Molecular phylogeny in endemic weevils: revision of the genera of Macaronesian Cryptorhynchinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

A molecular phylogeny and lineage age estimates are presented for the Macaronesian representatives of the weevil subfamily Cryptorhynchinae, using two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 16S). The Bayesian reconstruction is supplemented by observations on morphology ecology, and reproductive biology. The present study often corroborates the groups previously outlined in higher level informal taxonomies. These and further groups are now assigned new taxonomic status. The following genera and subgenera are described (formerly Acalles): Aeoniacalles gen. nov., Canariacalles gen. nov., Ficusacalles gen. nov., Madeiracalles gen. nov., Silvacalles gen. nov. (with Tolpiacalles subgen. nov., Tagasastacalles subgen. nov.), Sonchia calles gen. nov., Echiumacalles gen. nov. (monotypic), Lauriacalles gen. nov. (monotypic), and Pseudoth ichromacalles gen. nov. (monotypic; formerly Dichromacalles). For the western Palaearctic genus Acalles Schoenherr, 1825 the first subgenus Origoacalles subgen. nov. is described and for the genus Onyxacalles Stuben, 1999 the first subgenus Araneacalles subgen. nov.; Paratorneuma Roudier 1956 resyn. Except for one species of Acalles (Origoacalles), all of these new higher taxa are endemic to the Macaronesian Islands. All new taxa are presented, together with their host plants and further data, in a synoptic tabular overview. Based on the results of our phylogenetic analysis, we advocate the hypothesis that the evolution of the species in the new genera (of which most group into a 'Macaronesian dade') began in the comparatively arid succulent bush zone and that the shady and humid laurel forest of the thermoCanarian and thermoMadeiran zone was entered much later. Our reconstruction implies that the Canarian and Madeiran archipelagos were colonized by Cryptorhynchinae at least seven times from the continent but saw only one considerable adaptive radiation. It also becomes apparent that it is the ancestor species of the genus Canariacalles - and not Pseudodichrornacalles that features a close connection to the southwestern European and north.western African species of Dichro,nacalles s,s. Finally, a key is presented for all genera and subgenera of the Macaronesian Cryptorhynchinae. (C) 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 160, 40-87.