A NEW GENUS OF MICROPHTHALMIC RHYTIRRHININI FROM ANDEAN LEAF-LITTER (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

The rhytirrhinine genus Andesianellus gen. n. (type species A. microph thalmicus sp. n.), and nine new species, are described from the highla nds of Colombia (1), Ecuador (5), and Peru (3). Andesianellus species are characterized by the following combination of character states: ve ry small body size (< 3.5 mm), eyes reduced to 8 or fewer facets, rost rum distinctly tricarinate dorsally, and basal elytral margin raised a nd subcarinate. Most specimens were collected in berlese funnel sample s of various kinds of montane forest leaf litter. The closest relative s are hypothesized to be the Andean genera Adioristidius Voss and Macr ostyphlus Kirsch.