Corresponding author: Zhiliang Wang (
Academic editor: C. Majka
A new genus
Lv X, Alonso-Zarazaga MA, Xiao Z, Wang Z, Zhang R (2016)
As a part of a long-term project on insect-seed interactions, two of the authors (XYL, ZSX) have been investigating the diversity of insect seed predators of woody trees in a subtropical forest of Dujiangyan City (Sichuan Province, China) since 2002. The Dujiangyan region is in the northern part of the Hengduan Mountains, a biodiversity hotspot and priority area for biodiversity conservation in China. Located in the mountains on the western border of the Sichuan Basin, it is in an ecotone between two biogeographical regions, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Chengdu Plain. Climatically, it lies in the middle subtropical zone, characterized by evergreen broad-leaved forests. After checking the weevil specimens obtained, a new species belonging to a new genus was identified. It was thought at first sight to belong to the tribe
On 27 October 2013, 262 weevil larvae were collected from seedpods of the plant
The dry specimens show different degrees of immaturity, mainly affecting their abdomens. Only the male preserved in ethanol was mature enough to allow the extraction of moderately sclerotized genitalia and terminalia. This extraction was done directly in the conserving medium. The abdomen was then soaked overnight in lukewarm 10% sodium hydroxide for digestion of soft tissues. Genitalia and terminalia were photographed in glycerine and later mounted in DMHF (5,5-dimethyl-hydantoin formaldehyde resin) on an acetate card, and pinned together with the tergites and sternites. These have been cross labelled with the specimen in ethanol from which they were extracted.
Descriptions were made using a binocular Nikon SMZ 1500. Photographs (Figures
Original label data have been written below in Chinese script. Added transliterations into pinyin or translations are placed between square brackets. Data from different labels are separated by two slashes (//) and lines within a label by one slash (/).
Nomenclature follows
A member of the tribe
The genus name is based on the classical Greek prefix εὖ (well), latinized as
豆毛象属 [dòu máo xiàng shǔ].
Characters as given for the genus. In addition:
Nine specimens, rather teneral. All printed labels with 中国科学院动物研究所 [Zhōngguó kēxuéyuàn dòngwù yánjiū suǒ, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology]. All specimens are deposited in this institution, except one male and one female paratype, which are deposited in the Alonso-Zarazaga collection (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain).
Holotype: 1 male, labelled: printed: 2014-VII-31 / 四川 都江堰 浦阳镇 花 / 溪村 [Sìchuān, Dūjiāngyàn, Pŭyángzhèn, Huāxīcūn], 肖治术 [Xiāo Zhìshù] leg. // printed:
Paratypes: 1 male, same data as holotype, except dated 2014-VII-12 and a handwritten label: A037, 14-7-12 / 山胡豆[Shānhúdòu], 左后[zuǒhòu] / 足断[zúduàn] ♂; 1 male, same data as holotype, except dated 2014-VII-7 and a handwritten label: A037 / 1(in red) ♂ H.7.7 (specimen had been dissected, the abdomen had been discarded, some pieces in a glycerine vial); 1 male, same data as holotype, except dated 2014-VI-24, and a handwritten label: A037 / H / ♂ 6.24; 1 male, same data as holotype, except dated 2014-VII-7, and a handwritten label: A037 / 2 (in red) / ♂ H.7.7.; 1 female, same data as holotype, except dated 2014-VI-20, and a handwritten label: A037 / ♀ H.6.20; 1 female, same data as holotype, with a handwritten label: A037 / 2 (in red) / ♀ H.7.31 (specimen dissected, abdomen discarded, some pieces in a glycerine vial); 2 males, same data as holotype, but dated 2014-VI-12 and 2014-IX-17 respectively, conserved in pure ethanol vials for DNA extraction. (one of them, being less teneral, has been dissected for the study of the male genitalia and terminalia).
The species is named after the country where it has been found, China (in Latin:
中华豆毛象 [zhōnghuá dòu máo xiàng].
This species is known only from the type locality in Sichuan Province (China).
This genus is superficially similar to
The relationships of
The new genus should belong, according to the keys proposed by
If the character of the covered propygidium is not taken into consideration, the only possible placement is within the subtribe
Character comparison between
Character |
|
|
---|---|---|
Integument | black with blue metallic shine mostly on elytra | black to brownish, with green to dark bronze metallic shine, some areas of appendages and abdomen lighter |
Vestiture | sparse, thin, brown | dense, comprised of yellow and brown piliform scales |
Base of rostrum in female | with dense long hairs | without long hairs |
Labial palpi | 2-segmented | 3-segmented |
Second desmomere | about as long as scape or 1st desmomere | longer than scape or 1st desmomere |
Last antennal club segment | as long as 1st or 2nd, symmetrical | longer than 1st or 2nd, asymmetrical |
Eye length in dorsal view | less than forehead width | more than forehead width |
Pronotum | without median keel | with shortened median keel |
Scutellum | oblong | slightly transverse |
Elytra | elongate, ca. 1.7 × as long as wide | shorter, 1.33-1.43 × as long as wide |
Elytra | uniformly convex | dorsally flat to concave behind scutellum |
Elytral striae 9th and 10th | confluent near apex of elytra | confluent at metacoxal level |
Propygidium | with wing folding patches | without wing folding patches |
Metatarsomere 1 | slightly longer than 2+3 | clearly shorter than 2+3 |
Tegminal arms | broad, angulate | thin, curved |
Tegminal manubrium | strongly asymmetrical, T-shaped at apex | slightly asymmetrical, uniformly broadened |
Size | smaller (3.5-4.5 mm, without rostrum) | larger (6.76-7.33, without head and rostrum) |
Biology | shoot-cutter | ovary- and young-fruit- driller |
In summary, this new genus is placed in
The definitive placement of this new genus will have to wait until a molecular phylogeny of the tribe (and the subfamily
We thank Xunlong Wang and Chengqiang Wang for their help with field work. The experiments comply with the current laws of China. This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31330013, 31270470, 31071929, 31201735, 31172130, 31210103909, J1210002). We are also grateful to Dr Ning Liu and Dr Kuiyan Zhang (Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science) for their continuous support during the completion of this research. Drs Robert S. Anderson (Canadian Museum of Nature) and Alexander Riedel (Naturkundemuseum Karlsruhe) are warmly acknowledged for their reviews, which improved our work very much. Dr. Chistopher H.C. Lyal (Natural History Museum, London) is warmly thanked for his language correction.