Research Article |
Corresponding author: Analyn A. Cabras ( ann.cabras24@umindanao.edu.ph ) Academic editor: Miguel Alonso-Zarazaga
© 2022 Analyn A. Cabras, Rizalyn Cudera, Joelyn Mamon, Milton Norman D. Medina.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Cabras AA, Cudera R, Mamon J, Medina MND (2022) Two new species of Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from southern Mindanao, Philippines, with ecological notes. ZooKeys 1116: 133-147. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1116.83236
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Two new species of the genus Metapocyrtus subgenus Orthocyrtus Heller, 1912 are described and illustrated from southern Mindanao, Philippines: M. (O.) melibengoy sp. nov. and M. (O.) flomlok sp. nov. Another two species were transferred from the subgenus Artapocyrtus Heller, 1912 to Orthocyrtus, namely, M. (O.) willietorresi Cabras & Medina, 2018 and M. (O.) villalobosae
Biodiversity, change of placement, Cotabato, new species, taxonomy, weevils
Members of the subgenus Orthocyrtus Heller, 1912 (genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912) are among the most notable of the tribe Pachyrhynchini for their conspicuously large size. The subgenus is currently recognized as endemic to the Philippines and is distributed all over the archipelago. Up to the present, the subgeneric division of Metapocyrtus is uncertain and badly needs revision. However, members of Orthocyrtus have distinct and stable characters that distinguish them from other subgenera: 1) large species, with a few exceptions; 2) rostrum of medium length, dorsally straight, mostly in a plane with the front (exceptionally slightly concave) and at the base, the sides are rectangularly declined; 3) female, with a few exceptions, without any secondary sexual structural characters aside from a stouter form, and similar to the male; (
In the past two years, two species belonging to Orthocyrtus were collected from southern Mindanao and found to be new to science. In this paper, the two new species are described and illustrated. Short notes on their ecology are provided. Another two species from the subgenus Artapocyrtus Heller, 1912 were transferred to Orthocyrtus, namely, M. (O.) willietorresi Cabras & Medina, 2018 and M. (O.) villalobosae
The specimens deposited in the University of Mindanao Coleoptera Research Center were collected by sheet beating and handpicking and killed in vials with ethyl acetate. Morphological characters were observed under Luxeo 4D and Nikon SMZ745T stereomicroscopes. The treatment of the genitals follows
Abbreviations and symbols mentioned in this paper are abbreviated as follows:
/ different lines;
// different labels;
LB body length, from the apical margin of pronotum to the apex of elytra;
LR length of rostrum;
LP pronotal length, from the base to apex along the midline;
LE elytral length, from the level of the basal margins to the apex of elytra;
WR maximum width across the rostrum;
WP maximum width across the pronotum;
WE maximum width across the elytra.
Comparative materials and specimens used in the study are deposited in the following institutional collections:
SKSUABC Sultan Kudarat State University ACCESS Biological Collection, Tacurong, Philippines;
SMTD Senckenberg Natural History Collections, Dresden, Germany;
UMCRC University of Mindanao Coleoptera Research Center, Davao City Philippines.
Holotype
(Figs
Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) melibengoy sp. nov. is related to Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) lanusinus Schultze, 1922 but differs in its pronotal and elytral scaly markings. Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) melibengoy sp. nov. has two small spots on each side of the disc of its pronotum, and each elytron with one small subbasal spot near the suture, one median stripe from the suture to the lateral side, two subapical spots, a short post-median stripe at stria III, and a long stripe along the lateral margin, confluent with the post-median stripe.
Male. Dimensions: LB: 9.2–10.4 mm (holotype 10 mm). LR: 2.0–2.5 mm (2.0 mm). WR: 1.4–1.7 mm (1.4 mm). LP: 3.1–3.6 mm (3.1 mm). WP: 3.6–4.0 mm (3.6 mm). LE: 6.1–6.8 mm (6.1 mm). WE: 5.5–5.7 mm (5.7 mm). N = 3.
