Potato weevils: from Andean highlands to Entomological collections.

MARVALDI A.E.; DEL RIO M.G.

Workshop; SciCoMove (Scientific Collections on the move) Launch Workshop; 2021

The Andean Potato Weevils have been known for centuries by people in local communities cultivating potato crops in the Andean highlands (e.g., in Peru and Bolivia). They became known to science mainly by European entomologists in the early decades of the 20th century. These weevils classify into several curculionid genera (like Premnotrypes, Rhigopsidius, Phyrdenus, and Amitrus). Their occurrence in collections outside South America can be explained due to the international trade of potato tubers, entered as food products or as seeds for planting purposes. Many species of Andean Potato Weevils were described originally from specimens reared from infested potatoes that arrived by commerce to North America and European Countries (e.g., by Heller in Germany, by Marshall in the UK, by Hustache in France). Some other species were collected and described by Latin American specialists. Thanks to loans and interchange, important museums Worldwide (MLP, USNM, NZAC, BMNH) and «provincial» collections related to Agriculture have materials of Andean potato weevils identified by comparison with the original material.  We aim to explore the discovery and collection of these weevils, the interchanges and loans during the years, and how the weevil collections connect the different museums, institutions, and researchers involved. Moreover, we look forward to contributing to the consortium institutions with identified specimens of these South American weevil species