Flea Beetle Genus Research Articles

Four species of Chaetocnema Stephens, 1831 new to India (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Occurrence of four species of the flea beetle genus Chaetocnema Stephens viz. C. (Chaetocnema) kingpinensis Ruan, Konstantinov & Yang, C. (C.) yunnanica Heikertinger, C. (Udorpes) angustifrons Ruan, Konstantinov & Yang and C. (U.) reteimpunctata Ruan, Konstantinov & Yang are newly reported from India. Male of C. reteimpunctata is firstly described. Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf (Poaceae) is newly recorded as the host plant of C. angustifrons.

Morphology and taxonomic significance of the labrum in the flea beetle genus Chaetocnema Stephens, 1831 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

The structure of labrum or upper lip in adult Coleoptera is only minimally investigated and used in classification and phylogeny. This study investigates the morphology of the labrum in the flea beetle genus Chaetocnema Stephens, 1831 (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) to assess and develop a terminology and identify potential morphological characters useful to delimitation of species and species groups as well as phylogeny reconstruction in leaf beetles.

Argopistes Motschulsky from Madagascar with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

The revision of the flea beetle genus Argopistes Motschulsky, 1860 in Madagascar is provided. Six new species are described: Argopistesjanakmoravecorumsp. nov., A.laterosinuatussp. nov., and A.vadoni from the northern area; A.jenisisp. nov., A.keiserisp. nov., and A.seyrigisp. nov. from the central area. A new synonym of Argopistesbrunneus Weise, 1895 is established: A.sexguttatus Weise, 1895, syn. nov., since A.sexguttatus is shown to be a chromatic form of A.brunneus. A diagnostic key of the seven Malagasy Argopistes species is provided, with photographs of the habitus, median lobe of the aedeagus, and spermatheca. Finally, based on known occurrences, the current suitable areas for this flea beetle genus in Madagascar are estimated using Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) techniques.

<i>Calotheca leonardii</i>, a new flea beetle species from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)

Calotheca is a widespread sub-Saharan flea beetle genus comprising 36 species already described. In this contribution, we describe a new species, Calotheca leonardii sp. nov., from the Republic of South Africa. It shows the most remarkable similarities with Calotheca thunbergi. In fact, based on external morphology, specimens of the new species were previously considered within the variability of Calotheca thunbergi. We highlight the main diagnostic characters of the two species and provide photographs of the habitus, median lobe of the aedeagus, and spermatheca. We also report information on their geographical distribution and host plants.

Generic placement of the African flea beetle Polycladamaculipennis Bryant and the possible occurrence of the genus Procalus Clark in sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

Polyclada Chevrolat and Procalus Clark are flea beetle genera (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini). Polyclada is endemic to the Afrotropical region, while Procalus has never been described outside of the Neotropical region. The new combination Procalusmaculipennis (Bryant, 1942), comb. nov. is proposed for Polycladamaculipennis Bryant, 1942. Its plausible type locality is Venezuela, and not Cameroon, as recorded on the labels of the type material, and hence the occurrence of P.maculipennis in Africa is questionable.

Climatic Niche, Altitudinal Distribution, and Vegetation Type Preference of the Flea Beetle Genus Arsipoda in New Caledonia (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae)

New Caledonia is one of the major biodiversity hotspots. The flea beetle genus Arsipoda (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae) is present with 21 species, all endemic. We investigated, using GIS analyses and ecological niche models, the habitat preferences of these species in terms of vegetation types, altitude, and climate, and assessed the adequacy of knowledge on the spatial parameters affecting the distribution of the genus in New Caledonia. Altitude and geology seem to play an important role in shaping species distribution. Volcanic substrate allows the growth of ultramafic vegetation, which includes most of their host plants. From a biogeographic and conservation perspective, our results report a deep link between Arsipoda species and their habitats, making them particularly sensitive to environmental modifications.

The genus Cangshanaltica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae): overview, new species, and notes on species complexes.

