Species Diversity of the Genus Larinus (Col.: Curculionidae) on the Host Plants Asteraceae in Kerman Region

Weevils of the genus Larinus feed on the capitula of the host plants from the family of Asteraceae، and are useful in prevention of reproduction of these weeds. Throughout the present study، the species of the genus Larinus were collected from six host plants of the family Asteraceae through timely samplings in 2010 and 2011. The seven species of the genus Larinus namely L. affinis، L. nidificans، L. onopordi، L. syriacus، L. grisescens، L. liliputanus، and Larinus sp. were collected from the tested host plants. TheShannon diversity index for Larinus species on three host plants Echinops aucheri، E. longipenicillatus and Cousinis stocksii was lower as compared with the other studied host plants. Morisita-Horn similarity index for Larinus combinations on E. aucheri، E. longipenicillatus، C. stocksii and as well on other tested host plants varied from 0. 02 to 0. 31. These results indicated that Larinus species combinations are not identical among the six tested host plants، since the highest abundance of the weevils L. affinis، L. nidificans and Larinus sp. were observed on the host plants E. aucheri، E. longipenicillatus and C. stocksii، respectively. Therefore، it can be concluded that the weevils L. affinis، L. nidificans and Larinus sp. are of the potential to be respectively utilized in control of the host plants E. aucheri، E. longipenicillatus and C. stocksii، in Kerman region.