Seasonal and microclimatic variation of the community of Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in a tropical rainforest of the Sierra El Madrigal in state of Tabasco, Mexico

Abstract

Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) are beetles commonly known as seed or clover weevils, and all species are phytophagous and important in natural ecosystems. The main objective of this study was to record the seasonal variation and microclimatic associations of the Apioninae community in the tropical rainforest of Tabasco, Mexico. Sampling was carried out in 12 sites of the ecosystem during an annual cycle (January-December, 2021), using the method of beating the vegetation with an entomological net. We collected 1,191 specimens belonging to 33 species and nine genera. Apion panamense Sharp, Coelocephalapion accentor (Kissinger), C. iteratum (Kissinger) and Neapion cretaceicolle (Sharp) are new records for Tabasco. The genus Trichapion (Wagner) was the most species-rich. Apionion sp2 was the most abundant species. The highest richness, abundance and diversity (¹D and ²D) were recorded during the dry season. Fourteen species showed marked seasonality, of which 12 species were recorded only in the dry season and two in the north. Fluctuations in richness and abundance showed its maximum peak in April, the month with the lowest rainfall. Shaded sites had the highest richness (32 species) and abundance (861 individuals). Altitude, relative humidity, dew point temperature, temperature, wind speed and barometric pressure were the abiotic factors that influenced species distribution. The sampling coverage was 99%, indicating that most of the apionid species were documented. This study contributes to the knowledge of Apioninae by providing new ecological information on the subfamily. However, further studies of these beetles are needed to determine their geographic distribution and systematics.