Research Project:
SYSTEMATICS OF BEETLES IMPORTANT TO AGRICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE, AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Title: Revision of Benedictus Scherer (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)
Authors
 | Sprecher-Uebersax, E. - NHMB, SWITZERLAND | |
Konstantinov, Alexander
| | Prathapan, K. - KDPI, TRIVANDRUM, INDIA | | Doberl, M. - MDCG, ABENSBERG, GERMANY |
Submitted to: Biodiversity and Natural Heritage of the Himalaya
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: March 10, 2009
Publication Date: March 15, 2009
Citation: Sprecher-Uebersax, E., Konstantinov, A.S., Prathapan, K.D., Doberl, M. 2009. Revision of Benedictus Scherer (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae). Biodiversity and Natural Heritage of the Himalaya. Erfurt, Germany:Verein der Freunde and Forderer des Naturkundemuseums Erfurt e.V.p. p. 475-514.
Interpretive Summary: Leaf beetles, and in particular flea beetles, are among the most important insects for US agriculture. Many are serious pests, feed on crops, and destroy valuable plants; many are important biological control agents that can be used to control unwanted weeds. This work describes 20 new flea beetle species from Bhutan, China, Nepal, Philippines, and Thailand providing key characters, descriptions, and illustrations so that they can be identified. This study will be useful to biological control workers, taxonomists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.
Technical Abstract:
The alpine flea beetle genus Benedictus Scherer (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) is revised. Twenty new species, namely B. chilalla, B. dochula, B. ha, B. nobding, B. thumsila and B. yatongla from Bhutan, B. belousovi, B. cangshanicus, B. kabaki, B. kurbatovi, B. nigrinus, B. sichuanensis and B. tibetanus from China, B. robropunctatus from south India, B. bagmati, B. lauribina, and B. shivalayanicus from Nepal, B. luzonicus from the Philippines, B. andersoni from the Papua New Guinea, and B. chiangmaiensis from Thailand are described and illustrated. Himalalta Medvedev is treated as a junior synonym of Benedictus. Himalalta brevicornis Medvedev is synonymised with B. leoi Scherer and H. striata Medvedev with B. minutus Medvedev respectively. Loeblaltica antennalis (Medvedev) (earlier Benedictus) is proposed as a new combination. The distributional range of Benedictus has been further extended beyond the Himalaya to include mountains in China, south India, the Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.
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