Integument black. Body surface, rostrum, head, and underside moderately shiny. Head finely punctured on dorsum with sparse and very minute pubescence, dorsal surface with a scaly patch of metallic pale-yellow ochre and turquoise round scales near the transverse groove; lateroventral side below the eye with a semi-elliptical scaly patch of metallic pale-yellow-ochre and turquoise round scales interspersed with adpressed metallic bluish piliform scales; forehead between eyes slightly depressed; eyes medium-sized and feebly convex. Rostrum weakly rugose and coarsely punctured on basal 2/3 and finely punctured on apical third, longer than wide (LR/WR:2/1.4mm), dorsum covered with sub-adpressed brownish setae, with large subelongate scaly patch of overlapping light-yellow-ochre, turquoise and bluish round scales on basal half, lateral surface with minute subadpressed brownish setae interspersed with long suberect whitish setae, ventral surface with long suberect whitish setae; transverse basal groove distinct; longitudinal groove along midline distinct and forms a shallow concavity; dorsum almost flattish dorsally and apex weakly convex; lateral sides with moderately widened apicad. Antennal scape and funicle almost the same length, scape reaching slightly behind the hind margin of eye, covered with subadpressed fine light-colored setae, and funicle with suberect brownish setae. Funicular segments I and II are almost of the same length, three times longer than wide; segments III–VII nearly as long as wide; club sub-ellipsoidal, nearly 3 times longer than wide. Prothorax subglobular, wider than long (LP/WP:3.1/3.6 mm), finely punctured with minute pubescence, widest at middle, weakly convex on dorsal surface, dorsal contour highest point on basal ¼. Prothorax with the following scaly markings of metallic, light-yellow ochre and turquoise, round scales: a) stripe at the anterior margin, b) two small subcircular spots on each side of discs, c) stripe at the posterior margin, and d) slightly broader stripe before the coxa confluent with the anterior and posterior marginal stripes. Elytra ovate (LE/WE:6.1/5.7 mm), moderately wider and nearly twice longer than prothorax (WE/WP: 5.7/3.6 mm, LE/LP: 6.1/3.1 mm), distinctly and randomly punctured with very minute pubescence, dorsum strongly convex, dorsal contour highest before the middle, lateral contour evenly arcuate, widest at middle, apex quite rounded with sparse, white, fine setae. Each elytron with the following scaly markings of pale-yellow-ochre, turquoise and bluish round scales: a) one subbasal spot between stria II and III, b) one median interrupted stripe from suture towards but not reaching lateral margin, c) two subapical spots on dorsolateral surface, d) a short longitudinal post-median stripe at stria III, and e) one long stripe along lateral margin from base to apex, interrupted before middle. Post-median, and lateral marginal stripe confluent at the apex. Legs with moderately clavate femora. Femora black covered with subadpressed bluish piliform scales which tend to get longer towards apex and with yellow-ochre, turquoise and bluish oval scales near apical margin. Tibiae covered with suberect long white setae, weakly serrate along inner edge with few protruding teeth. Fore tibiae and midtibiae bear a mucro at apex. Tarsomeres pubescent. Forecoxae covered with colored piliform scales and with pale-yellow-ochre to bluish round scales; mesocoxae and metacoxae covered with setae. Mesoventrite covered with light-colored setae and with light-yellow and turquoise rounds scales on distal ends. Metaventrite densely covered with white setae and with light-yellow ochre and turquoise elliptical scales on distal ends. Ventrite I slightly depressed on disc, densely covered with white setae and with light-yellow to turquoise elliptical scales towards lateral margin. Ventrite II to V sparsely covered with whitish setae. Ventrite V flattened, apical half finely densely punctured, with minute setae.
Male aedeagus as shown in Figs
Female. Dimensions: LB: 11.8–13.0 mm: LR: 2.3–2.5 mm: WR: 1.9–2.0 mm. LP: 3.5–4.0 mm. WP: 4.0–4.6 mm. LE: 8.0–9.0 mm. WE: 6.0–7.0 mm. N = 5.
Habitus as shown in Figs
Females differ from males in the following: a) pronotum slightly wider, and longer than in male; b) base of pronotum slightly widened on sides, c) elytra longer and moderately wider, lateral contour widest before the middle; and d) ventrite I slightly convex on disc. Otherwise, the female is similar to the male.
The new species is named after its type locality, Mt. Melibengoy, which is the local name of Mt. Parker.
Holotype
(Figs
Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) flomlok sp. nov. is closely related to Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) lanusinus Schultze, 1922 but differs in the following: shorter and stouter body, pronotal scaly marks of two huge round spots on each side of disc, distinct and continuous thick longitudinal stripes from the base to the apex of the elytra, and the stouter and shorter aedeagal body. Meanwhile, M. (O.) lanusinus has a thin transverse band at mid-length, and elytral marks having four interrupted longitudinal stripes distinctly short and oftentimes with short spots in between each longitudinal stripe in the mid-length.
