Feeding behavior of leaf beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

The feeding behavior of adult leaf beetles (41 species from 18 genera and 8 subfamilies) was studied for the first time. Beetles of the genera Chrysolina, Chrysomela, Cryptocephalus, Galeruca, Gastrophysa, Labidostomis, Leptinotarsa, Timarcha, and Cassida stigmatica gnaw a leaf from the edge, whereas the representatives of Donacia, Galerucella, Lema, Lilioceris, Oulema, Phyllobrotica, Plagiodera, Zeugophora, Hypocassida, and most species of Cassida gnaw the leaf plane. In addition, adults of Lilioceris merdigera and Donacia clavipes feed on young leaves rolled into a tube. New host plants are reported for the first time: Hyoscyamus niger for the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle and Naumburgia thyrsiflora for Galerucella grisescens.     

Contributions to the knowledge of the leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of Russia

A new species, Macroplea skomorokhovi sp. n., is described from the Russian Far East, and a key to species of the genus Macroplea Curtis is given. Cryptocephalus oxysternus Jacobson (Primorskii Territory) and Longitarsus truncatellus Weise (northern Caucasus) are recorded for the Russian fauna for the first time.     

New species of the leaf beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from China: VII

The following new taxa of leaf beetles are described from Chinese provinces Gansu, Sichuan, and Xinjiang based on the material of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, where the types are deposited: Chrysolina confucii sp. n., Ch. daosana sp. n., Ch. infernalis sp. n., Ch. gruevi sp. n., Ch. songpana sp. n., Phratora alternata sp. n., Taipinus rotundatus gen. et sp. n., Oreomela milae sp. n. (Chrysomelinae) and Zangastra sichuanica sp. n. (Galerucinae).     

On the presence of a stridulatory apparatus in leaf beetles of the subfamily Eumolpinae (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

Stridulation has been observed for the first time in a representative of the subfamily Eumolpinae, Bromius obscurus Linnaeus. A stridulatory apparatus was found in all Eumolpinae examined by the authors. It differs essentially from all the previously described types of stridulatory apparata and is located on the upper side of each wing in the form of a dark convex spot with complicated microsculpture between RS and Cu veins, as well as an apical corn-like convexity on the underside of each elytron near the suture.     

On the laboratory rearing of green dock leaf beetles Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract Leaf beetles Gastrophysa viridula have attracted recently increased research interest from various points of view, since they are: (i) pest insects in rhubarb crops; (ii) potential biocontrol agents of dock plants Rumex spp. in grasslands; and (iii) a model species in ecological studies on insect population dynamics, biochemistry, behavior, biomechanics and biomimetics. The continuous rearing of beetles at standardized conditions may help to unify the fitness state of different individuals, allowing a better comparison of experimental results. The present communication suggests a modular space‐ and time‐saving rearing method of G. viridula in stackable faunariums under laboratory conditions, which has been successfully established and continuously used over the last 5 years. Several developmental stages were kept in separate boxes, and multiple generations were kept simultaneously, depending on the required number of beetles.     

A review of the leaf beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province

A total of 245 species of 59 genera and 12 subfamilies of Chrysomelidae are recorded for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province. The distribution of 219 species is proved by the author, 30 species are recorded for the region for the first time. For most species data on the phenology and ecology are given.     

A contribution to the fauna and ecology of leaf beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) in the Republic of Mordovia

An annotated list of leaf-beetle species is given. It includes 76 species of 33 genera of 9 subfamilies, with Cryptocephalinae and Chrysomelinae predominating (42%). The insects were collected in different ecosystems of Mordovia, of them, 11 being pests of crops and forests, especially Phyllotreta vittula, Oulema melanopus, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Chrysomela populi, Ch. tremula, Plagiodera versicolora, and Agelastica alni. Ecological and biotopical characteristics of the species are given: distribution ranges, preferred biotopes and host plants, periods of activity, flight, and egg-laying, thermal and humidity preferenda. Most species appeared to be mesophilous (71%), xerophilous ones constitute 13.2%, hydrophilous 10.6%, hygrophilous ones are not numerous (5.3%). Of all the species, 78% are heliophilous, and 22%, umbrophilous.     

Immature stages of leaf beetles of the genera Octodonta and Pystosia (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Hispinae) from Vietnam

The morphology of larvae and pupae of two leaf beetle species, Octodonta depressa Chap. and Pystosia dactyliferae Maulik, is described. Some aspects of their ecology are considered.     

