Curculionidae and Rhynchitidae community (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) in different ecosystems of eastern Black Sea and northeastern Anatolia of Türkiye.

1. The Curculionoidea superfamily is represented by approximately 62,000 species identified in the world and 1,700 species in Türkiye. Individuals belonging to this family are considered to be highly specialized phytophagous insects. Some species are known as agricultural and forest pests, others as biological control agents for weed control or as bioindicators for desertification detection. 2. Therefore, knowledge of the abundance and diversity of native Curculionoidea species associated with different ecosystems and the design and implementation of specific measures to prevent or control their damage is essential. 3. In this study, three different periods (early summer, summer and autumn), locations and altitudes were sampled to investigate the species composition, abundance and diversity of the Curculionoidea community in different ecosystems, namely fruit orchards, forest areas, weeds and forage crops in northeastern Türkiye during 2010–2013 and 2016–2017 (6 years in total). 4. A total of 5580 individuals were collected (3770 in 2010, 70 in 2011, 1190 in 2012, 430 in 2013, 80 in 2016 and 40 in 2017), belonging to 32 species from two families. Of these, 3350 belonged to the Curculionidae (1890 males, 1460 females) and 2230 to the Rhynchitidae (1180 males, 1050 females). Phyllobius glaucus (%25.5), Tatianaerhynchites aequatus (17.77%), Rhynchites bacchus (10.05%), Rhynchites auratus (8.80%) and Polydrusus ponticus (4.85%) were determined as the first stage Curculionoidea species in terms of distribution and density. A large number of the species (26 species) were caught in all the ecosystems and, in general, with a higher abundance in the early summer. The highest levels of abundance and diversity of the Curculionoidea have been observed in fruit orchards. However, between ecosystems, localities, altitudes, years and sampling periods, these parameters (abundance and diversity) varied considerably. 5. Further research into how the composition of the vegetation cover shapes the Curculionoidea community is essential to implement strategies to prevent, reduce or control their damage.