Revision of Tegyrius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), with descriptions of eight new species

The flea beetle genus Tegyrius Jacoby, 1887 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) associated with Piperaceae is revised. Eight new species, namely Tegyrius agasthyai sp. nov. , Tegyrius dalei sp. nov. , Tegyrius nigrotibialis sp. nov. , Tegyrius pucetibialis sp. nov. , Tegyrius radhikae sp. nov. , and Tegyrius tippui sp. nov. , from India, and Tegyrius anupama sp. nov. and Tegyrius buddhai sp. nov. , from Sri Lanka, are described and illustrated. Key to species and host plant information are also provided. Tegyrius piceus Kimoto, 2001 is transferred to Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 (new combination); Tegyrius antennatus ( Medvedev, 2001 ), Tegyrius bicolor ( Medvedev, 2001 ) (both earlier Lankaphthona), and Tegyrius keralaensis ( Doeberl, 2003 ) (earlier Ogloblinia) are proposed as new combinations.     

Biology of Blepharida-group flea beetles with first notes on natural history of Podontia congregata Baly, 1865 an endemic flea beetle from southern India (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

The biology, host plants, and pest status of Podontia Dalman, 1824 species are reviewed. Natural history of Podontia congregata Baly, 1865 a flea beetle endemic to southern India, is reported for the first time. It is distributed from the Western Ghats Mountains westward to the plains. Clusiaceae is reported as a new host plant family for Blepharida-group species, with Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) N. Robson (Clusiaceae) as the host plant for Podontia congregata. Pentatomid bugs attack the larvae but not eggs, pupae, or adults. A new egg parasitoid species, Ooencyrtus keralensis Hayat and Prathapan, 2010 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), was discovered. Aspects of Podontia congregata host selection, life cycle, and larval fecal defenses are consistent with its inclusion in the Blepharida-genus group.     

New genus and species of flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) from Puerto Rico, with comments on flea beetle diversity in the West Indies and a key to the West Indian Monoplatini genera

A new genus (Borinken) and five new species (Borinken elyunque, Distigmoptera chamorrae, Kiskeya elyunque, Ulrica eltoro, and Ulrica iviei) from Puerto Rico are described and illustrated. A keyto all West Indian Monoplatini genera is provided, as are keys to all speciesof Kiskeya and to the speciesof Ulrica from Puerto Rico. A list of the flea beetle genera, along with the number of species and some of the faunal features is presented and discussed for the West Indies.     

A revision of the South African Chaetocnema gahani speciesgroup,with descriptions of four new flea beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The Chaetocnema gahani species-group from Southern Africa is herein analyzed and revised. It includes C. gahani Jacoby 1897, C. brincki (Bechyné 1959), C. capeneri n. sp., C. danielssoni n. sp., C. sudafricana n. sp., and C. tuckeri n. sp. A key to all the species is presented. Line drawings of male and female genitalia and scanning electron micrographs of six diagnostic morphological characters are also included, along with ecological and zoogeographical data. Finally, discriminant analyses using the six morphological characters supports the close affinity of the six species within the C. gahani group.     

Revision of the Chaetocnema picipes species-group (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae,Alticini) in China,with descriptions of three new species

The Chinese Chaetocnema picipes species-group is revised. It contains 5 species including 3 new species: C. cheni sp. n., C. constricta sp. n. and C. kingpinensis sp. n. The lectotype of C. fortecostata is designated. A key to all known species of this group from China and the illustrations of habitus and genitalia are provided. A distribution map of species is given.     

Febraina: a new subtribe of Alticini with cladistic analysis based on morphology (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

A new subtribe Febraina subtr.n. is established with Febra Clark designated as the type genus. Cladistic analysis based on morphological characters is carried out to reveal the composition of a new subtribe and to test its monophyly. Subtribe includes the following genera: Chilocoristes Weise; Halticorcus Lea; Setsaltica Samuelson; Maaltica Samuelson; Axillofebra Samuelson; Profebra Samuelson. Bionomical features of the genera of the subtribe are summarised. The syndrome of hemisphery is recorded for the genera of the subtribe, and morphological transformation resulting in hemisphery is described and discussed. Correspondence between direction of morphological transformation, phylogenetic arrangement of genera, and distributional pattern is recorded and discussed.     

Jacobyana Maulik, an Oriental flea beetle genus new for the Afrotropical Region with description of three new species from Central and Southern Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Alticinae)

An Orientalflea beetle genus Jacobyana Maulik, 1926 including 7 species from India, Nepal, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, is reported in the Afrotropical Region for the first time. It is represented there by three new species, Jacobyana bezdekisp. n., Jacobyana centrafricanasp. n., and Jacobyana sudafricanasp. n. Micrographs of male and female genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of some diagnostic morphological characters, a key to identification and distributional data for the new species, are provided.     

