TY - JOUR T1 - Phylogenetic assessment of the Caribbean weevil genus Lachnopus Schoenherr (Coleoptera : Curculionidae : Entiminae) JF - Invertebrate Systematics Y1 - 2012 A1 - Giron, Jennifer C. A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 67 EP - 82 KW - Lachnopus AB - The genus Lachnopus Schoenherr (Coleoptera : Curculionidae : Entiminae : Geonemini Gistel), with 66 species described to date, is the largest and most widespread entimine weevil genus in the Caribbean region. The monophyly and internal phylogenetic composition of Lachnopus are tested, using a cladistic analysis of 61 adult morphological characters of 31 ingroup species and five outgroup taxa representing the genera Diaprepes Schoenherr, Exophthalmus Schoenherr, Pachnaeus Schoenherr (all Eustylini), Ischionoplus Chevrolat (Geonemini) and Apodrosus Marshall (Polydrusini). The analysis produced two most parsimonious cladograms with a length of 167 steps, a consistency index of 36 and a retention index of 73. According to the strict consensus and preferred character state optimisations, the examined species of Lachnopus do not form a monophyletic entity, even though most species are placed in a major L. coffeae-L. guerinii ingroup clade, which stands in sister relationship to Ischionoplus. This major clade is constituted by at least three well-recognisable subgroups, each associated with a particular geographic range in the Caribbean region: (1) a widely distributed L. coffeae-L. lineicollis 'grade'; (2) the Hispaniolan L. proteus-L. mercator clade; (3) and the L. hispidus-L. guerinii clade with species from Cuba, Florida and Jamaica. This study provides a sound phylogenetic basis for future revisions of Lachnopus and related geonemine genera. VL - 26 SN - 1445-5226 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Revision, phylogeny and historical biogeography of the genus Apodrosus Marshall, 1922 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) JF - Insect Systematics & Evolution Y1 - 2010 A1 - Giron, Jennifer C. A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 339 EP - 414 KW - Apodrosus AB - The Caribbean weevil genus Apodrosus Marshall, 1922 is revised, including a redescription of A. argentatus Wolcott, 1924 and A. wolcotti Marshall, 1922 and description of 11 new species: A. adustus, sp.n. (Bahamas), A. andersoni, sp.n. (Dominican Republic), A. anus, sp.n. (Dominican Republic), A. earinusparsus, sp.n. (Dominican Republic), A. empherefasciatus, sp.n. (Bahamas), A. epipolevatus, sp.n. (Puerto Rico), A. eximius, sp.n. (Dominican Republic), A. mammuthus, sp.n. (Mona Island, Turks and Caicos Islands), A. quisqueyanus, sp.n. (Dominican Republic), A. stenoculus, sp.n. (Dominican Republic) and A. viridium, sp.n. (Dominican Republic). A key to the species and illustrations of external and internal structures are provided. Apodrosus is characterized as a monophyletic group by two unreversed synapomorphies - i.e., the presence of a median fovea on the apex of abdominal sternum VII and a J- or Y-shaped spermatheca - and is furthermore differentiated from related taxa by a unique combination of diagnostic features including the presence of premucro, a complete tegminal plate in males, the absence of longitudinal sclerites in the genital chamber of females, and an apical projection on the spermathecal cornu. A phylogenetic reconstruction of 20 taxa (7 outgroup, 13 ingroup) and 25 morphological characters yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram (L=61 steps, CI=42, RI=74) with the ingroup topology (A. artist, (A. andersoni, (A. earinusparsus, (A. epipolevatus, A. wolcotti)))), (A. eximius, ((A. argentatus, A. mammuthus), (A. viridium, (A. stenoculus, (A. quisqueyanus, (A. adustus, A. empherefasciatus)))))). The phylogeny indicates that Anypotactus bicaudatus Champion (Anypotactini Champion) is the sister group to Apodrosus, thereby calling into question the traditional tribal placement of this genus in the Polydrusini. The host plant associations of most species remain uncertain. A reconstruction of the historical biogeography of Apodrosus suggests that post-GAARlandia (Greater Antillean+Aves Ridges land span) vicariance was an important factor in the