''Sitona'' is a large

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

weevil Weevils are beetles belonging to the Taxonomic rank, superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small, less than in length, and Herbivore, herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They b ...

s in the family

Curculionidae The Curculionidae are a family of weevils, commonly called snout beetles or true weevils. They are one of the largest animal families, with 6,800 genera and 83,000 species described worldwide. They are the sister group to the family Brentidae. T ...

native to the

Nearctic The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface. The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America t ...

and

Palaearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...

regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the

mandibles In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...

, by the absence of an oval scar on the mandibles, by short and broad

rostrum Rostrum may refer to: * Any kind of a platform for a speaker: **dais **pulpit * Rostrum (anatomy), a beak, or anatomical structure resembling a beak, as in the mouthparts of many sucking insects * Rostrum (ship), a form of bow on naval ships * Ros ...

with a deep, longitudinal, median groove, and by dense scales on the body.Donald E. Bright, Patrice Bouchard. ''The Insects and Arachnids of Canada'', Part 25: ''Coleoptera. Curculionidae. Entiminae. Weevils of Canada and Alaska''. Vol. 2. Ottawa, NRC Research Press, 2008. . P. 178-203. ''Sitona'' specialize on

legume A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...

s, plants of the family

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

. The larvae eat the

root nodule Root nodules are found on the roots of plants, primarily legumes, that form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria known a ...

sKorortyaev, B. A. and A. J. Velázquez de Castro González. (2011)
A new species of the weevil genus ''Sitona'' Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Mt. Hermon in Israel.
''Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS'' 315(1) 85-88. and the adults eat the leaves. Several species of ''Sitona'' are important

agricultural pest A pest is any animal or plant harmful to humans or human concerns. The term is particularly used for creatures that damage crops, livestock, and forestry or cause a nuisance to people, especially in their homes. Humans have modified the environ ...

s of legumes, especially in its native regions and introduced populations in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Species include: *''

Sitona aliceae ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

''Velázquez de Castro, A. J., et al. (2011)
Sitonini (Curculionidae: Entiminae) of Israel.
''Israel Journal of Entomology'' 40 71-108. *'' Sitona aquilonius'' *'' Sitona bicolor'' *''

Sitona brucki ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' *'' Sitona californius'' *''

Sitona concavirostris ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' *''

Sitona crinitus ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' *'' Sitona cylindricollis'' *''

Sitona demoflysi ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' *''

Sitona desertus ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' *''

Sitona discoideus ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' Gyllenhal *'' Sitona fairmairei'' Allard, 1869 *''

Sitona flavescens ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mandi ...

'' *''

Sitona fronto ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mand ...

'' *'' Sitona hispidulus'' *''

Sitona lepidus ''Sitona lepidus'' or clover root weevil is a species of weevil found in Europe. It has now spread to North America and New Zealand. ''S. lepidus'' was found in New Zealand pastures in 1996 and poses a threat to farm productivity since it damag ...

'' Gyllenhal – clover root weevil *''

Sitona lineatus ''Sitona lineatus'', commonly known as the pea leaf weevil is a species of weevil with a Palearctic distribution. It is a common pest of beans, peas, and other plants in the family Fabaceae. Adult beetles of ''S. lineatus'' measure 3.4-5.3 mm ...

'' – pea leaf weevil *'' Sitona lineellus'' *''

Sitona maroccanus ''Sitona'' is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Over 100 species have been described. ''Sitona'' is easily distinguished from related genera by flat, recumbent scales on the mand ...

'' *'' Sitona planifrons'' *'' Sitona puncticollis'' *'' Sitona sulcifrons'' *'' Sitona syriacus'' *'' Sitona tanneri'' *'' Sitona vittatus'' *'' Sitona volkovitshi'' *'' Sitona wahrmani''

References

Entiminae Curculionidae genera {{Entiminae-stub