Male. Dimensions: LB: 11.0–11.5 mm (holotype 11.0 mm). LR: 2.1–2.3 mm (2.1 mm). WR: 1.8–2.0 mm (1.8 mm). LP: 3.8–4.0 mm (3.8 mm). WP: 4.4–4.7 mm (4.4 mm). LE: 7.0–7.4 mm (7.0 mm). WE: 6.0–6.5 mm (6.0 mm). N = 3.
Integument black. Body surface, rostrum, head, and underside with weak luster. Head finely punctured on dorsum with sparse and very minute setae, frons covered with metallic golden orange, round scales, lateroventral parts below the eye with a semi-elliptical scaly patch of pale-yellow and turquoise round scales, latero-ventral parts with adpressed metallic bluish piliform scales, forehead between eyes nearly flattish. Eyes medium-sized and feebly convex. Rostrum coarsely rugose on basal 2/3 and finely punctured on apical third, slightly longer than wide (LR/WR:2.1/1.8 mm), dorsum with sparse and adpressed brownish setae, lateral surface with sparse minute subadpressed bluish piliform scales interspersed with brownish and whitish, long suberect setae especially towards the apical margin, ventral surface with long suberect whitish setae; transverse basal groove distinct; longitudinal groove along midline distinct and forms a shallow concavity filled with metallic golden orange with a tinge of green, round scales; dorsum almost flattish dorsally and apex weakly convex; lateral sides with strongly expanded apicad. Antennal scape and funicle of almost the same length, scape reaching the hind margin of eye, covered with subadpressed metallic fine light-colored hairs, and funicle with suberect brownish hairs. Funicular segments I and II almost of the same length, three times longer than wide; segments III–VII nearly as long as wide; club sub-ellipsoidal, nearly 3 times longer than wide. Prothorax subglobular, wider than long (LP/WP:3.8/4.4 mm), finely punctured especially near anterior margin, widest before middle, weakly convex on dorsal surface, dorsal contour highest point before the middle. Prothorax with the following scaly markings of metallic, light-yellow and turquoise round scales: a) thin stripe at the anterior margin, b) two large subcircular spots on each side of disc, c) thin stripe at the posterior margin, and d) slightly broader stripe before the coxa confluent with the anterior and posterior marginal bands. Elytra ovate (LE/WE:7.0/6.0 mm), slightly wider and moderately longer than prothorax (WE/WP: 6.0/4.4 mm, LE/LP: 7.0/3.8 mm), finely and distinctly punctured with very minute pubescence, strongly convex, dorsal contour highest before the middle, lateral contour evenly arcuate, widest at middle, apex rounded with sparse, colored, fine setae. Each elytron with the following scaly markings of pale-yellow-ochre, turquoise and bluish round scales: a) three continuous longitudinal scaly stripes from basal margin towards apex of the elytron, b) one long stripe along lateral margin from base to apex, c) one premedian longitudinal stripe along suture, and d) very minute and at times negligible spots in the midle of each scaly stripe at the median portion. Legs with moderately clavate femora. Femora black covered with subadpressed light blue and turquoise piliform scales and turquoise elliptical scales near the apical margin. Tibiae covered with suberect long white setae, weakly serrate along inner edge with few protruding teeth. Fore and midtibiae bear a mucro at apex. Tarsomeres pubescent. Forecoxae covered with colored piliform scales and with turquoise elliptical scales; mesocoxae and metacoxae covered with setae. Mesoventrite covered with light-colored setae and with turquoise rounds scales on distal ends. Metaventrite sparsely covered with light-colored piliform scales and with turquoise round scales on distal ends. Ventrite I slightly depressed on disc, covered with light-colored piliform scales and with light-yellow to turquoise round scales towards lateral margin. Ventrite II to V sparsely covered with whitish setae and piliform scales which tends to get denser at distal ends. Ventrite V flattened, apical half finely coarsely rugose, with minute setae. Male aedeagus as shown in Figs
Female. Dimensions: LB: 12.0–12.7 mm: LR: 2.0–2.1 mm: WR: 1.7–1.8 mm. LP: 3.6–3.8 mm. WP: 3.6–3.8 mm. LE: 7.8–8.0 mm. WE: 7.2–7.5 mm. N = 2.
Habitus as shown in Figs
The new species is named after “flomlok” the old B’laan name of its type locality Polomolok. The term flomlok means hunting ground due to the abundance of wildlife in the area prior to the settlement of lowlanders and agricultural companies.
Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) flomlok sp. nov. is known from Polomolok Municipality, South Cotabato.
Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) willietorresi Cabras & Medina, 2019: 186
Mt. Apo Natural Park, Davao del Sur.
