Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #381469
Research Project: Systematics of Beetles (Coleoptera) in Support of U.S. Agriculture, Arboriculture, and Biological Control of Pests

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Discovery of the first leaf litter inhabiting flea beetles in Brazil (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) with description of two new genera and three new species

Author
item DE OLIVERIA, DENIZE-WGLIANA - University Of Brazil
item LINZMEIER, A. - University Of Brazil
item Konstantinov, Alexander - Alex

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2021
Publication Date: 11/15/2021
Citation: De Oliveria, D., Linzmeier, A.M., Konstantinov, A.S. 2021. Discovery of the first leaf litter inhabiting flea beetles in Brazil (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) with description of two new genera and three new species. Zootaxa. 5068(1):99-114. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5068.1.4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5068.1.4

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 documents a discovery of two genera and three flea beetle species previously unknown to science that inhabit leaf litter in Brazil. The genera and species are described, illustrated and compared to known species of the appropriate genera. The study will be useful to biological control workers, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.

Technical Abstract: Brasilplatus Oliveira & Linzmeier gen. nov. monotypic (B. bahianus Oliveira & Linzmeier) and Tupiniquim Linzmeier, Oliveira & Konstantinov gen. nov. containing two species (T. pronotalis Linzmeier, Oliveira & Konstantinov and T. confusa Linzmeier & Konstantinov – the type species of the genus), the first genera of flea beetles inhabiting leaf litter in Brazil, are described and illustrated. Brasilplatus belongs to the subtribe Monoplatina and is compared to other Monoplatina genera known to occur in the leaf litter or moss cushions: Andersonaltica Linzmeier & Konstantinov, 2012, Apleuraltica Bechyné, 1956 and Ulrica Scherer, 1962. Tupiniquim is unique among New World flea beetles, it allies cannot be immediately identified. We compared it to a New World genus Gioia Bechyné, 1955, which species have similar body shape and to flea beetles known to inhabit leaf litter and moss cushions in Central and South America: Nicaltica Konstantinov et al., 2009 and Stevenaltica Konstantinov, Linzmeier & Savini, 2014. In addition, we compared Tupiniquim to Monomacra Chevrolat, 1836, which species are missing vaginal palpi as does Tupiniquim. We also compared it to an Asian genus Amydus Chen, 1935, with a similar general shape of the body