Moss-inhabiting flea beetles form a diversified ecological group of beetles with a number of recently described new species. Here, we present an overview of known species of the moss-inhabiting flea beetle genus Cangshanaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro, Prathapan, Ge & Yang, 2013 which is distributed in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. We describe three new species: Cangshanaltica guanxiensis sp. nov. from Guanxi, China, C. marginata sp. nov. from Yunnan, China, and C. javana sp. nov., from Java, Indonesia. Additionally, we redescribe Cangshanaltica castanea (Gruev, 1985) comb. nov., a species formerly placed in Ivalia. Based on our studies of the morphological characters, we assume that some of the currently recognized species may in fact represent species complexes. Our findings also extend the known distribution of Cangshanaltica to Indonesia. A key of all described Cangshanaltica species, and an annotated checklist are provided.

Multiple origins of moss-inhabiting flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): molecular phylogeny, overview of genera and a new genus from Africa

Abstract Flea beetles (Alticini) are a diverse lineage of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with the majority of genera living on vascular plants. However, several genera are associated with mosses or leaf litter, as an alternative strategy, often accompanied by changes in morphology and biology. Here, we present the first comprehensive DNA-based phylogenetic analysis of Alticini including 13 moss-inhabiting genera. We show that moss-association is a common phenomenon in Alticini; based on our ancestral-state mapping, we reveal at least nine independent origins of moss-inhabiting, and four independent origins of leaf-litter-inhabiting life-strategy. Our findings illustrate that both cryptic strategies induce parallel evolution of similar ecomorphological adaptations, such as flight loss and a convex body shape. An overview of known moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera is also provided. We describe Benedictoides munclingeri gen. et sp. nov. from the cloud forests of Mount Cameroon, the first flea beetle genus clearly assigned to the moss-inhabiting strategy from tropical Africa. Additionally, our phylogeny provides new insights into the relationships among various flea beetle genera. We estimate six main clades grouping the majority of studied genera, and propose several new generic groups. Along with our phylogenetic results, we discuss moss-inhabiting flea beetle evolution and perspectives of their systematics.

Calothecanigromaculata species-group from sub-Saharan Africa with descriptions of two new species from KwaZulu-Natal (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

Calotheca Heyden is a flea beetle genus with a largely sub-Saharan distribution and currently comprising 34 species. The examination of new material is revealing an increase in species richness and intraspecific variability. Calothecacarolineaesp. nov. and C.wanatisp. nov., both from KwaZulu-Natal in the Republic of South Africa, are here described and attributed to the C.nigromaculata (Jacoby) species group, mainly based on genitalic characters. Photographs of the main diagnostic characters are provided, including the habitus, median lobe of the aedeagus, and spermatheca. Information on the geographic distribution and host plants of these species is also provided.

Revision of Oriental flea beetle genera with subparallel intercoxal ridges on the first abdominal ventrite (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

ABSTRACT The Oriental flea beetle genera (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) with subparallel intercoxal ridges on the first abdominal ventrite are revised. Sahyadrialtica stephaniae gen. nov. and sp. nov. from south India are described. The following new synonyms are proposed: Lankanella Kimoto, 2000 syn. nov. (= Parategyrius Kimoto and Gressitt, 1966), Lankaphthona Medvedev, 2001 syn. nov. (= Parategyrius Kimoto and Gressitt, 1966), Paraphthona Medvedev, 2009 syn. nov. (= Parategyrius Kimoto and Gressitt, 1966) and Neorthella Medvedev, 2010 syn. nov. (= Lanka Maulik, 1926). Sphaeraltica Ohno, 1961 is proposed as the new replacement name for Ogloblinia Csiki, 1940 instead of Lesagealtica Döberl, 2009. New combinations are proposed due to the new and previously published synonyms. A checklist, comprising 96 species belonging to 10 genera in the Tegyrius genus group, is provided. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7C8FC084-F777-456E-A504-9E2350305164

Flea beetles of the West Indies: the genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

The West Indian flea beetle genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 is reviewed. Two new species, both from the Dominican Republic are described and illustrated: H.erwinisp. nov. and H.sierramatringarciasp. nov. In addition, images of the holotypes of H.portoricensis Blake, H.pulchella Blake, and H.rugosa Blake are provided. Lacticamegaspila (Blake) is transferred to Hemilactica. A lectotype of H.quatuordecimpunctata (Suffrian, 1868) is designated and illustrated, and a key to the Hemilactica species and a key for identification of Hemilactica and related genera occurring in the Western Hemisphere are provided.

