Subfamily Baridinae - Flower Weevils

T.L. Casey is responsible for most of the genera/species concepts and names in use today, and great many NA taxa he authored are still known only from type series and localities and are of questionable validity(1). This large and diverse subfamily is undergoing a much needed taxonomic overhaul (by Jens Prena), and heavy rearrangements and nomenclatural changes are to be expected.

"The classification of the barids is supermessy. It is already very bad at the tribal level, but the subtribes may be even worse. Regarding the Baridini, ... Coelonertina is paraphyletic with regard to Apostasimerini, Madarini, and Nertinini. In other words, all tribes present in the USA are paraphyletic to each other." --Jens Prena, pers. comm. to =v= 21.ii.2012

Baridinae Schönherr 1836

TBA spp. in ~60 genera of several tribes in our area(1); perhaps up to 30,000 worldwide (Jens Prena's estimate, Feb 2017)

Most are glossy and black, with few (usually white) or no scales on the body, and are most readily recognized by an ascended mesepisternum that is visible between the hind angle of the pronotum and the elytral humerus(1), but see v belov's comments here

worldwide

The natural history of baridines is poorly known. Some species are associated with monocots such as various grasses, sedges, and palms. Larvae mostly mine stems. Some spp. appear to be associated with fungi on dead wood. Many baridines can also be found in semi-aquatic habitats.(1)