diversification of the higher-elevation inhabiting A. artus-A. wolcotti clade. Conversely, the species richness of the lower-elevation inhabiting A. eximius-A. empherefasciatus clade is most plausibly explained through a series of independent and likely more recent colonization events from the ancestral source area of southwestern Hispaniola to several smaller western Caribbean islands, or - in the case of Hispaniola - within-island areas of endemism. VL - 41 SN - 1399-560X ER - TY - JOUR T1 - On the use of taxonomic concepts in support of biodiversity research and taxonomy JF - Systematics Association Special Volume Series Y1 - 2008 A1 - Franz, Nico M. A1 - Peet, Robert K. A1 - Weakley, Alan S. SP - 63 EP - 86 KW - Curculionoidea VL - 76 SN - 0309-2593 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Phylogenetic reassessment of the Exophthalmus genus complex (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini, Geonemini) JF - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society Y1 - 2012 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 510 EP - 557 KW - Apotomoderes KW - Compsus KW - Eustylini KW - Eustylus KW - Exophthalmus KW - Exorides KW - Geonemini KW - Lachnopus KW - Tanymecini KW - Tetrabothynus KW - Tropirhinus AB - The monophyly of the Neotropical entimine weevil genus Exophthalmus Schoenherr, 1823 (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini Lacordaire) is reassessed. Exophthalmus presently includes more than 80 species, approximately half of which are restricted to either the Caribbean archipelago or the continental Neotropics. The taxonomic composition and position of Exophthalmus have been subject to longstanding disagreements; in particular, authors have questioned the relationship of Exophthalmus to other Caribbean genera such as Diaprepes Schoenherr, 1834 (Eustylini) and Lachnopus Schoenherr, 1840 (Geonemini Gistel), as well as to the speciose Central and South American genera Compsus Schoenherr, 1823, Eustylus Schoenherr, 1842, and Exorides Pascoe, 1881 (all Eustylini), among others. The present study scrutinizes these traditional perspectives, based on a cladistic analysis of 143 adult morphological characters and 90 species, representing 30 genera and seven tribes of Neotropical entimine weevils. The character matrix yielded eight most-parsimonious cladograms (length = 239 steps; consistency index = 66; retention index = 91), with mixed clade support that remains particularly wanting for some of the deeper in-group divergences. The strict consensus supports the existence of a paraphyletic Geonemini grade that includes Lachnopus and related Caribbean genera such as Apotomoderes Dejean, 1834, followed by a monophyletic Eustylini in-group clade. Within the latter, a monophyletic South American Eustylini clade including Compsus, Eustylus, Exorides, and related genera is sister to a major clade that contains a grade of heterogeneous and often misclassified Caribbean members of the Eustylini, Geonemini (Tetrabothynus Labram&Imhoff, 1852 and Tropirhinus Schoenherr, 1823), and Tanymecini Lacordaire (Pachnaeus Schoenherr, 1826), as well as two major clades: one with the majority of Central American Exophthalmus species, and the other with most Caribbean members of Exophthalmus. The Central American Exophthalmus clade is paraphyletic with respect to Chauliopleurus Champion, 1911 (Geonemini) and Rhinospathe Chevrolat, 1878 (Phyllobiini Schoenherr). The Caribbean clade, in turn, contains two subclades: i.e. (1) the Greater Antillean Exophthalmus s.s. clade, including the type species Exophthalmus quadrivittatus (Olivier, 1807); and (2) the primarily Lesser Antillean Diaprepes. The latter genus is therefore nested within Central American and Caribbean species of a highly paraphyletic Exophthalmus, yet may be rendered monophyletic if several Lesser Antillean Exophthalmus species are (re-)assigned to Diaprepes. The results thus provide a suitable basis for a revision of all Exophthalmus species, and furthermore suggest that historical biographic factors, including colonization via temporary continental Neotropics-to-Caribbean land connections, were important in the evolution of major eustyline lineages. Based on these