Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) villalobosae Patano, Amoroso, Mohagan, Guiang & Yap, 2021

Cabras, Analyn A., Cudera, Rizalyn, Mamon, Joelyn & Medina, Milton Norman D., 2022, Two new species of Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from southern Mindanao, Philippines, with ecological notes, ZooKeys 1116, pp. 133-147 : 133

Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) villalobosae Patano, Amoroso, Mohagan, Guiang & Yap, 2021

Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) villalobosae Patano et al., 2021: 284

Type locality.

Mount Kabunulan, Hamiguitan Range, Surop, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, 6°27'44.29"N, 126°10'18.15"E, 400 m a.s.l.

Type depository.

CMUZS.

Material examined.

4♂♂, 2♀♀: Philippines - Mindanao / San Isidro / Oriental / December, 2021 / coll. LC (typed on white card). Presently in UMCRC .

Remarks.

Patano et al. (2021) recently described a new species Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) villalobosae under the subgenus Metapocyrtus Artapocyrtus based on four specimens collected at Mount Kabunulan, Hamiguitan Range in Governor Generso, Davao Oriental at an elevation of 400 m. Based on the images of the male and female habitus described in the original paper ( Patano et al. 2021: 285, fig. 3) with a size ranging from 13.2-14.5 mm and a holotype of 14.5 mm, it doubtlessly belongs to Orthocyrtus based on its size, shape of the rostrum, as well as the general shape of the male and female habitus. In 2021, specimens that appeared to belong to Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) villalobosae from San Isidro, Davao Oriental, which is part of the range of Mt. Hamiguitan, were donated to UMCRC. Upon examination, the said specimens were found to be very similar to the male holotype, and female paratype in the paper of Patano et al. (2021). The only difference is the short longitudinal subbasal stripes which we believe are simply part of the variability of the species. We believe it was wrongly placed in the subgenus Metapocyrtus Artapocyrtus and thus, we are proposing that it be transferred to the subgenus Metapocyrtus Orthocyrtus based on the characters mentioned by Cabras et al. (2018) including the shape of its rostrum (Fig. 21 ). Furthermore, while the species elytral patterns may have a superficial resemblance to M. (Sclerocyrtus) chamissoi Schultze, 1925, it is actually more closely related to M. (Orthocyrtus) davaoensis Cabras, Medina & Bollino, 2021 described from Davao City and Bukidnon. The general habitus of the male and female, the elytral and pronotal patterns as well as the genitalia are also very similar. Molecular data and/or eversion of the endophallus in the near future can be used in delineating the Metapocyrtus davaoensis species group which seems to have a widespread form and distribution throughout Mindanao. Eversion of the endophallus in the tribe Pachyrhynchini is quite challenging to accomplish and needs alot of specimens as mentioned by Bollino and Sandel (2017) and Cabras et al. (2018).

Key to species of Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus)

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.) Metapocyrtus villalobosae Patano et al. 2021
-	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.) Metapocyrtus 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). Metapocyrtus 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). Metapocyrtus flomlok sp.nov.

Notes on the habitat of Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) Metapocyrtus melibengoy sp. nov. and Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) Metapocyrtus 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. 22 ). Lake Holon is a caldera of Mt. Parker, a potentially active stratovolcano in southern Mindanao. The specimens were collected on leaves of a Melastoma sp. ( Melastomataceae), Piper aduncum ( Piperaceae), and Cyathea spp. ( Cyatheaceae) in a partially open area of the trail. The area where the specimens were collected, roughly 9 km from the Barangay Salacafe, serves as the receiving area. The trail to Lake Holon is quite open, with various species of ferns, grasses, and shrubs, and an abundance of pitcher plants and other angiosperms. On the initial ascent to the lake, the trail is quite open with some portions having been converted into farmlands planted with Zea mays ssp. Mays ( Poaceae), Coffea spp. ( Rubiaceae), and Musa textilis ( Musaceae).

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. 23 ). It was found on the leaves of buyo-buyo ( Piper aduncum ) and avocado ( Persea americana ). During personal correspondence with Stan Cabigas, he mentioned and showed photos of the same species from Mt. Matutum together with its possible model/mimic - Pachyrhynchus gilvomaculatus Yoshitake, 2016. Thus, we believe that the population near the pineapple plantation is the remnant population that survived the degradation of the forested habitats and conversion of land in Polomolok. A similar scenario has been observed with M. (Orthocyrtus) davaoensis described based on a limited number of specimens near the lowland of Carmen, Davao City. In our recent surveys of the higher elevation and more forested part of Carmen, a huge thriving population of M. (O.) davaoensis was found.

Figures

Figures 18 - 21. Dorsal view of Orthocyrtus spp. rostrums 18 M. (O.) melibengoy sp. nov. 19 M. (O.) flomlok sp. nov. 20 M. (O.) willietorresi 21 M. (O.) villalobosae.

Figures 22 - 23. Habitats of Orthocyrtus spp. 22 M. (O.) melibengoy sp. nov. in Mt. Parker, T'boli, South Cotabato 23 M. (O.) flomlok sp. nov. in Polomolok, South Cotabato.