Revision of the wingless Sikkimia Duvivier (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) from Taiwan,including a new generic synonymy and four new species descriptions

The genus Taiwanolepta Kimoto, 1989 (type species Taiwanolepta babai Kimoto, 1989) is proposed as a junior synonym of Sikkimia Duvivier, 1891. Sikkimia species from Taiwan form a group characterized by the reduction of their hind wings. Most of them cannot be distinguished using external morphology, except by the structure of last two antennomeres in males. Diagnoses are made by using distribution, aedeagal, and gonocoxal morphology. The group includes one previously described species, Sikkimia babai (Kimoto, 1989), comb. n., and four new species, Sikkimia meihuai sp. n., Sikkimia sufangae sp. n., Sikkimia tsoui sp. n., and Sikkimia yuae sp. n. Speciation models, supporting the high diversity of Sikkimia species in Taiwan, are discussed. Sikkimia metallica Jacoby, 1903 and Sikkimia tamra Maulik, 1936, both from southern India, are transferred to the genus Cerophysa Chevrolat, 1836.     

Revision of Chaetocnema semicoerulea species-group (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae,Alticini) in China,with descriptions of three new species

Chinese species of Chaetocnema semicoerulea group are revised and three new species described as new: Chaetocnema salixis sp. n., Chaetocnema yulongensis sp. n. and Chaetocnema deqinensis sp. n.. A key to all five species of this group occurring in China and the illustrations of habitus and genitalia are provided. A map of species distribution is given.     

The leaf-beetle genus Microdonacia Blackburn (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae): revision and systematic placement

Abstract. The genus Microdonacia Blackburn is revised and its systematic position considered. Ten species are treated, seven of which are new ( bidentata, eucryphiae, grevitteae, incurva, octodentata, pilosa, pomaderris ), and lectotypes are designated for two species. Four of the new species are placed in Tantawangalo subgen.n. Microdonacia is compared with the genera Cassena Weise, Licyllus Jacoby and Orthaltica Crotch. The sister-group for Microdonacia is identified as Orthaltica and these genera are placed incertae sedis in the Galerucinae, as used in the sense of Crowson (1967). The proposed phylogeny of the species is illustrated on a cladogram.     

A worldwide species catalogue and key of Sermyloides (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) with description of two new species from China

In this study, a species catalogue of Sermyloides, including 42 species, is given. Two new species are described: Sermyloides wuyiensis sp. nov. from Fujian, China and Sermyloides bipunctatus sp. nov. from Chongqing, China. A key to species, photographs of aedeagus, habitus of new species and habitus of 14 species of Chinese holotypes are provided.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:820BDA9F-633B-49D8-B5F0-45610E622C9A.     

Reappraisal of the genus Taumacera Thunberg with descriptions of two new species from South-East Asia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

The galerucine genus Taumacera Thunberg is reviewed. Platyxantha Baly is placed in synonymy with Taumacera . The Taumacera deusta species-group is defined and two new species are described in this group: Taumacera mohamedsaidi from Borneo and Taumacera evi from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. A new name, Taumacera seminigra , is provided for Taumacera nigripennis (Jacoby 1900a), nec Jacoby 1884, and Taumacera martapurensis Mohamedsaid is synonymised with Taumacera sucki Weise. A key is given for the deusta species-group and a revised checklist presented for all Taumacera species.     

Revision of the genus Menippus Clark in Australia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

Abstract  The genus Menippus is revised for Australia, with six species, three of which are new: M. cynicus Clark, M. darcyi sp. nov. , M. ewani sp. nov. , M. fugitivus (Lea), M. sufi sp. nov. and M. yulensis (Jacoby) comb. nov. (from Diorhabda Weise). Menippus yulensis was described from New Guinea. This species and M. darcyi were formerly confused in Australia with M. fugitivus , which is now considered endemic to Lord Howe Island. The species formerly considered M. fugitivus and protected under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, New South Wales, is now named M. darcyi . A key is provided for the Australian species of Menippus and a lectotype designated for M. yulensis . The composition of Menippus is discussed and three non-Australian species are transferred to this genus: M. inconspicua (Jacoby) comb. nov. (from Diorhabda Weise); M. laterimaculata (Jacoby) comb. nov. ; and M. marginipennis (Jacoby) comb. nov. (from Galerucella Crotch). A revised checklist of Menippus species is given. The recorded foodplants of Menippus are species of Celtis (Ulmaceae).     

