Cisanthribus
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Coleoptera |
| Suborder | Polyphaga |
| Superfamily | Curculionoidea |
| Family | Anthribidae |
| Genus | Cisanthribus Zimmerman, 1938 |
Cisanthribus is a small genus in the family Anthibidae, subfamily Choraginae, tribe Cisanthribini [2]. On the first view, it does not look like the member of the family, since it is c. 1 mm long, globular, reddish and flightless. When examined in detail, it possess pseudotetramerous tarsi (similar to those also present in leaf beetles, Chrysomelidae), 11-segmented antenna with 3-segmented club, and protruding mandibles similar to other anthribids. Morimoto [3]. The beetles are flightless.
The genus has 4 species, one undescribed; species other than C. chinensis inhabit Pacific islands [2][4]. Cisanthribus chinensis was originally described from Hong Kong in the genus Glabrinotropis that is now a synonym of Cisanthribus [1]. Later, it was described under the name Cisanthribus nakenei from Japan [3]. It seems to occur in Hong Kong, Taiwan and most islands of Ryukyus [2].
Imada [2] documented that larvae of C. chinensis develop in dead leaf stalks of the palm Livistona chinensis.
Occurrence in Taiwan
The species was reported from Taiwan (Kenting NP and Fuyuan in Hualien County), by Imada [2]. We find it infrequently in leaf litter samples at lowland localities in southern Taiwan. Since Livistona chinensisdoes not occur at most localities where the species was found, we suppose its larvae may develop on a wider spectrum of host plants.
