First evidence of an occurrence of Rhopalapion longirostre OLIVIER, 1807 (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Apionidae) in Poland
by
Marek W. Kozłowski* and Stanisław Knutelski**
with 3 figures

[Fig. 1][Fig. 2] [Fig. 3]

Abstract
Finding Rhopalapion longirostre in the South of Warsaw is the first evidence of an occurrence of this weevil species in Poland, and after recent records from North and East Germany (Hamburg, Bremen; and Berlin 2001), this is a further example showing a North-Eastern direction of colonisation and of progressive enlarging its range in Europe. It is a well characterized small weevil; the females have the longest rostrum among all Middle-European Apionidae. It develops on hollyhock (Alcea rosea L.) with other syntrophic Apionid species, like Aspidapion radiolus (MARSHAM,1802) and Aspidapion aeneum (FABRICIUS, 1775), and appears mainly in urban gardens. For these reasons (distinct habitus and specific host plant), Rhopalapion longirostre can be an illustrative example of a weevil spreading rapidly its home range in Europe and in the whole Holarctic region. Specimens voucher collected by M.Kozlowski are in the weevil collections of S. Knutelski.

Keywords
Coleoptera, Apionidae, Rhopalapion longirostre, phytophagous beetles, Malvaceae, Alcea rosea, new record, Poland, European fauna, biogeography, Holarctic, range, expansion.

Streszczenie
Sfotografowanie czterech osobników pędrusia długoryjka (nazwa proponowana) Rhopalapion longirostre na malwie ozdobnej, Alcea rosea L. rosnącej na warszawskim Ursynowie jest pierwszą dokumentacją występowania tego ryjkowca w Polsce. Jak wskazują dotychczasowe dane dotyczące jego rozsiedleniu, poszerza on ekspansywnie w kierunku płn.-wschodnim swój zasięg w Europie. Gatunek ten, będąc łatwym do obserwacji (występuje głównie w miastach, wyłącznie na malwie ozdobnej, a samice różnią się od innych Apionidae wyjątkowo długim ryjkiem), może być modelowym obiektem do śledzenia dynamiki ekspansji geograficznej ryjkowcców. Materiały dowodowe zebrane przez M. Kozłowskiego znajdują się w zbiorze S. Knutelskiego.

Introduction
Rhopalapion longirostre OLIVIER, 1807 was recorded for the first time from Poland (Bialowieza) by Tenenbaum (1923), but after Smreczynski (1960), this information was erroneous. For that reason this weevil species was excluded from the Polish fauna (Burakowski et al. 1992). Later studies on the weevils of Bialowieza Primeval Forest (Wanat 1993, 1999, 2001), other field work in Poland, and also an analysis of some Polish weevil collections did not confirm any occurrence of Rhopalapion longirostre but added new records on its distribution in several European countries (Knutełski & Petryszak 1997).
Here we show the first evidence of an occurrence of Rhopalapion longirostre in Poland. This finding is a further example of a quick expansion and enlarging the range of a species in north-western and north-eastern directions of Europe from ancestral range (Ehret 1983; Perrin 1984, 1995; Kleß 1995; Kuijper-Nannenga 1995; Knutelski & Petryszak 1997; Sprick et al. 2002).

Species identity
Very symptomatic for identification of Rhopalapion longirostre is its enormously extended rostrum, especially in females - much longer than the half of the rest of body length, which has no match among European Apionidae. Orange legs and the whole body covered with dense, white trichae are also characteristic features and clearly visible [Fig. 1], [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 3]. Detailed keys for identification are given by Smreczynski (1965) and Dieckmann (1977).

Finding
On May 28, 2002, four specimens arranged in two pairs were noticed and photographed (Fig. 1-3) by a routine scan of a group of hollyhock growing in a small garden adjacent to a block building of a flat area in the centre of Ursynow, a quarter of Warsaw, Kulczynskiego str., house no 18 (UTM: EC08). One pair was spotted on a leaf, the female was feeding and the second male was sitting on a flower bud. The hollyhock plant (Alcea rosea L.) with Rhopalapion longirostre was just before flowering, and the stem was bored by a numerous population of another inhabiting Apionid weevil species, Aspidapion radiolus.

Comment
Observations of enlarging the range in Rhopalapion longirostre during the last 60 years give us a model of a quick expansion of a phytophagous beetle species into new areas from Mediterranean regions toward Western and Middle Europe.
Up to the year 1960, Rhopalapion longirostre was recorded from Central and Minor Asia, as well as from the warmest parts of the Mediterranean region and Central Europe, and from the Caucasus Mountains to Vienna. Next, it extended its range to northern and north-western directions into the remaining parts of Europe (Smreczynski 1965; Dieckmann 1977; Perrin 1984, 1995), and afterwards it still colonized new areas to northern and north-eastern directions (Knutelski & Petryszak 1997; Sprick et al. 2002). At present, Rhopalapion longirostre is widespread from Central Asia, Caucasus Mountains, Minor Asia, Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey), Apennines Peninsula (Italy), and south-eastern Europe up to Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, and France. It was also introduced to North America (Knutelski & Petryszak 1997, Sprick et al. 2002).
Rhopalapion longirostre is closely related to hollyhock (Alcea rosea) in whose seeds it develops as a larva. Opposite to a number of other Apionids inhabiting hollyhock, Rhopalapion longirostre is more restricted to this plant, so it is not reported from other Malva spp. as well as from other Malvaceae with insufficiently big seeds to support larval development. It was, however, reported from a cotton plant, Gossypium sp. in Turkey and in the USA, where it has been lately introduced and established. Sprick et al. (2002) suggest that  city gardens with hollyhock create an especially suitable environment for this weevil, presumably for dry and hot microclimate conditions. Symptomatically, Central European records of this weevil rather come from cities than from the countryside. It seems that commonly planting of hollyhock in gardens in Europe well favours the expansion of this weevil species.
Based on actual data we do not find any other logical interpretations of this very quick colonisation of new areas by Rhopalapion longirostre. Maybe, there is also some kind of reaction of this weevil to the global warming of the climate.
We believe that this phytophagous insect can attract some attention as a potential pest of hollyhock and perhaps other plants. It is a good subject for the observation of the dispersion of a species traversing the whole Holarctic region. Hence observations on two continents should be possible to establish the latitude and altitude limits, Rhopalapion longirostre is capable to reach.

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Authors’ addresses:

Marek W. Kozłowski*
Department of Applied Entomology, Warsaw Agricultural University SGGW
02-787 Warszawa, ul. Nowoursynowska, Poland
E-mail: kozlowski@alpha.sggw.waw.pl

Stanisław Knutelski **
Department of Entomology and Mountain Station, Jagiellonian University
30-060 Kraków, ul. R. Ingardena 6, Poland
E-mail: knut@zuk.iz.uj.edu.pl