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)

This is a publisher's version, also available electronically at http://www.pensoft.net/index.php.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 P. 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 P. congregata host selection, life cycle, and larval fecal defenses are consistent with its inclusion in the Blepharida-genus group

A NEW SPECIES-GROUP IN APHTHONA CHEVROLAT (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM SOUTHERN INDIA

A new species-group in the flea beetle genus Aphthona Chevrolat is defined and Aphthona yercaudensis Prathapan and Konstantinov, new species, from southern India is described. A key to Aphthona species-groups in the Oriental Region is provided. Herbaceous species of Phyllanthus L. (Euphorbiaceae) are recorded as the host plants of Aphthona bombayensis Scherer

Orisaltata, a new genus of flea beetles from the Oriental Region (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

A new genus, Orisaltata, with the type species Aphthona azurea Jacoby (the only known species) from the Oriental Region is described and illustrated. Comparative notes and host plant information are provided. Aphthona babai Kimoto is synonymized with Orisaltata azurea

Descriptions of eight new species of Phaelota (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with a new generic synonymy and a key to species of Indian subcontinent

Six new species of Phaelota Jacoby from India viz. P. assamensis, P. kottigehara, P. maculipennis, P. mauliki, P. saluki, and P. viridipennis and two new species from Sri Lanka viz. P. ogloblini and P. schereri are described and illustrated. Thrylaea Jacoby is treated as a new junior synonym of Phaelota. A lectotype for Phaelota variabilis (Jacoby) is desig- nated and the species is removed from the synonyms of P. flavipennis (Motschulsky). The consequences of loss of flight on host plant selection in Phaelota are discussed and a key to the species of the Indian subcontinent is provided

Notes on identity, new synonymy and larva of Ivalia Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with description of a new species

Genus Ivalia Jacoby is characterized morphologically, and Amphimeloides Jacoby syn. nov. and Taizonia Chen syn. nov. are junior synonyms with it. Several Ivalia species are figured, including Ivalia bella (Chen) comb. nov., I. dorsalis (Jacoby) comb. nov., and I. viridipennis Jacoby. A new species of Ivalia from the Nilgiri Hills in south India, I. korakundah sp. nov., is described and illustrated, including the larvae. Larvae were associated with adults by sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I. Larval morphology is discussed and compared with that of other flea beetles

Natural History and Leaf Shelter Construction of the Asian Rice Leptispa Beetle Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Leptispini)

This is the published version, also available here: http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/48.5/625.pdf.Kaniyarikkal Divakaran Prathapan, Caroline S. Chaboo, and Kolandaivelu Karthikeyan (2009) Natural history and leaf shelter construction of the Asian rice leptispa beetle, Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Leptispini). Zoological Studies 48(5): 625-631. The leaf-roll construction by the Asian rice leptispa beetle Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Cassidinae: Leptispini) was studied. Consistent adult feeding on the adaxial side of tender rice leaves Oryza sativa Linnaeus (Poaceae) induces partial upward rolling of the leaf lamina. Adult leaf rolls are ephemeral and not apparent, and they unfurl once the beetle leaves the leaf. Females oviposit clutches of up to 8 eggs mostly on the adaxial side of the leaf within such rolls. Neonate larvae migrate to the base of the leaf axil and feed by scraping, which induces formation of leaf rolls from the base where the leaf is already curled up. All 5 larval instars feed in this manner, migrating to new leaves and forming new leaf rolls. Pupation occurs within the leaf roll of the 5th instar. Adult leaf rolls are partial and ephemeral, and therefore offer only limited protection to eggs and adults. In contrast, larval leaf rolls are well formed and cohesive compared to those of adults. This is probably due to the sedentary nature and active feeding of the larvae resulting in a greater reduction in leaf turgidity. The host plant, leaf curling, and leaf-roll architecture of Leptispa Baly differ from the leaf ‘sandwiches’ built by some Neotropical cassidines, of the Imatidiini, that glue together Inga leaves (Fabaceae). Two terms, leaf rolls for Leptispini and leaf case shelters for Imatidiini, are proposed to reflect the lack of homology of these structures, although both function as shelters. We also propose that Leptispa feeding probably induces loss of turgor pressure that in turn induces inward curling of the leaf to produce an elongated leaf roll. This may be regarded as an ideal example of cost-effective shelter building by an insect. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/48.5/625.pd

Notes on identity, new synonymy and larva of Ivalia Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with description of a new species

Genus Ivalia Jacoby is characterized morphologically, and Amphimeloides Jacoby syn. nov. and Taizonia Chen syn. nov. are junior synonyms with it. Several Ivalia species are figured, including Ivalia bella (Chen) comb. nov., I. dorsalis (Jacoby) comb. nov., and I. viridipennis Jacoby. A new species of Ivalia from the Nilgiri Hills in south India, I. korakundah sp. nov., is described and illustrated, including the larvae. Larvae were associated with adults by sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I. Larval morphology is discussed and compared with that of other flea beetles

Natural history of \u3ci\u3eJaveta pallida\u3c/i\u3e Baly, 1858 on \u3ci\u3ePhoenix\u3c/i\u3e palms in India (Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Coelaenomenoderini)

Members of the Old World hispine tribe, Coelaenomenoderini, are documented on host plants of Are­caceae, Cyperaceae, and Zingiberales. A few species are renowned pests of oil palm, especially in Africa. The host plants and natural history of Javeta pallida Baly, 1858, the only Indian species of the tribe, is reported for the first time. These beetles can densely infest indigenous wild date palms, Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. (Arecaceae), and also use the introduced date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., which is an expand­ing crop in India. Javeta females lay single eggs and cover each with an ootheca. All larval stages mine the leaves and pupation occurs within the larval mine. Adults are exophagous, leaving linear feeding trenches. Natural and induced infestations of J. pallida on these two palms were observed and the potential of J. pallida as a pest of date palm in India is discussed. Javeta pallida completed development on Phoenix palms in 52–88 days (mean 66.38 days) with egg period 11–15 days (mean 12.8 days), larval period 21–54 days (mean 33.02 days) and pupal period 17–23 days (mean 20.52 days). Elasmus longiventris Verma and Hayat and Pediobius imbreus Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitize the larva and pupa of J. pallida

Penghou, a new genus of flea beetles from China (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)

A new genus (Penghou) with a single new species (P. yulongshan) from Yunnan Province in China is described and illus- trated. It is compared to Hespera Weise, Hesperomorpha Ogloblin, Laotzeus Chen, Luperomorpha Weise, Mandarella Duvivier, Omeiana Chen, Stenoluperus Ogloblin and Taiwanohespera Kimoto

Penghou, a new genus of flea beetles from China (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)

A new genus (Penghou) with a single new species (P. yulongshan) from Yunnan Province in China is described and illus- trated. It is compared to Hespera Weise, Hesperomorpha Ogloblin, Laotzeus Chen, Luperomorpha Weise, Mandarella Duvivier, Omeiana Chen, Stenoluperus Ogloblin and Taiwanohespera Kimoto