Homalocyrtus cabrasae, Rukmane-Bārbale & Acal & Mohagan, 2024

7. Homalocyrtus cabrasae sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 View Figure 1 H-I, 2E, 5H, 7A- G)

Type material. Holotype: ( Fig. 1H View Figure 1 ), male: PHILIPPINES / Siquijor, 9.187767N, 123.581283E, 559 m a.s.l. / Dale Ann Acal leg. (white printed label). With additional red printed label GoogleMaps : HOLOTYPE / Homalocyrtus cabrasae Rukmane-Bārbale & Acal, 2024 / Rukmane- Bārbale det.

Paratypes: 2♂, 1♀ same data as holotype, with additional red printed label GoogleMaps : PARATYPE / Homalocyrtus cabrasae Rukmane-Bārbale & Acal, 2024 / RukmaneBārbale det. (currently at DUBC, will be deposited at NMP) .

Description. Male. Measurements: LB: 6.8 – 7.2 (mean 7.0, holotype 7.0); LE: 4.4 – 5.0 (mean 4.7, holotype 4.7); WE: 3.4 – 4.0 (mean 3.63, holotype 3.4); LP: 2.1 – 2.2 (mean 2.16, holotype 2.2); WP: 2.4 – 2.8 (mean 2.63, holotype 2.7); LR: 1.2 – 1.3 (mean 1.26, holotype 1.3); WR: 1.1 – 1.2 (mean 1.16, holotype 1.2). N = 3 for all measurements.

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Rukmane-Bārbale A., Acal D.A., Mohagan A.B.

Integument black. Antennae and legs brownish except black apices. Body surface, rostrum, head, legs, and underside moderately lustrous. Head. Dorsal surface irregularly punctured with few sparse setae; lateroventral side with sparse setae; forehead between eyes flat, with distinct medial groove from sub- apical part to frons; with single, round, metallic scales; eyes medium- size, flat, not prominent in lateral outline of head. Rostrum. ( Fig. 5H View Figure 5 ) Dorsal surface rugose, with coarse puncture in all length, with minute appressed setae at basal half; slightly longer than wide (LR/WR 1.08); with deep basal groove reaching lateral margin; dorso- lateral edges rounded; dorsum with a distinct, moderate medial groove in all length; dorsal contour straight; lateral sides with subtruncate margin, gradually widened from sub- basal part

120 towards apex; in lateral contour raised dorsally; square- shape impression on each lateral side before the eye. Antennae. Antennal scape longer than funicle, scape reaching after posterior margin of eye, with rare setae along outer margin; antennomeres sparsely covered with setae; club two times longer than wide, covered with brownish setae; funicular segment I slightly longer than II, three times longer as wide, funicular segment II three times longer as wide, segments III- VII as long as wide, slightly increasing in size towards club. Prothorax. Cylindrical, strongly rugose, with fine setae in all length; single, sparsely dispersed round scales of metallic green to blue colour in all length; wider than long (WP/LP 1.21); widest along apical middle, weakly convex on dorsal surface; disc with indistinct medial groove. Elytra. Ovate, longer than wide (LE/WE 1.29), wider than prothorax (WE/WP 1.38), strongly rugose, sparsely pubescent; a tuft of hairs on the sutural beginning of posterior declivity and longer setae along apex ( Fig. 7F View Figure 7 ); marked with single, sparsely dispersed round scales of metallic green to blue colour; in dorsal contour weakly convex, widest after the middle; lateral contour weakly convex from basal margin towards after the middle then sharply abrupt towards apex. Legs. Legs with moderately clavate femora, without scally markings. Femora with white setae at apical half; tibiae covered with white setae in all length; coxa glossy black, without scales and pubescence. Underside strongly shiny, black, without scally markings; ventrites smooth except slightly wrinkled ventrite I, with short setae in all length ( Fig. 7E View Figure 7 ). Male genitalia as shown in Fig. 7A View Figure 7 .

Female. ( Fig. 1I View Figure 1 ) Measurements: LB: 8.3; LE: 5.9; WE: 4.1; LP: 2.2; WP: 2.8; LR: 1.3; WR: 1.2. N = 1 for all measurements. Bigger, elytra wider (LE/WE 1.43), with strongly expressed apex; rostrum covered with setae in all length; tuft of hairs on elytra denser compared to male ( Fig. 7G View Figure 7 ). Otherwise, essentially as in males. Female genitalia as shown in Fig. B – D.

Ecological notes: H. cabrasae sp. nov. was collected using a beating sheet on shrubs along a trail at 559 m a.s.l. ( Fig.8 View Figure 8 ). The habitat is characterized by remnants of primary lowland forest, but is predominantly disturbed secondary growth dominated by fig (Ficus) species. The canopy is fragmented, with dense undergrowth consisting of saplings, shrubs, and coarse grasses. Adjacent areas are characterized by farm lots and abandoned agricultural fields, indicating significant anthropogenic pressure ( Jakosalem et al., 2005). Deforestation for agriculture and timber harvesting for household use poses a critical threat to the habitat. Given the limited extent of forest cover on Siquijor, the removal of even a single tree has disproportionate ecological impacts. Continued logging and encroachment intensify habitat degradation, emphasizing the urgent need for forest rehabilitation. Restoration efforts are essential not only for conserving biodiversity but also for maintaining these forests as critical watershed areas for the island’s inhabitants.

Differential analyses: The new species was compared with five type specimens of H. harpago Heller, 1912 from Luzon Island ( MTD) ( Fig. 3A, D View Figure 3 ) and corresponding specimen from Bohol Island ( DUBC) ( Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ). Both species share the characteristically marking pattern of evenly dispersed metallic green to golden scales on body .

The new species, beside geographical isolation, can be distinguished by following features: 1) in lateral view, elytra of H. cabrasae sp. nov. convex and less abruptly angled, whereas in H. harpago Heller, 1912 , the elytra is flat with sharp abruption angle of 120 ° ( Fig 2B, E View Figure 2 ); 2) dorsal groove of rostrum is distinct in H. cabrasae sp. nov. but indistinct in H. harpago Heller, 1912

( Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ); 3) differences in shape of male genitalia ( Fig. 6C- D View Figure 6 ).

Etymology. The species epithet is dedicated to Analyn A. Cabras, an esteemed coleopterologist, in recognition of her pioneering contributions to the study of Philippine weevils and her unwavering commitment to advancing biodiversity research. This naming honors her enduring legacy in the scientific community and serves as a tribute to her remarkable dedication, passion, and invaluable contributions to the field of entomology.

Distribution. Homalocyrtus cabrasae sp. nov. is known only by the 4 specimens from Siquijor Island, Philippines.

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