Apionidae of the Francesco Vitale collection (Insecta: Coleoptera)

Abstract

The Francesco Vitale Sicilian collection of Apionidae is critically revised. Hoplopodapion poupillieri (Wencker, 1864), Ischnopterapion (Ischnopterapion) aeneomicans nothum (Desbrochers des Loges, 1897) and Pseudoprotapion dumeei (A. Hoffmann, 1957) are recorded for the first time from Sicily and Italy; Omphalapion laevigatum (Paykull, 1792) is recorded for the first time from Sicily, whereas the presence on the island of Aizobius sedi (Germar, 1818) and Acentrotypus brunnipes (Boheman, 1839), until now considered doubtful, is confirmed. All species quoted from Sicily by Vitale are listed and commented. In addition, the previous citation of Ceratapion (Echinostroma) basicorne (Illiger, 1807) from Cyprus is attributed to Ceratapion (Echinostroma) curtii (Wagner, 1920) and C. curtii is recorded for the first time from this country. Brief comments on our current knowledge of the apionid fauna of Sicily are also included.