Research Article |
Corresponding author: Analyn A. Cabras ( ann.cabras24@umindanao.edu.ph ) Academic editor: Miguel Alonso-Zarazaga
© 2019 Analyn A. Cabras, Milton Norman D. Medina, Guanyang Zhang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Cabras AA, Medina MND, Zhang G (2019) Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n., a new Pachyrhynchus cumingii GR Waterhouse, 1841 mimic from Mindanao Island, Philippines. ZooKeys 853: 119-129. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.853.30595
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A description of a new species from the genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Pachyrhynchini) from Mt Kitanglad Range Natural Park, an ASEAN Heritage Site in northern Mindanao is presented and illustrated. The recent discovery is also the first mimic record of Pachyrhynchus cumingii GR Waterhouse, 1841 which are both found in the same locality. A Coptorhynchus sp. showing similar elytral patterns was also documented to be part of the mimicry complex. The new species differs from the other two species in having a distinct transverse groove between forehead and rostrum and the antennal scape reaching beyond the hind margin of the eye.
Bukidnon, endemism, Mt Kitanglad Range Natural Park, weevil
The province of Bukidnon is one of the most entomologically explored areas in Mindanao Island, Philippines, with dozens of species of Pachyrhynchini Schönherr, 1826 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) discovered between 20th and 21st centuries (
Part of the vision of the Coleoptera Research Center of the University of Mindanao Davao City is to document the coleopteran fauna of the different mountain ecosystems in Mindanao. In partnership with various stakeholders in Bukidnon, a Coleoptera expedition was conducted in Barangay Chinchona, Lantapan, which is one of the main trails of MKRNP. One of the interesting species belonging to the genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 was discovered and further examination revealed it as a species new to science. The new species herein together with data on its ecology, distribution, and mimicry with Pachyrhynchus cumingii is described and illustrated. Mimicry among the tribe Pachyrhynchini has been widely recorded (
The specimens deposited in the University of Mindanao Coleoptera Research Center (UMCRC) were collected through sheet beating and hand picking and killed in vials with ethyl acetate. Morphological characters were observed under Luxeo 4D and Nikon SMZ745T stereomicroscopes. Stacked digital habitus images were taken with Nikon D5300 digital camera and Sigma 18–250 macro lens, whereas digital images of genitalia were taken with Ricoh WG-50. All images were stacked and processed using a licensed version of the software Photoshop CS6 Portable. Endophallus eversion was done by Dr Bollino and images were taken with Nikon D90 digital camera, extension tubes, bellows, and Rodenstock Rodagon 60mm f/5.6 lens. Images were then stacked and processed using a licensed version of the software Helicon Focus 6.7.0. Measurements mentioned in this paper are abbreviated as follows:
LB body length, from the apical margin of pronotum to the apex of elytra;
LE elytral length, from the level of the basal margins to the apex of elytra;
WE maximum width across the elytra;
LP pronotal length, from the base to apex along the midline;
WP maximum width across the pronotum;
LR length of rostrum;
WR maximum width across the rostrum.
All measurements are given in millimeters and follow the measurement methodology of Yoshitake (2013). The specimens are deposited in the following collections:
UMCRC University of Mindanao Coleoptera Research Center, Mindanao, Philippines;
CMUUM Central Mindanao University University Museum, Mindanao, Philippines;
MBLI private collection of Dr. Maurizio Bollino, Lecce, Italy.
Holotype
(Fig.
Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n. is similar in general appearance to Metapocyrtus perpulcheroides Schultze, 1923 which was described from Kalinga Province, Luzon Island. In addition to the unique scaly markings on the pronotum and elytra of Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n., the new species differs from Metapocyrtus perpulcheroides for having a subglobular pronotum, a less prominent transverse groove on rostrum, and having unique male and female genital structures.
Dimensions: LB: 10.5–11.5 (holotype 10.5 mm). LR: 1.5–2.0 (1.7 mm). WR: 1.4–1.7 (1.5 mm). LP: 3.5–3.8 (3.6 mm). WP: 3.9–4.0 (3.9 mm). LE: 7.5–8.1 (7.5 mm). WE: 5.2–5.6 (5.4 mm). N=5 for all measurements.
Body black; pronotum, head and legs coppery black, weakly lustrous with sparse pale yellow, green and violet scales; body surface weakly lustrous with golden yellow, orange, greenish, turquoise and bluish scales. Eyes, antennae, and tarsomeres black.
