2种瓢虫捕食烟粉虱行为的时间分配策略

【背景】沙巴拟刀角瓢虫和越南斧瓢虫是自东南亚地区引进的粉虱类害虫的优势捕食性天敌,然而其控制烟粉虱的有效性尚未明确。【方法】在室内研究了2种瓢虫幼虫捕食烟粉虱若虫时取食、爬行与休息等行为的时间分配,以及2种瓢虫幼虫和成虫在既定时间内对烟粉虱的取食时间和取食量。【结果】随着瓢虫幼虫龄期的增大,其取食烟粉虱低龄和高龄若虫的时间和休息时间均逐渐减少,而爬行寻找猎物的时间逐渐增多。沙巴拟刀角瓢虫幼虫取食烟粉虱各虫态的时间显著长于越南斧瓢虫幼虫,取食量也显著大于后者;而沙巴拟刀角瓢虫成虫取食烟粉虱的时间长于越南斧瓢虫成虫,但取食量明显低于后者。【结论与意义】2种瓢虫对烟粉虱都有较好的捕食作用,但其时间分配策略有所不同。因此,应根据田间烟粉虱的发生时期,选择合适的瓢虫进行释放。     

烟粉虱天敌沙巴拟刀角瓢虫与越南斧瓢虫的捕食行为比较

在实验室条件下研究了沙巴拟刀角瓢虫Serangiella sababensis Sasaji与越南斧瓢虫Axinoscymnus apioides Kuzne tsov and Ren对烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Genna dius)卵的捕食行为及各种行为的时间分配。2种瓢虫的捕食过程非常相似,大致可以分为搜寻、取食、清洁、静息、整翅和排泄6个部分。在整个捕食过程中,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫在饥饿状态下,其各行为所占的时间为爬行时间>取食时间>静息时间>清洁时间>猎物处置时间,而在非饥饿状态下,各行为所占的时间为爬行时间>静息时间>取食时间>清洁时间>猎物处置时间;对于越南斧瓢虫来讲,饥饿状态下各行为所占的时间比例为爬行时间>静息时间>取食时间>清洁时间>猎物处置时间,而在非饥饿状态,越南斧瓢虫用在取食方面的时间很少,仅长于处置猎物的时间。2种瓢虫相比,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫用在爬行和取食方面的时间要比越南斧瓢虫长,而用在静息和清洁方面的时间比越南斧瓢虫短。     

沙巴拟刀角瓢虫生物学特性研究

探究以烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci Gennadius为食料,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫Serangiella sababensis Sasaji的生物学特性,为利用沙巴拟刀角瓢虫控制烟粉虱提供理论依据。本试验在实验室条件下观察取食烟粉虱的沙巴拟刀角瓢虫各虫态的形态特征、生活习性、不同虫态的发育历期、存活率和繁殖力,并计算沙巴拟刀角瓢虫生命表参数。结果表明,在26±1℃、L∶D=14∶10、相对湿度75%±10%的条件下,以烟粉虱卵和若虫为食的沙巴拟刀角瓢虫的世代历期分别为18.82 d和17.75 d,世代存活率分别为65.53%和75.00%,成虫寿命分别为106.65 d和105.58 d,每雌产卵量分别为286.20粒和366.67粒。以烟粉虱卵和若虫为食的沙巴拟刀角瓢虫的内禀增长率(rm)分别为0.0581和0.0780,净增殖率(R0)分别为107.0338和147.8748,平均世代历期(T)分别为80.3985和64.0385,周限增长率(λ)分别为1.0598和1.0811。研究发现,取食烟粉虱若虫的沙巴拟刀角瓢虫世代发育历期短于取食卵的世代发育历期,繁殖率也高于后者,烟粉虱若虫比烟粉虱卵更适宜作为沙巴拟刀角瓢虫规模化生产的食料。     

