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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424137
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: A new species of leaf litter inhabiting flea beetle from the United States (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Galerucinae Alticini)

Author
item BOWN, AMY - Brigham Young University
item CLARK, S. - Brigham Young University
item Konstantinov, Alexander

Submitted to: Insecta Mundi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2025
Publication Date: 6/27/2025
Citation: Bown, A., Clark, S., Konstantinov, A.S. 2025. A new species of leaf litter inhabiting flea beetle from the United States (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Galerucinae Alticini). Insecta Mundi. 1135:1-10.

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 the discovery of a flea beetle species new to science and a genus that was not previously known to occur in the United States. These discoveries are described, illustrated and put into context of a current beetle classification. The study will be useful to biological control workers, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.

Technical Abstract: A new species, Stevenaltica parvarotunda Bown, Clark, and Konstantinov, is described from Ohio, U.S.A. This is the first report of this genus for North America. Brief comments are made regarding Exoceras Jacoby and Leptophysa Baly.