UMCRC.
Male: Philippines - Mindanao / Kapatagan / Davao del Sur / December, 2021 / coll. LC (typed on white card). Presently in UMCRC.
Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) villalobosae
Mount Kabunulan, Hamiguitan Range, Surop, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, 6°27'44.29"N, 126°10'18.15"E, 400 m a.s.l.
CMUZS.
4♂♂, 2♀♀: Philippines - Mindanao / San Isidro / Oriental / December, 2021 / coll. LC (typed on white card). Presently in UMCRC.
Male genitalia of Orthocyrtus sp. 9–11 Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) melibengoy sp. nov. 12–14 Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) flomlok sp. nov. 15–17 Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) willietorresi 9, 12, 15 aedeagus in lateral view 10, 13, 16 idem in dorsal view 11, 14, 17 sternite IX in dorsal view.
1 | Pronotum coarsely punctured with a transverse scaly stripe in the entire width in the middle; elytra coarsely striate punctate, striae beset with golden yellow and reddish scales |
M . (O .) villalobosae |
– | Pronotum subglabrous or finely punctured without a transverse stripe; elytra finely punctate, striae with fine setae | 2 |
2 | Prothorax as long as wide with subcircular scaly rings on each side of disc; each elytron with two circular scaly rings on basal, medial and apical parts | M . (O .) willietorresi Cabras & Medina, 2018 |
– | Prothorax wider than long with scaly spot on each side of disc; elytra with spots or longitudinal scaly stripes from basal margin towards apex | 3 |
3 | Pronotum with small scaly spots on each side of disc; elytra ovate with subbasal and subapical spots and an interrupted median stripe and a short longitudinal post-median stripe at stria III | M . (O) . melibengoy sp.nov. |
– | Pronotum with large round scaly spot on each side of disc; elytra strongly ovate with thick longitudinal scaly stripes from basal margin towards apex……….. | M . (O) . flomlok sp.nov. |
Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) melibengoy sp. nov. was collected from forest vegetation along the Salacafe trail leading to Lake Holon, at an elevation of 1200 m (Fig.
As for Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) flomlok sp. nov., it was collected in an open and quite degraded area in Polomolok, South Cotabato, near a pineapple plantation at an elevation of 1021 m. The new species was collected on a slope near a small creek with pristine waters (Fig.
The genus Metapocyrtus is one of the most taxonomically complex genera of the tribe Pachyrhynchini. The genus is characterized by mimicry with other members of Pachyrhynchini (i.e., Pachyrhynchus Germar, 1824, Trichomacrocyrtus Yoshitake, 2018, Eumacrocyrtus Schultze, 1923) as well as other weevil groups (i.e., Alcidodes Marshall, 1939, Eupyrgops Berg, 1898, Polycatus Heller, 1912, Calidiopsis Heller, 1913), and even with the family Cerambycidae as exemplified by the genus Doliops Waterhouse, 1841. For the genus Metapocyrtus, elytral patterns alone or color variation of the scaly markings should not be used as a basis in delineating species since intersubgeneric mimicry among its members as well as color polymorphism is quite a common occurrence (
Another problem with this genus is the subgeneric delineation which remains unresolved and requires a thorough revision. As for the subgenus Orthocyrtus, the large body size, shape of its rostrum, and body make this taxon quite straightforward to identify. Despite recent publications on this subgenus, many species remain unknown and some species may even be cryptic; only eversion of the endophallus or molecular data could help in species delineation. However, because of the unabated loss of forest cover in the Philippines due to illegal logging, conversion of forest lands for commercial or agricultural purposes, as well as mining activities, these species are at a high risk of extinction. Thus, discoveries of new species and research on species biology, ecology, and threats are very important as they may provide the International Union of Conservation of Nature Red List and local stakeholders with evidence to be used for their assessment and conservation initiatives.
We express our gratitude to the University of Mindanao; to DENR for the Gratuitous Permit, Kim Jumawan, and Amy Ponce for the help in the collection; the Department of Science and Technology - National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), for the funding, and DOLE-Philippines for facilitating the biodiversity assessments in their farms in Polomolok; Dr. Arvids Barševskis from DUBC, Latvia; Dr. Hiraku Yoshitake from Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO (NIAES), Tsukuba, Japan; Dr. Klaus-Dieter Klass and Olaf Jäger from Senckenberg Natural History Collections, Dresden, Germany for their assistance during the first and last author’s visit. We are also grateful to Dr. Dave Waldien for reviewing the English text.