Paleontology of leaf beetles

`The rate of evolution in any large group is not uniform; there are periods of relatise stability, and periods of comparatively rapid change.' Cockerell and LeVeque, 1931 To Yenli Ych, my beloved wife, a most wonderful person! The fossil record of the Chrysomelidae can be tentatively traced back to the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic Triassic. Mesozoic records at least 9 subfamilies, 19 genera, and 35 species, are represented by the Sagrinae, the exclusively Mesozoic Proto scelinae, Clytrinae, Cryptocephalinae, Eumolpinae, Chrysomelinae. Galerucinac, Alticinae, and Cassidinae. Cenozoic records at least 12 subfamilies- 63 % of the extant- 12! genera, and 325 species, include the same extant subfamilies as well as the Donaciinae, Zeugophorinae, Criocerinae, and Hispinae and can be frequently identified to genus, especially if preserved in amber. Quaternary records are often identified to extant species. tn total, at least t3! genera about 4 % of total extant, and 357 species < 1 % have been reported. At least, 24 genera <1 % of the extant seem to be extinct. Although reliable biological information associated with the fossil chrysomelids is very scarce, it seems that most of the modern host-plant associations were established, at least, in the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic. As a whole, stasis seems to be the general rule of the chrysomelid fossil record. Together with other faunal elements, chrysomelids, especially donaciines, have been used as biogeographic and paleoclimatological indicators in the Holocene. I

Notas taxonômicas sobre os Brachiacanthini neotropicais (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Hyperaspinae) Taxonomical notes on neotropical Brachiacanthini (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Hyperaspinae)

Brachiacantha Chevrolat in Dejean, 1837, Hinda Mulsant, 1850, Cyra Mulsant, 1850 e Tiphysa Mulsant, 1850 foram estudados e é fornecida uma chave para os gêneros. Cleothera loricata Mulsant, 1850 é designada espécie-tipo de Cyra. O lectótipo de Brachiacantha sellata é designado. Três novas combinações são feitas: Cyra loricata (Mulsant, 1850), Cyra scapulata (Mulsant, 1853) e Cyra turbata (Mulsant, 1850). Estão incluídas diagnoses e ilustrações dos caracteres.<br>Brachiacantha Chevrolat in Dejean, 1837, Hinda Mulsant, 1850, Cyra Mulsant, 1850 and Tiphysa Mulsant, 1850 were studied, and a key to genera is added. Cleothera loricata Mulsant, 1850 is designated type species of Cyra. The lectotype of Brachiacantha sellata is designated. Three new combinations are proposed: Cyra loricata (Mulsant, 1850), Cyra scapulata (Mulsant, 1853) and Cyra turbata (Mulsant, 1850). Diagnosis and illustrations of characters are provided