preliminary insights, the following taxonomic and nomenclatural adjustments are made. Compsoricus gen. nov. is erected to accommodate two Puerto Rican species erroneously assigned to Compsus: i.e. the herein designated type species Compsoricus maricao comb. nov. and Compsoricus luquillo comb. nov. Eustylus dentipes comb. nov. is transferred from Compsus. Diaprepes marginicollis Chevrolat, 1880 is reinstated from synonymy under Exophthalmus. Lastly, the following five transfers are proposed: (1) Chauliopleurus Champion, 1911, from Geonemini to Eustylini; (2) Tetrabothynus Labram&Imhoff, 1852, from Geonemini to Eustylini; (3) Tropirhinus Schoenherr, 1823, from Geonemini to Eustylini; (4) Rhinospathe Chevrolat, 1878, from Phyllobiini to Eustylini; and (5) Pachnaeus Schoenherr, 1826, from Tanymecini to Eustylini. VL - 164 SN - 0024-4082 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - MELATHRA HUYENAE FRANZ, A NEW GENUS AND NEW SPECIES OF ENTIMINE WEEVIL (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE: ENTIMINAE) FROM SOUTHWESTERN HISPANIOLA JF - Coleopterists Bulletin Y1 - 2011 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 352 EP - 362 KW - Melathra huyenae AB - Melathra huyenae Franz, new genus and new species, is described to accommodate an enigmatic species of entimine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from southwestern Hispaniola. The new genus is closely related to Apotomaderes Dejean and therefore placed in the tribe Geonemini Gistel, but is distinguished by the following unique suite of features: labial palps 2-segmented; post-epistomal region not depressed; scrobe passing over eye; profemur with a small cuticular tooth; metatibial apex simple; elytral humeri not well-defined; wings reduced; female sternum VIII elliptical; spermatheca with corpus swollen; and aedeagus with groups of setae present in dorsal subapical region, flagellum sclerotized, and with paired anterior, narrowly plicate sclerites. The single constituent species M. huyenae is characterized by a uniformly grey-silver to brown scale coverage which is most conspicuously interrupted by two anteromesally positioned rusty brown spots on the elytra. Melathra huyenae is apparently narrowly endemic to the coastal dry forest habitat of the Jaragua National Park. The host plant associations remain unknown. VL - 65 SN - 0010-065X ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Revision and phylogeny of the Caribbean weevil genus Apotomoderes Dejean, 1834 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) JF - Zookeys Y1 - 2010 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 33 EP - 75 KW - Apotomoderes AB - The weevil genus Apotomoderes Dejean, 1834 (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Geonemini) is revised, including a redescription of the only previously known species, A. lateralis (Gyllenhal, 1834), and descriptions of five new species: A. anodontos sp. n., A. menocrater sp. n., A. sotomayorae sp. n., A. chariedris sp. n., and A. hadroprion sp. n. The monophyly of Apotomoderes is supported by multiple synapomorphic character states including the two-segmented labial palps, a postocular constriction on the head, a sexually dimorphic, globular pronotum in males, and the presence of setae in the dorsal subapical region of the aedeagus. In addition, all species of Apotomoderes except A. anodontos have a large, knife-like cuticular tooth on the profemur and a toothed ridge along the anteromesal margin of the protibia. Illustrations of external and internal morphological traits are provided, along with a key to the six constituent species. A cladistic analysis of 12 taxa (6 outgroup, 6 ingroup) and 22 characters yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram (L=33, CI=75, RI=90) with the topology (A. anodontos, (A. menocrater, (A. sotomayorae, (A. lateralis, (A. chariedris, A. hadroprion))))). A species of Artipus Sahlberg (Naupactini) was placed as the most immediate relative of Apotomoderes; however, the state of phylogenetic knowledge of Caribbean entimine weevil is still too incomplete to warrant any higher level rearrangements. All species of Apotomoderes occur on Hispaniola with the exception of A. sotomayorae which is endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico. A historical biogeographic reconstruction yielded the taxon-area cladogram (southwestern Dominican Republic, (eastern Dominican Republic, Mona Island)), suggesting two successive eastbound colonization events in the Miocene/Pliocene, originating from the southern Hispaniola peninsula. Reliable host plant records are unavailable although adults of A. menocrater have been found on allspice (Pimenta Lindley; Myrtaceae) and lignum vitae (Guaiacum Linnaeus; Zygophyllaceae). VL - 49 UR - http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/issue/view/51 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Revision, phylogeny and natural history of Cotithene Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) JF - Zootaxa Y1 - 2008 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 1 EP - 33 KW - Cotithene anaphalanta KW - Cotithene dicranopygia KW - Cotithene leptorhamphis KW - Cotithene melanoptera KW - Cotithene stratiotricha KW - Cotithene trigaea AB - Cotithene Voss, a previously monotypic genus of Neotropical derelomine flower weevils (Curculionidae: Derelomini), is revised, with provision of a key to the species, cladistic analysis and notes on its natural history. The following six new species are described: C. anaphalanta (Costa Rica), C. dicranopygia (Costa Rica), C. leptorhamphis (Costa Rica, Panama), C. melanoptera (Venezuela), C. stratiotricha (Costa Rica) and C. trigaea (Costa Rica). The monophyly of Cotithene is supported by the characters of a dorsomedially expanded, carinate rostrum, ventrally angulate head, long and anteriorly directed setation on the anterior margin of the prosternum and an apicodorsally expanded aedeagus with paired sclerites in the male, and subcontiguous to separated procoxal cavities in the female. Particularly the males of several species have intriguing and allometrically scaled modifications on the head (triangular projections, long setae) and pronotum (expansion, tumescences), which possibly play a role in male-to-male conflicts. Cotithene species are specialized to visit and reproduce on a narrow range of typically closely related species of Cyclanthaceae. The adults do not function as pollinators, and the herbivorous larvae develop in the fruiting organs of their hosts, frequently triggering the abortion of infructescences. An analysis of 12 taxa (5 outgroup, 7 ingroup) and 32 morphological characters yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram (L = 38, CI = 89, RI = 93) with the topology (C. dicranopygia, (C. stratiotricha, ((C. leptorhamphis, C. trigaea), (C. globulicollis Voss, (C. anaphalanta, C. melanoptera))))). The evolution of morphological traits and host shifts is examined in light of the proposed phylogeny. VL - 1782 SN - 1175-5326 UR - http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa N1 - Zoor14408046661 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Revision, phylogeny and natural history of Cotithene Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) JF - Zootaxa Y1 - 2008 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 1 EP - 33 KW - Cotithene anaphalanta KW - Cotithene dicranopygia KW - Cotithene leptorhamphis KW - Cotithene melanoptera KW - Cotithene stratiotricha KW - Cotithene trigaea AB - Cotithene Voss, a previously monotypic genus of Neotropical derelomine flower weevils (Curculionidae: Derelomini), is revised, with provision of a key to the species, cladistic analysis and notes on its natural history. The following six new species are described: C. anaphalanta (Costa Rica), C. dicranopygia (Costa Rica), C. leptorhamphis (Costa Rica, Panama), C. melanoptera (Venezuela), C. stratiotricha (Costa Rica) and C. trigaea (Costa Rica). The monophyly of Cotithene is supported by the characters of a dorsomedially expanded, carinate rostrum, ventrally angulate head, long and anteriorly directed setation on the anterior margin of the prosternum and an apicodorsally expanded aedeagus with paired sclerites in the male, and subcontiguous to separated procoxal cavities in the female. Particularly the males of several species have intriguing and allometrically scaled modifications on the head (triangular