越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的捕食作用

【目的】烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)是一种外来入侵性的重大农业害虫,越南斧瓢虫Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov&Ren是其重要的捕食性天敌之一,本文系统研究了越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的捕食作用。【方法】在温度误差为±1℃,相对湿度为75%,光照周期为L︰D=14︰10条件下,测定瓢虫成虫对烟粉虱各虫态的功能反应和不同温度下对烟粉虱4龄若虫的功能反应以及测定瓢虫成虫取食烟粉虱4龄若虫个体间的干扰反应。【结果】结果表明,越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的功能反应呈HollingⅡ型,随着猎物龄期的增加,越南斧瓢虫成虫的寻找效率(a)逐渐降低,处置时间(Th)基本依次延长。温度对瓢虫的捕食效应影响显著,试验所设温度为15,20,25,30,35℃,越南斧瓢虫成虫的寻找效率(a)分别为0.3226,0.4496,0.5868,0.5788和0.6235,处置时间(Th)分别为0.2348,0.1451,0.1039,0.0904和0.0976,均与温度(T)则呈二次曲线关系。越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱4龄若虫的捕食作用率(E)在捕食者密度较低(在1~5头)时,捕食作用率下降较快,而在捕食者>6时,其对捕食作用率的影响效果减小。寻找系数为0.0607,干扰系数为0.5569。【结论】随着猎物龄期的增加,越南斧瓢虫成虫的寻找效率降低,处置时间延长;越南斧瓢虫成虫对烟粉虱4龄若虫的寻找效率随着温度的升高而提高,而在更高的温度条件下,其寻找效率略有下降。瓢虫对烟粉虱的处置时间则随着温度的升高而不断缩短;越南斧瓢虫成虫自身密度对其捕食作用产生干扰反应,捕食作用率随着捕食者密度的增加而降低。     

烟粉虱天敌日本刀角瓢虫的捕食行为

研究了日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫和幼虫捕食粉虱时的各种行为时间分配.结果表明,日本刀角瓢虫成虫的捕食行为可分为爬行、取食、清洁、静息、整翅和排泄6个部分.饥饿后的日本刀角瓢虫幼虫捕食烟粉虱卵时,幼虫各龄期间的取食和爬行时间无显著差异,对烟粉虱卵的处置时间随瓢虫幼虫虫龄的增大而缩短.日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫捕食烟粉虱卵时,饥饿后的雌成虫用于取食的时间显著长于非饥饿的雌成虫,而用于清洁、静息和爬行的时间显著短于非饥饿的雌成虫;饥饿后的瓢虫雌成虫对卵的处置时间显著长于非饥饿的雌成虫.饥饿后的日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫捕食烟粉虱若虫时,瓢虫雌成虫的取食时间随烟粉虱若虫虫龄的增大而增加,清洁和静息时间随烟粉虱若虫虫龄的增大而缩短,对若虫的处置时间随烟粉虱若虫虫龄的增大而增加.     

中华草蛉、龟纹瓢虫和异色瓢虫对B型烟粉虱的捕食功能反应

室内研究了中华草蛉Chrysopa sinicaTjeder、龟纹瓢虫Propylaea japonica(Thunberg)和异色瓢虫Leis axyridis(Pallas)对B型烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci(Gennadius)若虫的捕食功能反应和寻找效应。结果表明,3种天敌成虫和幼虫的捕食量均随着猎物密度的增加而上升,当猎物增加到一定水平,捕食量趋向稳定,捕食功能反应曲线符合HollingⅡ型方程。异色瓢虫、中华草蛉和龟纹瓢虫成虫和幼虫对烟粉虱若虫的捕食量差异显著,理论最大日捕食量分别为417,263,156头和625,238,108头。3种天敌对烟粉虱若虫的寻找效应随着天敌密度的增加而下降,干扰作用逐渐增强,其寻找效应表现为龟纹瓢虫(0.5656)>异色瓢虫(0.4371)>中华草蛉(0.4029),对烟粉虱的控制能力表现为异色瓢虫>龟纹瓢虫>中华草蛉。     

引进天敌越南斧瓢虫的形态特征和生物学特性

引进天敌越南斧瓢虫Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov & Ren原产于东南亚,是烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci(Gennadius)的重要捕食性天敌之一。文章详细描述越南斧瓢虫的形态特征,并研究其基本的生物学特性。越南斧瓢虫可取食烟粉虱的卵、若虫、伪蛹等各虫态,可有效地控制烟粉虱种群,具有很好的利用价值。在(26±1)℃条件下,越南斧瓢虫捕食烟粉虱的世代平均发育历期为20.33d,世代存活率为73.04%,雌成虫寿命为143.17d,平均单雌产卵量为284.33粒。越南斧瓢虫取食烟粉虱的内禀增长率(rm)为0.0457,净增殖率(R0)为103.4050,平均世代历期(T)为99.3626,周限增长率(λ)为1.0478。     

