Phylogeny of the tribe Naupactini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) based on morphological characters

Abstract

Naupactini (Curculionidae: Entiminae) is a primarily Neotropical tribe of broad-nosed weevils with its highest genus and species diversity in South America. Despite several taxonomic contributions published during the last decades, the evolutionary history of Naupactini remains poorly understood. We present the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for this tribe based on a data matrix of 100 adult morphological characters scored for 70 species, representing 55 genera of Naupactini (ingroup) and four outgroups belonging to the entimine tribes Otiorhynchini, Entimini, Eustylini and Tanymecini. According to the most parsimonious tree Artipus does not belong to Naupactini; the genera with flat and broad antennae, formerly assigned to other entimine tribes, form a monophyletic group (Saurops (Curiades (Aptolemus (Platyomus)))) related to the clade (Megalostylus (Megalostylodes (Chamaelops Wagneriella))); and the genera distributed along the high Andes, Paramos and Puna form a natural group (Asymmathetes (Amphideritus (Leschenius (Amitrus (Obrieniolus (Melanocyphus Trichocyphus)))))), nested within a larger clade that includes Pantomorus, Naupactus and allied genera. Atrichonotus, Hoplopactus, Mimographus and Naupactus are not recovered as monophyletic. In order to address the taxonomic implications of our phylogenetic analysis, we propose the following nomenclatural changes: to transfer Artipus from Naupactini to Geonemini, to revalidate the genera Mimographopsis (type species M. viridicans), and to revalidate the genus Floresianus (type species F. sordidus). The evolution of selected characters is discussed.