[Entomology • 2022] Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Miltotranes Zimmerman, 1994 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae), the Bowenia-Pollinating Cycad Weevils in Australia, with Description of a New Species and Implications for the Systematics of Bowenia

Miltotranes wilsoni 

Hsiao & Oberprieler, 2022

DOIL doi.org/10.3390/insects13050456  

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Simple Summary: 

Miltotranes Zimmerman, 1994 is a genus of weevils pollinating Bowenia cycads belonging to two small endemic Australian species included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and CITES Appendix II. We provide the first taxonomic revision of Miltotranes resulting in the identification of two previously described species and a newly recognised species, M. wilsoni sp. n. from the McIlwraith Range of the Cape York Peninsula. Morphological comparison reveals its affinity to Tranes, whose species are the pollinators of Macrozamia and Lepidozamia cycads. It appears that the association of Miltotranes with Bowenia may represent a secondary host switch in the Tranes group due to a closer relationship between Macrozamia, Lepidozamia and African Encephalartos than with Bowenia. The coincidence of the geographic ranges of Miltotranes weevils with distribution of their cycad hosts indicates that the isolated Bowenia population in the McIlwraith Range may represent a distinct, third species of Bowenia. Likely, the conspecificity of the Miltotranes weevils occurring in the Wet Tropics also suggests that several morphologically enigmatic localised populations represent B. spectabilis, confirming earlier botanical conclusions. The present study highlights the significance of systematic study of tightly plant-associated insects and its relevance for the taxonomy of their host plants.

Abstract

The Australian endemic weevils of the genus Miltotranes Zimmerman, 1994 (Curculionidae: Molytinae: Tranes group), comprising two species, M. prosternalis (Lea, 1929) and M. subopacus (Lea, 1929), are highly host-specific and the only known pollinators of Bowenia cycads, which comprise two CITES-protected species restricted to Tropical Queensland in Australia. In the present study, the taxonomy of Miltotranes is reviewed, a lectotype for the name Tranes prosternalis Lea, 1929 is designated and a new species associated with the Bowenia population in the McIlwraith Range is described as M. wilsoni sp. n. The descriptions and diagnoses of all species are supplemented with illustrations of their habitus and salient structures, and an identification key to all species and a distribution map are provided. Potential implications of the new species and of the taxonomy and biogeography of Miltotranes overall on the systematics and conservation of Bowenia are discussed. 

Keywords: Australia; cycad systematics; cycad pollinators; new taxa; taxonomy; conservation

Yun Hsiao and Rolf G. Oberprieler. 2022. Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Miltotranes Zimmerman, 1994 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae), the Bowenia-Pollinating Cycad Weevils in Australia, with Description of a New Species and Implications for the Systematics of Bowenia. Insects. 13(5); 456. DOIL doi.org/10.3390/insects13050456 [12 May 2022]

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(This article belongs to the Section Insect Systematics, Phylogeny and Evolution)

[Entomology • 2024] Zimmiodes australis & Z. papuanus • An Integrative Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Approach reveals A New Genus of Australasian Cycas-pollinating Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae)

Zimmiodes australis

 Hsiao & Oberprieler, 2024 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad190

 

Abstract

Cycas is the second-largest genus of cycads in Australia and the sole cycad genus in Papua New Guinea. In contrast to the other Australian cycads, which are mainly pollinated by weevils of the Tranes group of Molytinae, the Australian Cycas species are pollinated by tiny weevils belonging to the subfamily Cossoninae but representing an unnamed genus. This study evaluates the taxonomic status of these weevils by combining morphological examination with molecular phylogenetic analyses and species delineation based on mitochondrial DNA. The results reveal that the Cycas-pollinating weevils in Australia comprise only one species, here described as Zimmiodes australis gen. et sp. nov., with another species in Papua New Guinea, described as Zimmiodes papuanus sp. nov. The phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparison reveal that Zimmiodes belongs in the tribe Pentarthrini of Cossoninae and that the related Tychiodes group includes not only Tychiodes Wollaston, Tychiosoma Wollaston and Nanoplaxes Heller but also Tyrpetes Heller and is also assignable to Pentarthrini. The conspecificity of Zimmiodes weevils from all Australian Cycas species sampled suggests the likely taxonomic oversplitting of the Australian Cycas species and thus provides new insights into the taxonomy of the Australian cycads.

