Taxonomy, Habitat Preference, and Niche Overlap of Two Arrow-Poison Flea Beetle Species of the Genus Polyclada in Sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe taxonomy of many African Coleoptera species is remains poorly known, and the knowledge of their ecological requirements is worse still. Starting with original data, we describe morphological differences and ecological data for two flea beetle species, Polyclada bohemani and P. pectinicornis, which traditionally have been used by the Bushmen people in sub-Saharan Africa to poison their arrows. Moreover, we evidence differences in the formations of vegetation used by these two species, which are known to occur mainly in savannah and open forest habitats. Also, we identify differently suitable areas in terms of climatic preferences, in addition to a common territory in East Africa. We also supply, for the first time, the description of the shape of the aedeagus and the spermatheca of both species, supplying important new diagnostic characters for their identification.Coupling the geographic distribution and the ecological requirements of species often supports taxonomy and biogeography. In this contribution, we update the distribution of two flea beetle species of ethno-entomological interest, Polyclada bohemani and P. pectinicornis, by analyzing original data. In addition, we supply their main morphological diagnostic characters, describing their aedeagal and spermathecal shapes for the first time. We also assess their niche differences in terms of climatic and vegetation needs, by means of ecological niche modelling and remote sensing techniques. Several new localities were identified to improve knowledge of the geographical distribution of both species. Moreover, we located a wide climatic suitability overlap in East Africa for these two flea beetle species, while in other areas they show a clear separation. Our analysis also reports that P. bohemani is associated with areas of denser tree cover than P. pectinicornis. Finally, the lectotypes of Diamphidia bohemani Baly, 1861, Clytra pectinicornis Olivier, 1791, and Diamphidia compacta Fairmaire, 1887 are here designated and the new synonymy Clytra pectinicornis Olivier = Diamphidia compacta Fairmaire syn.nov. is proposed.