Mesozoic leaf beetles of the tribe Mesolpinini trib. nov. (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from the Lower Cretaceous

This publication is based on recent studies of Lower Cretaceous leaf beetles from the Yixian Formation (Liaoning, China), which are represented by five new species of one new genus Mesolpinus gen. nov. (M. antenattus sp. nov. [type species], M. adapertilis sp. nov., M. angusticollis sp. nov., M. basicollis sp. nov., and M. trapezicollis sp. nov.) assigned to a new tribe, Mesolpinini trib. nov. of the subfamily Chrysomelinae. This tribe, which includes only species from the Jehol biota, is the oldest known group of the family in the fossil record. A key to species of the genus Mesolpinus gen. nov. is provided and the position of the new tribe is discussed. A brief overview of the Mesozoic data on the subfamily Chrysomeloidea is given.     

Comparative morphological characteristics of Palaearctic leaf beetles of the subtribe Entomoscelina (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae): I. Mouthparts

A comparative morphological characteristic of the mouthparts of representatives of five Palaearctic genera of the subtribe Entomoscelidina is given.     

Endemism patterns in the Italian leaf beetle fauna (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

In this contribution the results of a zoogeographical analysis, carried out on the 123 endemic leaf beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) occurring in Italy and its immediately adjacent regions, are reported. To assess the level of faunistic similarity among the different geographic regions studied, a cluster analysis was performed, based on the endemic component. This was done by calculating the Baroni Urbani & Buser’s similarity index (BUB). Finally, a parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to identify the most important areas of endemism in Italy.     

Larva of the leaf beetle Labidostomis longimana (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Clytrinae)

The first- and the last-instar larvae of the leaf-beetle Labidostomis longimana are described in detail for the first time. The last instar larva is morphologically close to L. sibirica larva and differs from it in the absence of a projection in the medial emargination of the labrum, in the presence of 7 spiniform setae on the tibiotarsus ventrally, 11–13 narrow simple setae on the tibiotarsus dorsally, and fine rugae on the larval case.     

A new genus of seed beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in Baltic amber

The new genus and new species of seed beetles (Copeoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) Electrocaryedon poinari gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Late Eocene Baltic amber. This new genus differs from the genus Caryedon Schoenherr, 1823 in the completely separate procoxal cavities, not shortened lateral carina on pronotum, and wider body with sparse setae.     

To the knowledge of the leaf beetle genus Cystocnemis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Four subspecies of Cystocnemis discoidea are distinguished; two subspecies are described as new to science based on investigation of intraspecific variation in different parts of the species range, and ssp. gebleri was resurrected from synonymy. The ways of speciation in highland-hollow landscapes are discussed. The alpine subspecies C. discoidea oreas ssp. n. has an altibiome disjunction with the nominotypical subspecies. Similarity of the alpine subspecies of C. discoidea to the species from the subgenus Entomomela was found to be the reason of permanent confusion of representatives of these taxa. The subgenus Entomomela is transferred from the genus Oreomela to the genus Cystocnemis. A key to species and subspecies of the genus Cystocnemis is given.     

Leaf beetles are ant-nest beetles: the curious life of the juvenile stages of case-bearers (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae)

Although some species of Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) have been documented with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for almost 200 years, information on this association is fragmentary. This contribution synthesizes extant literature and analysizes the data for biological patterns. Myrmecophily is more common in the tribe Clytrini than in Cryptocephalini, but not documented for Fulcidacini or the closely-related Lamprosomatinae. Myrmecophilous cryptocephalines (34 species in 14 genera) primarily live among formicine and myrmecines ants as hosts. These two ant lineages are putative sister-groups, with their root-node dated to between 77–90 mya. In the New World tropics, the relatively recent radiation of ants from moist forests to more xeric ecosystems might have propelled the association of cryptocephalines and ant nests. Literature records suggest that the defensive behavioral profile or chemical profile (or both) of these ants has been exploited by cryptocephalines. Another pattern appears to be that specialized natural enemies, especially parasitoid Hymenoptera, exploit cryptocephaline beetles inside the ant nests. With the extant data at hand, based on the minimum age of a fossil larva dated to 45 mya, we can infer that the origin of cryptocephaline myrmecophily could have arisen within the Upper Cretaceous or later. It remains unknown how many times myrmecophily has appeared, or how old is the behavior. This uncertainty is compounded by incongruent hypotheses about the origins of Chrysomelidae and angiosperm-associated lineages of cryptocephalines. Living with ants offers multiple advantages that might have aided the colonization of xeric environments by some cryptocephaline species.     