番茄褪绿病毒对刀角瓢虫捕食烟粉虱的影响

在实验室条件下研究了不同温度下刀角瓢虫Serangium japonicum对健康和感染番茄褪绿病毒(Tomato chlorosis virus,ToCV)番茄上的烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci的捕食效果.结果表明,无论在健康番茄还是感染ToCV番茄上,刀角瓢虫均可以取食烟粉虱的卵和若虫,对卵的捕食量最大,且对烟粉虱卵的功能反应都属于HollingⅡ型反应,方程式分别为NA=0.9650N/1+0.0007N和NA=0.9866N/1+0.0006N.温度可以影响功能反应的参数,在30℃时刀角瓢虫对健康番茄上的烟粉虱的控制作用最好,在35℃时刀角瓢虫对感染ToCV番茄上的烟粉虱控制效果最好.刀角瓢虫偏好感染ToCV的番茄植株,对健康番茄偏好性较弱.刀角瓢虫对感染ToCV番茄上的烟粉虱具有良好的捕食效果,可为烟粉虱的生物防治提供合理依据.     

七星瓢虫成虫对枸杞木虱的捕食作用

为了测定七星瓢虫成虫对枸杞木虱4种虫态的捕食作用,分别在室内测定七星瓢虫的捕食功能反应、种内干扰、自身密度干扰、捕食偏好性以及在田间七星瓢虫对枸杞木虱的捕食效果.结果表明: 七星瓢虫对枸杞木虱的捕食功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型方程,其中对卵的最大捕食量为112.6粒,对1～2龄若虫、3～5龄若虫、成虫的最大捕食量分别为536、415和113.9头;田间罩笼试验结果证明,七星瓢虫成虫在其生长周期30 d内能使枸杞木虱总虫口密度下降80.1%;七星瓢虫对1～2龄枸杞木虱若虫的搜寻效率参数a=0.9451,处理时间参数T_h=0.001865,整体优于卵、3～5龄若虫与成虫,且在每皿100头的猎物密度下七星瓢虫的最大捕食率能达80.2%,益害比参考值为1∶100.七星瓢虫对枸杞木虱的捕食作用受自身密度的影响显著大于种内干扰.在混合猎物密度为每皿100头下,七星瓢虫更偏好木虱成虫,在密度为每皿300头下,七星瓢虫更偏向于木虱若虫.表明七星瓢虫是很有控制潜力的捕食性天敌,人工释放七星瓢虫成虫可有效取食枸杞木虱初孵若虫,降低木虱为害.     

温度对沙巴拟刀角瓢虫生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】明确不同温度对沙巴拟刀角瓢虫Serangiellasababensis生长发育和繁殖的影响,为烟粉虱天敌的应用提供理论依据。【方法】在17、20、25、30和32℃的恒温条件下,测定沙巴拟刀角瓢虫的存活率和发育历期,计算出发育起点温度、有效积温和生命表参数。【结果】成虫前期存活率和产卵量在25℃时最高,分别为80.78%±6.42%和（284.00±59.71）粒。从卵发育至成虫的发育历期在17℃时最长（57.06±1.28）d,30℃时最短（13.85±0.12）d。成虫前期的发育起点温度和有效积温分别为（11.29±1.86）℃和（271.40±34.44）日·度。在25℃时,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫种群的净增殖力R0最高,内禀增长率rm在30℃最高。【结论】沙巴拟刀角瓢虫的最适温区为25-30℃,与烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)的最适温区相近,可以在烟粉虱暴发的时期大量应用。     

Systematics of the tribe Euderomphalini (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): parasitoids of whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract. Eulophid parasitoids of whiteflies are reviewed, with comments on their systematic placement, and a generic key. All eulophid whitefly parasitoids are placed in the tribe Euderomphalini in the subfamily Entedoninae, and reasons for this placement are discussed. Three new genera are described. The seven included genera can be divided into two distinct genus groups: the Euderomphale group contains Baeoentedon Girault, Euderomphale Girault, Neopomphale gen.n., and Pomphale Husain el al. ; the Enicdononecremnus group contains Aleuroctonus gen.n., Dasyompluile gen.n., and Enicdononecremnus Girault. The new species Dusyomphale chilensis is described.     

