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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314550
Title: Review of a West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyne (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) with description of five new species.

Author
item Konstantinov, Alexander - Alex
item LINZMEIER, A. - University Of Brazil
item CLARK, S. - Brigham Young University
item IVIE, M. - Montana State University

Submitted to: Insecta Mundi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2015
Publication Date: 5/25/2015
Citation: Konstantinov, A.S., Linzmeier, A.M., Clark, S., Ivie, M.A. 2015. Review of a West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyne (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) with description of five new species. Insecta Mundi. 505:117-136.

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 a group of flea beetles in the West Indies, containing six species, five of which are new to science, to allow for their identification and proper classification. This study will be useful to taxonomists, evolutionary biologists, and anyone interested in plant-feeding beetles.

Technical Abstract: The previously monotypic West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyne is reviewed, redescribed and illustrated. Five new species are added: Monotalla dominica (Dominica); M. lecticafolium (St. Lucia); M. maierae (St. Lucia); M. obrienorum (Grenada); and M. viridis (St. Lucia). A key to Monotalla species is provided.