Australasia, cycad pollinators, cycad weevils, new taxa, species delimitation, taxonomy

Superfamily Curculionoidea Latreille, 1802

Family Curculionidae Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Cossoninae Schoenherr, 1825

Zimmiodes gen. nov.

Derivation of name: The genus name is dedicated to the late Dr Elwood Curtin Zimmerman (1912–2004), former weevil taxonomist at the ANIC, who is renowned for his invaluable works on Australian weevils; the gender of the name is masculine.

 Habitus of Zimmiodes, dorsal view. 

A, Zimmiodes australis, male, holotype. B, Z. australis, female, paratype. 

C, Zimmiodes papuanus, male, holotype. D, Z. papuanus, female, paratype. 

Scale bars: 1.00 mm.

 Habitus of Zimmiodes, lateral view. 

A, Zimmiodes australis, male, holotype. B, Z. australis, female, paratype. 

C, Zimmiodes papuanus, male, holotype. D, Z. papuanus, female, paratype. 

Scale bars: 1.00 mm.

  

Zimmiodes australis and host plants in the field.
 A, Cycas media banksii in northern Queensland. B, weevils aggregating among sporophylls of male cone of Cycas media banksii. C, ditto, male cone of Cycas maconochiei. D, weevil, enlarged. E, weevil preparing to fly, showing well-developed hindwings. F, larva tunnelling and feeding in microsporophyll of Cycas maconochiei. G, pupa in pupation chamber in microsporophyll of Cycas maconochiei.

 Zimmiodes australis gen. et sp. nov. 

 Zimmiodes papuanus sp. nov.

 

Yun Hsiao and Rolf G. Oberprieler. 2024. An Integrative Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Approach reveals A New Genus of Australasian Cycas-pollinating Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 202(2); zlad190. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad190

[Botany • 2015] Cycas andamanica • A New Species of Cycad (Cycadaceae) from Andaman Islands, India

Cycas andamanica 

K. Prasad, M. V. Ramana, Sanjappa & B. R. P. Rao 

Abstract

Cycas andamanica is described as a new species from Andaman Islands, India and this new species belonging to subsection Rumphiae. It's closely affinities with C. edentata and C. zeylanica are discussed and also provides detailed description, distribution, conservation status and photographs.

Key Words: Cycas, Rhumphiae, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, C. zeylanica, C. edentata

  

  

Diagnosis Distinguishing characters of Cycas andamanica: stems 20–120 cm diameter; longer leaves; young leaves bluish-green; leaflets 128–170; median leaflets strongly falcate, midrib raised both surface; cataphylls linear, 8–10 cm long; pollen cones narrowly ovoid; microsporophylls dorsiventrally thickened, 4.5–6.5 cm long, with apical wings; megasporophylls with six ovules, semi-orbicular at ovule bearing area; sterile lamina triangular at apex, margins entire or obscurely undulating, with or without two lateral spines, acumen spine 4–6.2 cm long; sclerotesta apically crested.

Distribution: Endemic to Andaman Islands (North and Middle Andaman Islands).

 Habitat and distribution: Humus-rich black soils in littoral vegetation from the sea level–20 m.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the name of the locality (Andaman Islands) from where the species is described.

 Kothareddy Prasad, M. Venkat Ramana, Ravi prasad rao Boyina and Munivenkatappa Sanjappa. 2015.  Cycas andamanica (Cycadaceae): A New Species from Andaman Islands, India. International Journal of Innovation Sciences and Research. 4(9); 473-476. 

 researchgate.net/publication/282567198_CYCAS_ANDAMANICA_CYCADACEAE_A_NEW_SPECIES_FROM_ANDAMAN_ISLANDS_INDIA

[Botany • 2015] Cycas chenii • A New Species (Cycadaceae) from China, and its Phylogenetic Position

Fig. 1. Cycas chenii X. Gong & W. Zhou sp. nov.
A, Whole plant and habitat. B, Female cone. C, Male cone. D, Megasporophylls andseed. E, Seedlings and female plant.

DOI: 10.1111/jse.12153

Abstract

Cycas chenii X. Gong & W. Zhou sp. nov., a new species of Cycas L., is described and illustrated here. The morphological and karyomorphological comparisons are made between C. chenii and the closely related taxa for defining its taxonomical status as a new species. Moreover, the phylogenetic position of C. chenii within 16 Cycas species is determined using DNA sequences of two plastid regions, nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers, and two nuclear regions. Cycas chenii is readily distinguished from the related C. guizhouensis K. M. Lan & R. F. Zou by an acaulescent stem. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that C. chenii is a distinct group related to C. guizhouensis in the Section Stangerioides. The distribution and conservation status of C. chenii are also discussed.