Revision of the genus Paridea Baly, 1886 from Taiwan (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

The Taiwanese species of the genus Paridea Baly, 1886, are revised. Two new species, Paridea (Semacia) houjayi sp. n. and P. (S.) kaoi sp. n. are described. Both were confused previously with P. (S.) sexmaculata (Laboissière, 1930) and P. (S.) angulicollis (Motschulsky, 1854) respectively. Paridea (P.) sauteri (Chûjô, 1935) and P. (P.) taiwana (Chûjô, 1935) are removed from synonymy with P. (P.) sinensis Laboissière, 1930. The synonymy of Paraulaca flavipennis Chûjô, 1935 with Paridea (Paridea) testacea Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 is supported. Paridea (Semacia) nigrimarginata Yang, 1991 is regarded as a junior synonym of P. (S.) angulicollis and excluded from the Taiwan fauna. Lectotypes are designated for Paraulaca costata Chûjô, 1935, P. flavipennis Chûjô, 1935, P. taiwana Chûjô, 1935, Semacia nipponensis Laboissière, 1930, and Paridea sinensis Laboissière, 1930.     

Revision of the genus Dercetina from Taiwan and their similar species,with description of a new species from Myanmar (Insecta,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

Species of the genus Dercetina Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 in Taiwan are revised. Dercetina azumai Gressitt and Kimoto, 1966, Dercetina itoi Kimoto, 1969, and Dercetina shirozui Kimoto, 1969 are redescribed. Dercetina chinensis (Weise, 1889), Dercetina taiwana (Chûjô, 1938), and Dercetina unifasciata (Allard, 1889) are removed from synonymy with Dercetina flavocincta (Hope, 1831). Dercetina flavocincta and Dercetina nakanei Kimoto, 1969 are transferred to the genus Arthrotus Motschulsky, 1858. Lectotypes are designated for Dercetis taiwana Chûjô, 1938, and Antipha varipennis Jacoby, 1890. The synonymies of Antipha flavofasciata Baly, 1879 and Dercetes femoralis Weise, 1922 with Arthrotus flavocincta (Hope, 1831), Antipha varipennis Jacoby, 1890 with Dercetina chinensis (Weise, 1889) are supported. A new species, Dercetina barclayi sp. n. which was confused with Dercetina flavocincta, is described from Myanmar.     

Revision of the Afrotropical genus Notomela Jacoby, 1899 with description of N. joliveti sp. n. from Principe Island (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae,Alticini)

The Afrotropical flea beetle genus Notomela Jacoby, 1899 is reviewed. Notomela joliveti sp.n. from Principe Island is described. The following new synonymies are established: Notomela cyanipennis Jacoby, 1899 = Notomela viridipennis Bryant, 1941, syn. n. = Notomela cyanipennis macrosoma Bechyné, 1959, syn. n. In addition, the new combination is established: Notomela fulvofasciata Jacoby, 1903 is transfered to Amphimela [Amphimela fulvofasciata (Jacoby, 1903), comb. n.]. Micrographs of male and female genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of some diagnostic morphological characters, a key to identification, and distributional data for all species of Notomela, are provided.     

Notes on black elytron species of Pyrrhalta Joannis and the description of a new species from China (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

Thirteen species of Pyrrhalta Joannis, 1865 with black elytron are reviewed. A key to species, photographs of aedeagus and habitus are provided. Pyrrhalta qianana sp. n. is described from Guizhou, China. Pyrrhalta martensi Medvedev & Sprecher-Uebersax, 1999 is newly recorded from China (Tibet).     

Host specificity of the ragwort flea beetle Longitarsus jacobaeae (Waterhouse) (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

The ragwort flea beetle, Longitarsus jacobaeae, was tested for host specificity against representative species of native New Zealand Senecio. Adult feeding and oviposition tests were carried out under quarantine with and without a choice of host plants. Larval development was assessed using potted plants. It was concluded that L. jacobaeae is highly specific to Senecio jacobaea and that it is extremely unlikely to be damaging to native New Zealand Senecio species.     

Potential resistance of crape myrtle cultivars to flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) damage

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to identify potential resistance among crape myrtles, Lagerstroemia spp., to Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman and to flea beetles, Altica spp. Damage ratings revealed variation among cultivars in susceptibility to beetle feeding. Cultivars with Lagerstroemia fauriei Koehne in their parentage exhibited the least amount of damage in choice and no-choice experiments, with few exceptions. The data indicate that both beetle species cause more feeding damage on certain cultivars of Lagerstroemia indica L., such as 'Country Red', 'Twilight', and 'Carolina Beauty' than interspecific cultivars with L. fauriei in their parentage, such as 'Natchez', 'Tonto', and 'Muskogee'. When comparing the effect of parentage on all of the major pests of crape myrtle, L. faurei confers resistance to all pests except crape myrtle aphid. No correlation was found between leaf toughness, leaf color, and leaf nutrients in estimating flea beetle cultivar preference. With this information, growers can more effectively target scouting measures to the most susceptible cultivars. and breeders can select plants that will require the fewest chemical inputs.