02511nas a2200289   4500008004100000245023000041210006900271300001200340490000800352520153500360653000801895653001701903653000901920653002701929653002201956653001701978653002401995653002602019653001602045100001902061700001602080700002502096700001702121700001902138700001602157856004802173       2016                        eng d00aMolecular and morphological tools to distinguish Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal, 1838 (Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae): a new weevil pest of the endangered century plant, Agave eggersiana from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands0 aMolecular and morphological tools to distinguish Scyphophorus ac  a218-2430 v1183 a<p>The agave snout weevil (AGW) or sisal weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal is here reported for the first time in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) where it threatens Agave eggersiana Trel., a USVI endemic and endangered century-plant. We provide molecular, morphological, and behavioral characters to successfully distinguish the two known Scyphophorus species at all developmental stages. We identified seven new larval characters on the mandibles and characters relating to the chaetotaxy of the labrum and labio-maxillary complex as well as new, putatively informative characters for weevil systematics: chitinized arm of mentum (postlabial strut or postlabial bracon) and the presence of 4 ventral malar setae, instead of 5. In the pupae, the difference in number and placement of rostral setae were also found to be diagnostic. We analyzed two genes, mtCO1 and EF1a, to confirm the identity of the immatures. Phylogenetic analysis of both genes separately and together suggests a clear pattern of substantial phylogeographic structure with specimens clustering by geographic location and this pattern strongly suggests the presence of cryptic species or allopatrically diverged populations. We provide management recommendations for the protection of Agave eggersiana against the threat posed by ASW. We also report, for the first time, the presence of Sphenophorus cubensis (Buchanan) in St. Croix and Scyphophorus yuccae Horn in Panama on Hesperoyucca whipplei (Torr.) Trel. (Asparagaceae: Agavoideae).</p>
10aCOI10aConservation10aEF1a10aEndangered Species Act10alarval morphology10apalm weevils10aScyphophorus yuccae10aSphenophorus cubensis10aWest Indies1 aChamorro, M.L.1 aPersson, J.1 aTorres-Santana, C.W.1 aKeularts, J.1 aScheffer, S.J.1 aLewis, M.L.  uhttps://alientoma.myspecies.info/en/node/17