Head with the following markings: a) dense elongated pale orange and turquoise stripes under eye on each lateral side diminishing towards apex of rostrum, and b) elongated stripe of yellow, green, and orange scales from vertex to basal half of the rostrum at times confluent with lateral stripe. Rostrum rugose, longer than wide with minute light yellow setae and long yellow hairs towards the apex; dorso-apically slightly convex; prominent transverse basal groove, and longitudinal median groove forming a cross shape. Front with deep depression covered with dense scales. Eyes small and weakly convex. Antennal scape as long as the funicle plus club, with flattened hairs and sparse scales. Funicular segments I and II almost of the same length, three times longer than wide; segments III–VII as long as wide; club subellipsoidal, nearly three times longer than wide.
Pronotum subglobular, widest at middle, weakly convex, glabrous, with very minute and sparse punctures; thin strips of golden yellow to turquoise scales at the anterior, posterior and latero-ventral margin; three thin longitudinal stripes dorsally at times with transverse stripe intersecting the median stripe forming a cross.
Elytra with regular weakly striate-punctate intervals with sparse scales, moderately convex, with few short hairs. Each elytron with the following golden yellow and turquoise to light blue markings: 1) three longitudinal stripes from behind base at interval II, IV and VI which may or may not be reach median transverse stripe; stripes confluent at base; 2) stripe on lateral margin extending from base towards the apex of the elytra; 3) thin transverse band in the middle part of elytra, medially; 4) thin longitudinal stripe between interval I and II extending from middle of the elytra to apex and confluent with lateral margin stripe, may or may not be connected with median transverse stripe; 5) apical triangular stripe extending from apex of each elytron to apical third, laterally connected with median marking. Underside weakly lustrous, pubescent with pale yellow and green scales on the basal margin of the pronotum and latero-ventral side of ventrites I and II and sometimes including ventrites III and IV.
Legs with strongly clavate femora. Femora covered with short hairs and sparse scales along posterior margins. Each tibia fringed with pubescence along internal margin, sparsely mixed with short hairs. Apical part of femora with dense orange and violet scales and short setae. Tibiae with sparse scales and short setae, with toothed projections along internal edge.
Tarsomeres covered by sparse pubescence.
Male genitalia as shown in Figures
Everted endophallus as shown in Figures
The new species is named after Mt Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP), the park where the holotype was collected. It is a Latinized adjective.
Notes on the ecology and distribution
Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n. was collected in the secondary forest of Barangay Cinchona, MKRNP as well as the degraded secondary forests of Marilog District, both at around 1200 m a.s.l. The new species was mostly collected on the leaves of Angiopteris evecta (G.Forst.) Hoffm. (Marattiaceae) in the sloppy trail towards the forest edge (Fig.
Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n. has been recorded from MKRNP, Mt Dulang-dulang, Mt Kiamo (Bukidnon), Marilog District, Barangay Buda, and Davao del Sur (Davao region) in Mindanao Island. These localities belong to Central Mindanao biogeographic region (
The new species Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n. (Fig.
1 | Rostrum distinctly elongate, obviously longer than frons, antennal scrobes laterally oriented | Coptorhynchus sp. |
– | Rostrum of medium length, antennal scrobes laterally curving downwards in front of eyes at sides of rostrum | 2 |
2 | Head without a distinct transverse groove between frons and rostrum, apical half of rostrum dorsally swollen, and antennal scape not reaching hind margin of eye | Pachyrhynchus cumingii |
– | Head with a distinct transverse groove between forehead and rostrum, Apical half of rostrum not swollen dorsally, and antennal scape reaching beyond the hind margin of eye | Metapocyrtus kitangladensis sp. n. |
We would like to thank National Geographic Society (GR-000000031) for the funding and the University of Mindanao especially Dr Guillermo P Torres Jr and Dr Maria Linda Arquiza for the seed grant for the Coleoptera Research Center. We also acknowledge Dr Emmanuel Leano and Dr Alma Mohagan of Central Mindanao University for the help in giving us access to MKRNP. We are also grateful to PASu Daniel Somira for the generosity in welcoming us to conduct research in MKRNP. We also thank ‘Blackie’ for guiding us during fieldwork; Dr Matthew Van Dam for providing us additional material; Dr Arvids Barševskis for the continuing support in our Coleoptera research endeavors; and Dr Maurizio Bollino for his valuable comments in the manuscript and providing photographs of the everted endophallus and additional data on localities.