ARS | Publication request: New genus and species of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from Puerto Rico

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 8, 2011
Publication Date: December 15, 2011
Citation: Konstantinov, A.S., Konstantinova, A. 2011. New genus and species of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from Puerto Rico. ZooKeys. 155:61-87.

Interpretive Summary: Leaf beetles, especially flea beetles, are among the most important insects for U.S. agriculture. Many are serious pests and feed on crops destroying valuable plants costing millions of dollars annually. Others are important biological control agents that can be used to control unwanted and invasive weeds. This work describes one new genus and five new species of flea beetles from Puerto Rico, providing key characters, description, and illustrations. This study will be useful to biological control workers, taxonomists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.

Technical Abstract: A new genus (Borinken) and five new species (Borinken elyunque, Distigmoptera chamorrae, Kiskeya elyunque, Ulrica eltoro, and U. iviei) from Puerto Rico are described and illustrated. A key to all Caribbean Monoplatini genera, a key to all Kiskeya species and to Ulrica species of Puerto Rico are provided. A list of the flea beetle genera in the Caribbean and number of species in the Caribbean islands is provided and some features of the flea beetle fauna of the Caribbean are discussed.