Phylogenetic systematics of the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea-group (Insecta: Diptera: Empididae)

Six clades are inferred from a phylogenetic analysis including 42 species belonging to the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea‐group. These clades are named as follows: E. (C.) acris, E. (C.) aspina, E. (C.) atratata, E. (C.) hyalea, E. (C.) jacobsoni and E. (C.) nahaeoensis. The presence of two dorsal more or less developed epandrial projections is considered autapomorphic for the E. (C.) hyalea‐group in addition to two characters previously found to support the monophyly of this group (presence of an unsclerotized zone in the middle of labella and epandrium unpaired). Amongst the cladistically analysed species, 24 are newly described [ E. ( C. ) acris , E. ( C. ) aspina , E. ( C. ) cameronensis , E. ( C. ) duplex , E. ( C. ) incurva , E. ( C. ) inferiseta , E. ( C. ) kuaensis , E. ( C. ) lachaisei , E. ( C. ) lamellalta , E. ( C. ) lata , E. ( C. ) loici , E. ( C. ) longiseta , E. ( C. ) mengyangensis , E. ( C. ) menglunensis , E. ( C. ) missai , E. ( C. ) nimbaensis , E. ( C. ) padangensis , E. ( C. ) parvula , E. ( C. ) projecta , E. ( C. ) pseudonahaeoensis , E. ( C. ) submetallica , E. ( C. ) urumae , E. ( C. ) vitisalutatoris and E. ( C. ) woitapensis ], five are reviewed [E. (C.) hyalea Melander, E. (C.) jacobsoni De Meijere, E. (C.) ostentator Melander, E. (C.) sinensis Melander and E. (C.) thiasotes Melander] and 13 were recently described in two previous papers. Two additional species, E. (C.) abbrevinervis De Meijere and E. (C.) multipennata Melander, are also reviewed but not included in the cladistic analysis since they are only known from the female. A lectotype is designated for E. (C.) jacobsoni. A key is provided to the six clades of the E. (C.) hyalea‐group as well as to species of each clade. A catalogue of the E. (C.) hyalea‐group, including 72 species, is given. The taxonomic status of 25 additional species mainly described by Bezzi and Brunetti, from the Oriental and Australasian regions, is discussed. The E. (C.) hyalea‐group is firstly recorded from the Palaearctic Region and Australia. Finally, the distribution and the habitats of the species compared with their phylogeny suggest a possible relationship between the diversification of the group and forest fragmentations during the Quaternary. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 145 , 339–391.     

Population structure of Lankatrematoides gardneri (Digenea: Opisthotrematidae) in the pancreas of the dugong (Dugong dugon) (Mammalia: Sirenia).

The distribution among size and reproductive classes of the digenean Lankatrematoides gardneri was recorded from the pancreatic ducts of 41 dugongs from the Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea. Infrapopulation sizes ranged from 5 to 921 worms and showed no correlation with host age, sex, or month of capture. Immature worms tended to be concentrated in intermediate size classes, the largest immatures being no more numerous than matures. The mean proportion of mature worms in the 29 infrapopulations containing them was small (9.8%). Mature worms were significantly greater in mass than the largest immatures. There is evidence of an interaction between the presence or absence of mature worms and the distribution of immatures among classes.     

Effect of the pupal age of Calliphora erythrocephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on the reproductive biology of Melittobia acasta (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae)

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the pupal age of Calliphora erythrocephala (Meigen) on the reproductive biology (in terms of number, size, developmental time and longevity of progeny) of the parasitoid Melittobia acasta Walker. Melittobia acasta females of uniform size were given five C. erythrocephala pupae from one of four experimental age groups: 17–24 h, 24–48 h, 48–72 h and 72–96 h, for parasitization. The mean number of progeny produced from the experimental age groups for a 24 h period were 2, 7.6, 15.6 and 13.6, respectively. The parasitoids preferred hosts that were 48–72 h old. There were no significant differences in the mean development time (18.2 days) and size of progeny (mean head width = 0.38 ± 0.01 mm) produced from the experimental host age groups. The longevity of progeny from the four host age groups varied (range: 4–39 days), with those from the 48–72 h group living longest (mean = 25 days). The F₁ females from the 48–72 h group were reproductively more successful than those from the other groups, producing a mean F₂ progeny of 912 individuals when compared with 867, 801 and 757 individuals from the 24–48 h, 72–96 h and 17–24 h age groups, respectively. These findings make significant contributions to our knowledge of the breeding and utilization of this parasitoid for the biological control of dipteran flies in pigsties and poultry houses.     

