Notes on Systematics and Distribution of the Australian Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae)

A list of the Apioninae occurring in Australia is verified taxonomically to follow the current classification of this weevil group. The genus Apiotherium Beguin-Billecocq is re-considered to comprise a large complex of related species occurring in Africa, the Oriental Region and Australia. The formerly distinct genera Harpapion Voss, Flavopodapion Korotyaev, and Sterculapion Rheinheimer are treated here as new junior synonyms of Apiotherium. The Palaeotropical genera Pseudaspidapion Wanat and Pseudoconapion Voss are recorded from Australia for the first time. The following 37 new generic combinations are proposed: Apiotherium amabile (Lea), A. anthidium (Lea), A. astri (Lea), A. binotatum (Lea), A. carpophagum (Lea), A. commersoniae (Rheinheimer), A. comosum (Pascoe), A. condensatum (Lea), A. congestum (Lea), A. congruum (Lea), A. foveicolle (Lea), A. fraserianum (Rheiheimer), A. fuscosuturale (Lea), A. immundum (Lea), A. integricolle (Lea), A. melvillense (Lea), A. microscopicum (Lea), A. nigrosuturale (Lea), A. nigroterminale (Lea), A. niveodispersum (Lea), A. pulicare (Pascoe), A. parvocastaneum (Lea), A. pilistriatum (Lea), A. pseudofraserianum (Legalov), A. quadricolor (Lea), A. rivulare (Lea), A. symbolum (Faust), A. tasmanicum (Lea), A. teretirostre (Lea), A. turbidum (Lea), Pseudapion hoblerae (Lea), P. philanthum (Lea), Pseudaspidapion subopacum (Lea), Pseudoconapion pudicum (Lea), P. terrareginae (Blackburn), Pseudopiezotrachelus basiinflatus (Lea), P. convexipennis (Lea). In addition, four new combinations are proposed for non-Australian species: Apiotherium albopictum (Faust), A. corchori (Marshall), A. versutum (Faust), A. veterator (Hustache). Three new species synonyms of Australian species are proposed: Apion pictipes Lea, 1929 syn. n. of Apion condensatum Lea, 1899; Apion solani Lea, 1899 syn. n. of Apion pulicare Pascoe, 1874; Apion vertebrale Lea, 1910 syn. n. of Apion teretirostre Lea, 1899. Apion anthidium Lea, 1899 is redrawn from the synonymy with Apion integricolle Lea, 1899. The lectotypes of Apion pulicare Pascoe, 1874, Apion congestum Lea, 1910, Apion fuscosuturale Lea, 1899, Apion philanthum Lea, 1899, and Apion pudicum Lea, 1899 (illustrated) are designated. New distribution records of several Australian species are provided. Apiotherium symbolum (Faust) and unnamed members of genera Lopatinapion Friedman and Ommatocybus Wanat, as well as particular species-groups of genera Conapium Motschulsky (one) and Apiotherium (two) are newly recorded from Australia.