Abstract
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.
Highlights
The Blepharida-group of genera consists of robust and brightly colored flea beetles (Figs 1–10). Furth (1998) lists 16 genera in the Blepharida-group, which are unitedCopyright K.D
Eggs of P. congregata are deposited in masses (Fig. 20), usually laid in two layers at Vellayani, egg masses were observed in the field on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces of leaves
The occurrence of Podontia congregata at Vallamkulam and Pandanad extends its range beyond the Western Ghats Mountains to the southwest plains
Summary
The Blepharida-group of genera consists of robust and brightly colored flea beetles (Figs 1–10). Furth (1998) lists 16 genera in the Blepharida-group, which are unitedCopyright K.D. The Blepharida-group of genera consists of robust and brightly colored flea beetles (Figs 1–10). Furth (1998) lists 16 genera in the Blepharida-group, which are united. K.D. Prathapan & C.S. Chaboo / ZooKeys 157: 95–130 (2011)
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