跳甲属昆虫的食性及其生物学意义

跳甲属昆虫广布全世界,已知300多种,体色近似,外形差异不大,分类鉴定十分困难。但其中许多种类具特殊的食性特征,其寄主植物常是分类鉴定的向导和重要参考。作者分析了已知有寄主记录的59种跳甲的寄主,并根据其寄主范围划分为5种类型:取食多科、2科、1科多属、1科2属及1科1属,而以1科1属型为最多,占67.8%。至目前所知,其寄主范围限于双子叶植物,跳甲和寄主植物之间的对应关系是跳甲的“种”对植物的“属”。值得特别关注的是寄主植物的“种”与跳甲“亚种”之间的分化关系。成虫的取食范围大于幼虫,幼虫保持原始的取食特征。跳甲的同域物种分化可能通过食性转化而进行,食性转化可能先从成虫开始。成幼食性观察是研究寄主转移的关键。

The feeding habits of the genus Altica and biological significance

The genus Altica Goeffroy (Chrysomelidea: Alticinae) distribute all over the world, more than 300 species of the genus are known at present. The species identification within this genus is very difficult because of their similarities ities in coloration and morphology. But most of them are known to have special feeding haits and the knowledge of the host plant is always the guide or important reference in their classification. In this paper, we analyze the host plant records of 59 species of Altica and divide the feeding range of species into 5 types: (1)on several families; (2)on two families; (3)on several genera in one family; (4)on two genera in one family;and (5)only on one genus in one family. Most species of above up to 67.8% belong to the last type. The host plants, up to now, all belong to dicotyledon. The corresponding relationship between the Altica and the host plant is basically the “species" of Altica versus the “genus"of plant. So, more attention should be paid to the relationship between the “species" of the host plant with the “sub-species" differentiation of the Altica. The feeding range of adults is larger than that of larvae and the latter retain the ancestral feeding habits. The differentiation of sympatric species of Altica may be performed through host shifts and host shifts originelly happen in adults. The observation of the feeding behavior of adults and larvae should be the key to the study of host shifts.