Amorphocephala Excantator Damoiseau 1964: A New Weevil Record from Pakistan (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brentidae)

Zahid Hussain Dahar; Zubair Ahmed; Zarina Ali

Amorphocephala Excantator Damoiseau 1964

A New Weevil Record from Pakistan (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brentidae)

Authors

Zahid Hussain Dahar Scholar, Department of Zoology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology Karachi Pakistan
Zubair Ahmed Associate Professor, Zoology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology Karachi Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2692-8395
Zarina Ali Professor, Department of Botany, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology Karachi, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1200-581X

Keywords:

Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Brentidae, new record, distribution

Abstract

This study documents the first recorded instance of an Amorphocephala excantator in Pakistan. The paper provides an illustrated description of the species habitus and discusses its distribution within the region. Previously unreported in Pakistan, this discovery marks the country's second known species of the Brentidae family, specifically from the village of Noor Muhammad Dahar in District Ghotki, Sindh Province. The habitat is noted to overlap with the Punjab region, suggesting potential for additional species within this transitional zone. This research contributes to the growing catalogue of weevil species in Pakistan and enhances understanding of Brentidae distribution in South Asia. Four species of the genus Amorphocephala extend Middle East to Central Europe and some states of Russia. These are A. coronata (Germar), A. excantator (Demoiseau), A. piochardi (Bedel) and A. sulcata (Calabresi). The association of present species with crops will make status as a pest in future because that area with remote conditions therefore due to this reason no one takes information for such species as well as other insect diversity. The discovery of this species becomes as first in the Oriental region.

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Amorphocephala Excantator Damoiseau 1964