projections, long setae) and pronotum (expansion, tumescences), which possibly play a role in male-to-male conflicts. Cotithene species are specialized to visit and reproduce on a narrow range of typically closely related species of Cyclanthaceae. The adults do not function as pollinators, and the herbivorous larvae develop in the fruiting organs of their hosts, frequently triggering the abortion of infructescences. An analysis of 12 taxa (5 outgroup, 7 ingroup) and 32 morphological characters yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram (L = 38, CI = 89, RI = 93) with the topology (C. dicranopygia, (C. stratiotricha, ((C. leptorhamphis, C. trigaea), (C. globulicollis Voss, (C. anaphalanta, C. melanoptera))))). The evolution of morphological traits and host shifts is examined in light of the proposed phylogeny. VL - 1782 SN - 1175-5326 UR - http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa N1 - Zoor14408046661 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Revision, phylogeny and natural history of Cotithene Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) JF - Zootaxa Y1 - 2008 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 1 EP - 33 KW - Cotithene anaphalanta KW - Cotithene dicranopygia KW - Cotithene leptorhamphis KW - Cotithene melanoptera KW - Cotithene stratiotricha KW - Cotithene trigaea AB - Cotithene Voss, a previously monotypic genus of Neotropical derelomine flower weevils (Curculionidae: Derelomini), is revised, with provision of a key to the species, cladistic analysis and notes on its natural history. The following six new species are described: C. anaphalanta (Costa Rica), C. dicranopygia (Costa Rica), C. leptorhamphis (Costa Rica, Panama), C. melanoptera (Venezuela), C. stratiotricha (Costa Rica) and C. trigaea (Costa Rica). The monophyly of Cotithene is supported by the characters of a dorsomedially expanded, carinate rostrum, ventrally angulate head, long and anteriorly directed setation on the anterior margin of the prosternum and an apicodorsally expanded aedeagus with paired sclerites in the male, and subcontiguous to separated procoxal cavities in the female. Particularly the males of several species have intriguing and allometrically scaled modifications on the head (triangular projections, long setae) and pronotum (expansion, tumescences), which possibly play a role in male-to-male conflicts. Cotithene species are specialized to visit and reproduce on a narrow range of typically closely related species of Cyclanthaceae. The adults do not function as pollinators, and the herbivorous larvae develop in the fruiting organs of their hosts, frequently triggering the abortion of infructescences. An analysis of 12 taxa (5 outgroup, 7 ingroup) and 32 morphological characters yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram (L = 38, CI = 89, RI = 93) with the topology (C. dicranopygia, (C. stratiotricha, ((C. leptorhamphis, C. trigaea), (C. globulicollis Voss, (C. anaphalanta, C. melanoptera))))). The evolution of morphological traits and host shifts is examined in light of the proposed phylogeny. VL - 1782 SN - 1175-5326 UR - http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa N1 - Zoor14408046661 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Pollination of Anthurium (Araceae) by derelomine flower weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) JF - Revista de Biologia Tropical Y1 - 2007 A1 - Franz, Nico M. SP - 269 EP - 277 KW - Acalyptini KW - Derelomini AB - Cyclanthura flower weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Derelomini) are identified for the first time as pollinators of multiple species of Anthurium (Araceae) in Costa Rica. The weevils are present on the inflorescences in small numbers during the pistillate and staminate phase of anthesis, and consume plant tissues and pollen. The individuals of one species of Cyclanthura can visit several Anthurium species within the same locality. They also engage in reproductive activities and are likely to oviposit into the flowers. The mating strategies suggest that sperm precedence selects males that are able to secure their position as the last partner prior to oviposition. VL - 55 SN - 0034-7744 ER -