The Utility of the Endophallus in Trigonoscuta (Curculionidae: Entiminae)

Trigonoscuta represents a large genus of weevils whose natural history lends them to forming many isolated populations.  As a result there are over 60 species and over 90 subspecies described by previous authors. Pierce in his 1975 revision noted, “Never has the writer encountered a more baffling species problem”.  I hope to clarify the systematics and species boundaries in Trigonoscuta, by applying new character systems to this genus, both molecular and morphological characters.  I will demonstrate the utility of the endophallus in examining species boundaries and relationships in this genus.