6533b7dbfe1ef96bd127086f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Pactola kuschelisp. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a potential cause for the decline of the threatened New Caledonian conifer,Agathis montanade Laubenfels, 1969 (Araucariaceae)

François TronChristian MilleMiłosz A. Mazur

subject

0106 biological scienceseducation.field_of_studyEcologybiologyEcologyWeevilPopulation010607 zoologyAraucariaceaebiology.organism_classification010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesCritically endangeredGenusInsect ScienceAgathisThreatened speciesEndemismeducationAgronomy and Crop ScienceEcology Evolution Behavior and Systematics

description

Agathis montana is a conifer endemic to New Caledonia and one of the most threatened (Critically Endangered) plant species of this area. The exact causes of its decline are still unknown. The authors describe the characteristics of A. montana, the history and methodology of population monitoring, and possible factors causing the decline and habitat degradation. In 2014, some twigs showing symptoms suggesting attack by wood-boring insects were collected. From these, imagines of an unknown weevil species belonging to the genus Pactola Pascoe (Eugnomini) were reared. The new species is described as Pactola kuscheli Mazur sp. nov. Colour photographs of the dorsal habitus, line drawings of taxonomically relevant structures and a key to all New Caledonian species of Pactola are provided. The biology of P. kuscheli Mazur sp. nov. is described and its role as a key threatening process of A. montana is discussed.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-09-21Austral Entomology
https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12234