Phylogeny of the gudgeons (Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Gobioninae)

The members of the cyprinid subfamily Gobioninae, commonly called gudgeons, form one of the most well-established assemblages in the family Cyprinidae. The subfamily is a species-rich group of fishes, these fishes display diverse life histories, appearances, and behavior. The phylogenetic relationships of Gobioninae are examined using sequence data from four loci: cytochrome b, cytochrome c oxidase I, opsin, and recombination activating gene 1. This investigation produced a data matrix of 4114 bp for 162 taxa that was analyzed using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenies our analyses recovered corroborate recent studies on the group. The subfamily Gobioninae is monophyletic and composed of three major lineages. We find evidence for a Hemibarbus-Squalidus group, and the tribes Gobionini and Sarcocheilichthyini, with the Hemibarbus-Squalidus group sister to a clade of Gobionini-Sarcocheilichthyini. The Hemibarbus-Squalidus group includes those two genera; the tribe Sarcocheilichthyini includes Coreius, Coreoleuciscus, Gnathopogon, Gobiocypris, Ladislavia, Paracanthobrama, Pseudorasbora, Pseudopungtungia, Pungtungia, Rhinogobio, and Sarcocheilichthys; the tribe Gobionini includes Abbottina, Biwia, Gobio, Gobiobotia, Huigobio, Microphysogobio, Platysmacheilus, Pseudogobio, Romanogobio, Saurogobio, and Xenophysogobio. The monotypic Acanthogobio is placed into the synonymy of Gobio. We tentatively assign Belligobio to the Hemibarbus-Squalidus group and Mesogobio to Gobionini; Paraleucogobio and Parasqualidus remain incertae sedis. Based on the topologies presented, the evolution of swim bladder specializations, a distinctive feature among cyprinids, has occurred more than once within the subfamily.     

Ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus) and Exitianus nanus (Distant) (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae)

Previous studies of insect spermatozoa indicate that these specialized cells have undergone significant morphological evolution and exhibit traits useful for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships. Although leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are among the largest and most economically important insect families, few comparative studies of their spermatozoa have been published. Here, the ultrastructure of mature spermatozoa of two leafhoppers Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus) and Exitianus nanus (Distant), representing two different tribes of the largest leafhopper subfamily, Deltocephalinae, was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The shape and ultrastructure of spermatozoa of the two species are very similar to those of other Cicadellidae as well as other Auchenorrhyncha, comprising a conical acrosome invaginated to form a subacrosomal space, a filiform homogeneously condensed nucleus, a lamellate centriolar adjunct connecting the nucleus with the mid-piece/flagellum, a long flagellum with a 9 + 9 + 2 axoneme pattern and two symmetrical mitochondrial derivatives with an orderly array of peripheral cristae, and two drop-shaped accessory bodies. They may be distinguished by the size of the sperm, and the shape of the nucleus, accessory bodies, and paracrystalline region of mitochondrial derivatives. The fine morphology and ultrastructure of spermatozoon in P. striatus and E. nanus are illustrated, along with a brief discussion of the implications for classification and phylogenetic analyses of the subfamily.     

Evolution of the planthoppers (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

The planthopper superfamily Fulgoroidea (Insecta: Hemiptera) comprises approximately 20 described insect families, depending on which classification is followed. Multiple competing hypotheses of fulgoroid phylogeny have been published, based on either morphological character coding or DNA sequence data; however, those hypotheses disagree in several key aspects regarding the evolution of planthoppers. The current paper seeks to test these hypotheses, including the Asche (Asche, M. 1987. Preliminary thoughts on the phylogeny of Fulgoromorpha (Homoptera Auchenorrhyncha). In: Proceedings of the 6th Auchenorrhyncha Meeting, Turin, Italy, 7-11 September, 1987, pp. 47-53.) hypothesis of a trend in ovipositor structure, which may be correlated with planthopper feeding ecology. Presented here are phylogenetic reconstructions of Fulgoroidea based on analysis of DNA nucleotide sequence data from four loci (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, Histone 3, and Wingless) sequenced from 83 exemplar taxa representing 18 planthopper families and outgroups. Data sets were analyzed separately and in various combinations under the maximum parsimony criterion, and the total combined dataset was analyzed via both maximum parsimony and partitioned Bayesian criteria; results of the combined analyses were concordant across reconstruction paradigms. Relationships recovered suggest several major planthopper lineages, including: (1) Delphacidae+Cixiidae; (2) Kinnaridae+Meenoplidae; (3) Fulgoridae+Dictyopharidae; (4) Lophopidae+Eurybrachidae (possibly+Flatidae); (5) Ricaniidae+Caliscelidae (possibly+Tropiduchidae). Results also suggest the placement of Achilixiidae outside of Cixiidae and of Tettigometridae as one of the more recently diversified lineages within Fulgoroidea. The resulting phylogeny supports Asche's (1987) hypothesis of a functional trend in ovipositor structure across families.     