Taxonomic revision of the Calotheca parvula species group from southern Africa, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Calotheca Heyden, 1887 is a flea beetle genus that occurs predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, comprising 29 species. The examination of new material is revealing a significantly higher species richness and high intraspecific variability. A group of five species, occurring in the southernmost portion of the distribution range for the genus, is here attributed to the C. parvula species group: C. parvula (Weise, 1908), C. pallida (Bryant, 1945), C. danielssonisp. nov., C. oberprielerisp. nov., and C. prinslooisp. nov. Species in the C. parvula group have strong similarities in body shape and sculpture on the integument, spermathecal shape, and for most species the morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus. A key to species of the Calotheca parvula group is provided along with photographs of the habitus, main diagnostic characters, median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. In addition to the geographic distribution, the available information on the habitat, host plants, and phenology are provided for the five species analysed.

The draft genome of the specialist flea beetle Altica viridicyanea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

BackgroundAltica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a highly diverse and taxonomically challenging flea beetle genus that has been used to address questions related to host plant specialization, reproductive isolation, and ecological speciation. To further evolutionary studies in this interesting group, here we present a draft genome of a representative specialist, Altica viridicyanea, the first Alticinae genome reported thus far.ResultsThe genome is 864.8 Mb and consists of 4490 scaffolds with a N50 size of 557 kb, which covered 98.6% complete and 0.4% partial insect Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. Repetitive sequences accounted for 62.9% of the assembly, and a total of 17,730 protein-coding gene models and 2462 non-coding RNA models were predicted. To provide insight into host plant specialization of this monophagous species, we examined the key gene families involved in chemosensation, detoxification of plant secondary chemistry, and plant cell wall-degradation.ConclusionsThe genome assembled in this work provides an important resource for further studies on host plant adaptation and functionally affiliated genes. Moreover, this work also opens the way for comparative genomics studies among closely related Altica species, which may provide insight into the molecular evolutionary processes that occur during ecological speciation.

Revision of the <em>Calotheca nigrotessellata</em> species group from southern Africa, with description of two new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Calotheca Heyden is a mostly sub-Saharan flea beetle genus, comprising twenty-seven species previously included in Blepharida Chevrolat. The examination of new material is revealing a high species richness, as there is high intraspecific variability. Calotheca luteomaculata sp. nov. from Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa, and C. luteotessellata sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa are here described and attributed to the C. nigrotessellata (Baly) species group, mainly based on genitalic characters. Photographs of the main diagnostic characters are supplied, including the median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. A forward stepwise discriminant function analysis, using morphometric variables, has been performed. It supports the attribution of the examined specimens to the three species here considered, thus adding characters useful for their identification. Information on geographical distribution and host plants are also provided.

Groehnaltica batophiloides, a new genus and species of flea-beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Baltic amber, described using X-ray microtomography

Based on a well-preserved specimen from Eocene Baltic amber, Groehnaltica batophiloides gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) is described and illustrated using X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). The new monotypic genus is compared with fossil and extant flea-beetle genera. In the extant Eurasian fauna Groehnaltica shows most similarity to Batophila Foudras, 1859. However, it is also similiar to a Palaeotropical group of genera, including Bikasha Maulik, 1931, and Lanka Maulik, 1926. Groehnaltica batophiloides is the tenth member of Alticini to be described from Baltic amber, adding to our understanding of the evolutionary history of this diverse group of beetles.

Sharpening the DNA barcoding tool through a posteriori taxonomic validation: The case of Longitarsus flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

The accuracy of the DNA barcoding tool depends on the existence of a comprehensive archived library of sequences reliably determined at species level by expert taxonomists. However, misidentifications are not infrequent, especially following large-scale DNA barcoding campaigns on diverse and taxonomically complex groups. In this study we used the species-rich flea beetle genus Longitarsus, that requires a high level of expertise for morphological species identification, as a case study to assess the accuracy of the DNA barcoding tool following several optimization procedures. We built a cox1 reference database of 1502 sequences representing 78 Longitarsus species, among which 117 sequences (32 species) were newly generated using a non-invasive DNA extraction method that allows keeping reference voucher specimens. Within this dataset we identified 69 taxonomic inconsistencies using barcoding gap analysis and tree topology methods. Threshold optimisation and a posteriori taxonomic revision based on newly generated reference sequences and metadata allowed resolving 44 sequences with ambiguous and incorrect identification and provided a significant improvement of the DNA barcoding accuracy and identification efficacy. Unresolved taxonomic uncertainties, due to overlapping intra- and inter-specific levels of divergences, mainly regards the Longitarsus pratensis species complex and polyphyletic groups L. melanocephalus, L. nigrofasciatus and L. erro. Such type of errors indicates either poorly established taxonomy or any biological processes that make mtDNA groups poorly predictive of species boundaries (e.g. recent speciation or interspecific hybridisation), thus providing directions for further integrative taxonomic and evolutionary studies. Overall, this study underlines the importance of reference vouchers and high-quality metadata associated to sequences in reference databases and corroborates, once again, the key role of taxonomists in any step of the DNA barcoding pipeline in order to generate and maintain a correct and functional reference library.

