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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294184
Title: New genus of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from the Upper Eocene Baltic amber

Author
item BUKEJS, ANDRIS - Consultant
item Konstantinov, Alexander - Alex

Submitted to: Insecta Mundi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2013
Publication Date: 6/10/2013
Citation: Bukejs, A., Konstantinov, A.S. 2013. New genus of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from the Upper Eocene Baltic amber. Insecta Mundi. 0306:1-5.

Interpretive Summary: Leaf beetles are among the most important insects affecting 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 destroy unwanted and invasive weeds. This work provides description and illustrations for one previously unknown leaf beetle genus from Baltic amber, to allow for its identification and proper classification. This study will be useful to taxonomists, evolutionary biologists, and anyone interested in plant-feeding beetles.

Technical Abstract: Ambraaltica baltica new genus and new species is described from Upper Eocene Baltic amber. It is illustrated and compared to recent flea beetle genera and genera known from fossil resins.