Phylogeny of the Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae)

The Eucoilinae are a diverse and important group of parasitoids of Diptera, particularly in the tropics, but they are poorly known systematically and their generic classification is partly chaotic. Here, we present the first comprehensive cladistic analysis of higher eucoiline relationships. The analysis is based on 148 skeletal characters of adults documented in more than 1100 digital images available in an Internet-accessible database. The characters were coded for 45 taxa representing 35 eucoiline genera, spanning the entire diversity of the group, and 7 outgroup genera. Relationships were partly difficult to resolve and parsimony analysis under implied weights performed considerably better than analysis under uniform weights. The results support the monophyly of the Eucoilinae and show that eucoilines are most closely related to the figitid subfamilies Emargininae and Pycnostigminae, but are ambiguous concerning the exact relationships among these three lineages. Of the 6 eucoiline genus groups recognized by Nordlander in 1982 ( Entomol. Scand. 13, 269–292), only 2 are supported as monophyletic: the Trybliographa and Kleidotoma groups. The Gronotoma group is a paraphyletic assemblage of two different basal clades of eucoilines. The Rhoptromeris group is unnatural and only the 2 core genera, Rhoptromeris and Trichoplasta , form a monophyletic lineage. The data are ambiguous concerning the Ganaspis group, which appears to be paraphyletic, and the Chrestosema group, which may be a good clade. Based on the results we propose a modified system of informal genus groups in the Eucoilinae and discuss putative synapomorphies supporting each genus group. The proposed relationships imply that the first eucoilines were parasitoids of leaf-mining agromyzids. The earliest split in the group was apparently between an Afrotropical and a Neotropical lineage, and much of the early radiation of the group occurred in these regions, particularly in the Neotropics.     

Island evolutionary biogeography: analysis of the weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Aim I analysed distributional and phylogenetic information on weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from the Falklands, and integrated it with molecular, palaeontological and geological information to infer a geobiotic scenario. Location Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Methods The panbiogeographical analysis was based on data on 23 Falkland species and their related taxa from southern South America. For the cladistic biogeographical analysis I analysed six weevil taxa for which phylogenetic hypotheses are available (the generic groups Cylydrorhinus, Strangaliodes and Falklandius, and the genera Antarctobius, Germainiellus and Puranius). Results from this analysis were compared with previous regionalizations. Cenocrons (sets of taxa that share the same biogeographical history) were identified by considering temporal information provided by fossils and molecular clocks. Finally, a geobiotic scenario was proposed by integrating the available information. Results Six generalized tracks were detected: Maule–Valdivian forests, Magellanic forest, Magellanic moorland, Falkland Islands, Magellanic forest–Magellanic moorland, and Magellanic forest–Falkland Islands. A node was identified in the Magellanic forest, based on the overlap of two generalized tracks. A single general area cladogram was obtained, implying the following sequence: (Magellanic moorland (Maule–Valdivian forests (Magellanic forest, Falkland Islands))). The Falklands are classified here as a biogeographical province in the Austral realm, Andean region and Subantarctic subregion. Falkland weevils seem to belong to a single Subantarctic cenocron. The sequence of events deduced implies the following steps: development of the Subantarctic biota in southern South America, arrival of the Falkland crustal block from South Africa in the Early Cretaceous, geodispersal of the Subantarctic cenocron from southern South America to the Falklands during the Early Oligocene, vicariance of the Magellanic moorland, vicariance of the Maule–Valdivian forests, and final vicariance between the Magellanic forest and the Falkland Islands. Main conclusions The biotic components identified support the connection of the Falkland weevils with the Magellanic forest. Falkland weevils belong to a single cenocron, dated to at least the Early Oligocene, when geodispersal from southern South America may have occurred. An older African cenocron may have been replaced completely by the Subantarctic one when the proto‐Falklands made contact with the Patagonian continental shelf. A geobiotic scenario implying vicariance events related to sea‐level variations could explain the distributional patterns analysed herein.