Oviposition niches and behavior of the genus Lixus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Lixinae)

Oviposition places in the host plants of23 Lixus Fabricius species in eastern Turkey were identified. Lixus nordmanni Hochhuth, L. subtilis Boheman, L. incanescens Boheman, L. brevipes Brisout, L. sp. n. pr. brevipes Brisout, L. ochraceus Boheman, L. furcatus Olivier, L. rubicundus Zoubkoff, L. angustatus (Fabricius), L. punctiventris Boheman, L. fasciculatus Boheman, L. bardanae (Fabricius), L. sp. n. pr. korbi Petri, and L. scolopax Boheman deposited eggs in the main stem. Lixus filiformis (Fabricius), L. cardui Olivier, and L. korbi Petri oviposited in the main stem and lateral branch of their host plants. L. circumcinctus Boheman laid eggs on both stem and petiole, whereas L. siculus Boheman, L. farinifer Reitter, L. cylindrus (Fabricius), and L. sp. n. pr. furcatus Olivier used the petioles, a new ecological niche for the genus Lixus. The unique species L. obesus Petri selected the seed capsule for laying eggs and completing its generation.