Palearctic Distribution and Host Plants of Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus and Trichosirocalus horridus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

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Abstract
Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus (F.) and Trichosirocalus (= Ceuthorhynchidius auctt. nec du Val) horridus (Panzer) are distributed in central and southern Europe and the Caucasus area of the USSR. C. trimaculatus is also present in North Africa. Host plants of adult C. trimaculatus are Carduus and Cirsium spp., and host plants of adult T. horridus are Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum spp. At Rome, Italy, larvae of both weevils feed on Carduus macrocephalus Desfontaines, C. pycnocephalus L., and Galactites tomentosa Moench., as determined by periodic dissections of several species of Compsitae plants. Since larvae were not found on artichoke, Cynara scolymus L., or reported from this crop in the literature, these weevils are potential biological control agents of Carduus spp. in the United States.