciosus (Gerstaecker), A. (C.) coelestis (Pascoe). (Acythopeus francisci nom.n. = A curvirostris Pascoe, 1874, nee Boheman, 1844.) Simple biometric procedures indicate differences between the subspecies of A. curvirostris; some characters show clinal variation. The melon weevil occurs across the Sudan Belt, in the Middle East, Iran and South India. It is generally a minor and transient pest of cucurbit fruits. One parasite and one predator are known.