D3225: New records and natural history of saproxylic weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) in Georgia

Beetles (Coleoptera) are the most diverse group of animals in terrestrial ecosystems, totaling around 400,000 described species. Roughly half of these species are snout and bark beetles (Curculionoidea). Many of these taxa are dependent on dead and dying wood for at least a part of their life cycles (i.e., saproxylic), although detailed natural history is not well known. We sampled saproxylic beetles in a variety of forest conditions in Clarke County, Georgia, USA, recording 10 curculionoid species for the first time in the state. Of these records, 4 species were Anthribidae: Choragus zimmermanni LeConte, Eusphyrus rectus Schaeffer, Euxenus jordani Valentine, and Euxenus punctatus LeConte. The other 6 records were Curculionidae: Acalles clavatus (Say), Hylocurus harnedi (Blackman), Micromimus corticalis (Boheman), Plocamus echidna (LeConte), Stenomimus pallidus (Boheman), and Xyleborus pfeili (Ratzeburg). We provide details about the biology and distribution of each species. Two species, X. pfeili and S. pallidus, are considered of importance for forest health.