Evaluation of management strategies for bean leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Bean pod mottle virus (Comoviridae) in soybean

Cerotoma trifurcata F?rster (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Bean pod mottle virus (Comoviridae) (BPMV) both can reduce yield and seed quality of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of systemic, seed-applied, and foliar-applied insecticides for the management of this pest complex at three locations in central, northeastern, and northwestern Iowa during 2002-2004. Seed-applied insecticide was evaluated according to a currently recommended management program for Iowa (i.e., insecticide applications that target emerging overwintered beetles, F0, and the first seasonal generation, F1 ). The experimental treatments included seed-applied (thiamethoxam, 0.3-0.5 g [AI] kg(-1)] or clothianidin, 47.32 ml [AI] kg(-1)) and foliar-applied (A-cyhalothrin, 16.83-28.05 g [AI] ha(-1)) or esfenvalerate (43.74-54.69 g [AI] ha(-1)) insecticides. Applications of the foliar insecticides were timed to target F0, F1 or both F0 and F1 populations of C. trifurcata. Our results confirm that insecticides timed at F0 and F1 populations of C. trifurcata can reduce vector populations throughout the growing season, provide limited reduction in virus incidence, and improve both yield and seed coat color. Furthermore, seed-applied insecticides may be the more reliable option for an F0-targeted insecticide if used within this management strategy. An F0-targeted insecticide by itself only gave a yield improvement in one out of eight location-years. However, by adding an F1-targeted insecticide, there was a yield gain of 1.42-1.67 quintal ha(-1), based on contrast comparisons at three location-years.     

An annotated list of flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Halticinae) of the Southern Urals

Based on the author’s investigation and literature data, a list of flea beetles of the Southern Urals is compiled for the first time. It includes 136 species belonging to 16 genera; the occurrence of 88 species is proved by the author’s material. Five species are recorded for the region for the first time. Misidentifications of some species previously recorded for the region are revealed.     

Molecular phylogeny of rootworms and related galerucine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) sensu stricto (true galerucines) comprise a large assemblage of diverse phytophagous beetles containing over 5000 described species. Together with their sister taxon, the flea beetles, which differ from true galerucines by having the hind femora usually modified for jumping, the Galerucinae sensu lato comprises over 13 000 described species and is the largest natural group within the Chrysomelidae. Unlike the flea beetles, for which robust hierarchical classification schemes have not been erected, an existing taxonomic structure exists for the true galerucines, based mostly on the works of the late John Wilcox. In the most recent taxonomic list of the Galerucinae sensu stricto, five tribes were established comprising 29 sections housing 488 genera. The majority of the diversity within these tribes is found within the tribe Luperini, in which two genera, Monolepta and Diabrotica, are known to contain over 500 described species. Here, we extend the work from previous phylogenetic studies of the Galerucinae by analysing four amplicons from three gene regions (18S and 28S rRNA; COI) representing 249 taxa, providing the largest phylogenetic analysis of this taxon to date. Using two seven‐state RNA models, we combine five maximum likelihood models (RNA + DNA for the rRNAs; three separate DNA models for the COI codon positions) for these partitions and analyse the data under likelihood using Bayesian inference. The results of these two analyses are compared with those from equally weighted parsimony. Instead of choosing the results from one optimality criterion over another, either based on statistical support, tree topology or philosophical predisposition, we elect to draw attention to the similar results produced by all three analyses, illustrating the robustness of the data to these different analytical methods. In general, the results from all three analyses are consistent with each other and previous molecular phylogenetic reconstructions for Galerucinae, except that increased taxon sampling for several groups, namely the tribes Hylaspini and Oidini, has improved the phylogenetic position of these taxa. As with previous analyses, under‐sampled taxa, such as the Old World Metacyclini and all sections of the subtribe Luperina, continue to be unstable, with the few taxa representing these groups fluctuating in their positions based on the implemented optimality criterion. Nonetheless, we report here the most comprehensive phylogenetic estimation for the Galerucinae to date.