Adamastoraltica humicola, new genus and new species: the first example of possible moss-inhabiting flea beetle genus from sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae).

Adamastoraltica humicola gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa (Western Cape Province) is described. The new genus, collected in the humus, shows external characteristics typical of the moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera, mainly: very small size, very convex and subglobose body, antennae with enlarged apical antennomeres, strongly reduced hind wings, greatly simplified and shortened mesothorax and metathorax, and elytra lacking humeral calli. Adamastoraltica gen. nov. shows some similarities with the Asian genus Cangshanaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro, Prathapan, Ge Yang. However, the absence of the scutellum brings this new genus close to Stegnaspea Baly, also occurring in Western Cape Province. For the new flea beetle genus, data on distribution are supplied, along with preliminary ecological notes. Photomicrographs of main morphological characters, including male and female genitalia, and metafemoral extensor tendon are also provided. Finally, the updated distribution of the moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera described so far, excluding the subtribe Monoplatina, is supplied.

A new species of Phyllotreta Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from Omsk Province of Russia with comments on Phyllotreta species diversity in Northeastern Palearctic.

A new species of flea beetle genus Phyllotreta Chevrolat, 1836 (P. sholaksori new species) is described from shores of saline lakes in Southwestern Siberia. It is compared with species with which it was collected as well as with species comprising a group to which it belongs (P. araxicola Jablokoff-Khnzorian, 1968, P. astrachanica Lopatin, 1977, P. atra Fabricius, 1775, P. balcanica Heikertinger, 1909, P. cruciferae Goeze, 1777, and P. diademata Fourdas, 1860). All these species are illustrated and included in the key.

A review of the genus Lankaphthona Medvedev, 2001, with comments on the modified phallobase and the unique abdominal appendage of L.binotata (Baly) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

The flea beetle genus Lankaphthona Medvedev, 2001 is redescribed and a new species L.yunnantarsellasp. nov. Ruan, Konstantinov & Prathapan is described. Longitarsella Medvedev, 2009, syn. nov. and Philotarsa Medvedev, 2009, syn. nov. are newly synonymized with Lankaphthona. Philotarsalaosica Medvedev, 2009, syn. nov. is synonymized with Lankaphthonaphuketensis (Gruev, 1989). The following new combinations are proposed: Lankaphthonabinotata (Baly, 1876), comb. nov.; Lankaphthonacostata (Medvedev, 2016), comb. nov.; Lankaphthonacyanipennis (Medvedev, 2017), comb. nov.; Lankaphthonanigronotata (Jacoby, 1896), comb. nov.; Lankaphthonanotatipennis (Medvedev, 2009), comb. nov.; and Lankaphthonaphuketensis (Gruev, 1989), comb. nov., status restored. A highly specialized spoon-shaped ‘appendage’ is discovered on the first abdominal ventrite of males of Lankaphthonabinotata. Aedeagus of the same species has aberrant sheath-shaped phallobase encircling the median lobe. Morphology and possible function of these structures are discussed. Menispermaceae are newly reported as the host plants of the genus.

<p><strong>A new species of <em>Bonfilsus</em> Scherer 1967 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from the Dominican Republic</strong></p>

A new species of previously monotypic genus of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), Bonfilsus Scherer 1967, is described from the Dominican Republic. This is the first record of Bonfilsus from the island of Hispaniola. The new species is compared to the only known species of the genus [B. subpubenscens (Bechyne)] and its distinguishing features as well as other morphological characters are illustrated and described.