Keywords: China; Cycas chenii; new species; phylogenetic position

Wei Zhou, Meng-Meng Guan and Xun Gong. 2015. Cycas chenii (Cycadaceae), A New Species from China, and its Phylogenetic Position. Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 53(6); 489–498. DOI: 10.1111/jse.12153

ResearchGate.net/publication/273523726_Cycas_chenii_(Cycadaceae)_a_new_species_from_China_and_its_phylogenetic_position

ResearchGate.net/publication/282645565_Species_delimitation_genetic_diversity_and_population_historical_dynamics_of_Cycas_diannanensis_(Cycadaceae)_occurring_sympatrically_in_the_Red_River_region_of_China

[Botany • 2015] A New Species, A New Combination And A New Subsection of Cycas from Odisha, northern Eastern Ghats of India; Cycas nayagarhensis, C. orixensis & Orixenses subsect. nov.

Figure 5. Cycas nayagarhensis R. Singh, P. Radha and J.S. Khuraijam sp.nov.
A. Robust habit, B-C. Male cone. D. Magnified portion of male showing sterile apex. E. Microsporophyll with forked sterile apex. F-I. Microsporophylls (F. upper surface. G. lower surface, H. lateral view, and I. lower view showing lateral spines).

Scale bar: 1 cm

ABSTRACT

Cycas circinalis var. orixensis Haines (Cycadaceae) is raised to species rank and a new species, Cycas nayagarhensis is described and illustrated from the state of Odisha in the northern Eastern Ghats of India. Both of these Odisha Cycas species described here, have characteristic megasporophylls having spinescent lateral teeth and a spear-like long apical spine. Male cones are the most peculiar in having microsporophylls with upturned, one to variously forked apical spines. Cycas nayagarhensis is distinguished from C. orixensis by its massive arborescent stem, large male cones, with microsporophylls having entire or variously forked apical spine and radially compressed ovules. A comparative table of the northern Eastern Ghats Cycas and a key to all the Indian species are provided. The infrageneric classification of the genus Cycas is modified and a new Subsection Orixenses under Section Cycas is created here to accommodate these two morphologically distinct endemic taxa from Odisha. 

Key words: Cycas orixensis, Cycas nayagarhensis, Eastern Ghats, Odisha, India

Rita Singh, P. Radha and J.S. Khuraijam. 2015. A New Species, A New Combination And A New Subsection of Cycas from Odisha, northern Eastern Ghats of India. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology. 4(1); 3-14. 

http://www.AJCB.in/journals/full_papers_july_2015/AJCB-Vol4-No1-Singh-et-al.pdf

New endangered species of plants of Dinosaur age discovered from Odisha https://shar.es/1tn4CU

Subsection Orixenses R. Singh and J.S. Khuraijam, subsect. nov. contains C. orixensis (Haines) R. Singh & J.S. Khuraijam comb. et. stat. nov. and C. nayagarhensis R. Singh, P. Radha & J.S. Khuraijam sp.nov.

[Botany • 2012] Cycas sancti-lasallei • a New Species (Cycadaceae) from Mindanao Island, the Philippines

Cycas sancti-lasallei Agoo & Madulid

Abstract 

Cycas sancti-lasallei, a new species from Mindanao Island, the Philippines is described and illustrated. It can be distinguished from other Cycas species in the Philippines in having long leaves, undulating leaflets, and megasporophyll lamina with a semi-orbicular to orbicular base and triangular top with few but well-defined spines. A key to the species of Cycas currently described from the Philippines is provided.

Keywords: cycad conservation, cycad taxonomy, Philippine Cycas, Philippine, threatened plants

....

Dr. Agoo and her team named the plant in honor of St. John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers and founder of the De La Salle Schools.

 Agoo, E.M.G.; Madulid, D.A. 2012. Cycas sancti-lasallei (Cycadaceae), a New Species from the Philippines. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. 57(2); 131-133. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/000651912X657503

http://www.cycad.org/documents/descriptions/Cycas/Cycas-sancti-lasallei.pdf