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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423903
Research Project: Systematics of Beetles, Flies, Moths and Wasps with an Emphasis on Agricultural Pests, Invasive Species, Biological Control Agents, and Food Security

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Flea beetles of the West Indies Subtribe Monoplatina Chapuis 1875, key to genera and new combinations (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Author
item Konstantinov, Alexander
item LINZMEIER, A. - University Of Paranaense - Universidade Paranaense

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Biodiversity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2025
Publication Date: 5/22/2025
Citation: Konstantinov, A.S., Linzmeier, A.M. 2025. Flea beetles of the West Indies Subtribe Monoplatina Chapuis 1875, key to genera and new combinations (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini). Journal of Insect Biodiversity. 65(1):1-32. https://doi.org/10.12976/jib/2025.65.1.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12976/jib/2025.65.1.1

Interpretive Summary: Leaf beetles, especially flea beetles, are among the most important insects for U.S. agriculture. Many are important biological control agents that can be used to control unwanted and invasive weeds. Others are serious pests and feed on crops destroying valuable plants costing millions of dollars annually. This work documents a group of flea beetles from the West Indies that feeds on various plants including peppers. All eight genera in the group are annotated and illustrated with their classification and species composition updated. A key for identification of these genera is proposed for the first time. Agricultural scientists and other researchers will use this identification key to detect and manage the flea beetles to prevent crop damage.

Technical Abstract: All eight Monoplatina genera occurring in the West Indies are reviewed and illustrated. The following new combinations are proposed Bonfilsus glabra (Blake, 1943), Hypolampsis antillarum (Bechyné, 1956), Hypolampsis aspila (Blake, 1943), Hypolampsis smithi (Jacoby, 1897), and Hypolampsis stenotrachela (Blake, 1944) and a subsequent combination is restored (Aedmon ferruginea (Suffrian, 1868)). The following two genera are excluded from the list of West Indian flea beetles: Homotyphus Clark, 1860 and Physimerus Clark, 1860.