Beetles (Coleoptera) in cones of cycads (Cycadales) of the northern hemisphere: diversity and evolution

Authors

William Tang, Weston, FLFollow
Guang Xu, University of Massachusetts AmherstFollow
Thomas Marler, University of GuamFollow
Jibankumar Singh Khuraijam, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaFollow
Rita Singh, G.G.S. Indraprastha UniversityFollow
Anders J. Lindström, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Chonburi, ThailandFollow
P. Radha, Govt Siddha Medical CollegeFollow
Stephen Rich, University of Massachusetts AmherstFollow
Khang Sinh Nguyen, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyFollow
Paul E. Skelley, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesFollow

Date of this Version

7-31-2020

Citation

Insecta Mundi 0781: 1–19

Comments

Published in 2020 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P.O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 USA http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/

Copyright held by the author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License

Abstract

Three groups of beetles inhabit cones of cycads (Cycadales) in the northern hemisphere and are believed to be involved in their pollination. The primitive weevil subtribe Allocorynina (Coleoptera: Belidae) is restricted to the New World cycad genera Dioon Lindl. and Zamia L. One group of weevils (Curculionidae), found only in Cycas L., appears to be a relatively recent colonizer of northern hemisphere cycads. Members of the beetle subfamily Pharaxonothinae (Erotylidae) occur in all Asian and New World cycad genera. Phylogenetic trees of these beetles, based on DNA analysis and supported with morphological studies, are compared to patterns of continental drift and cycad phylogenies. Laurasian origins are suggested for these beetle groups with high latitude dispersal for at least one of these groups during periods of global warm climates.