Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory
Title: Flea beetles of the West Indies: genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)Author
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Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2021 Publication Date: 6/16/2021 Citation: Konstantinov, A.S. 2021. Flea beetles of the West Indies: genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). ZooKeys. 1044:589-607. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1044.62632. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1044.62632 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 flea beetles of a previously poorly classified genus, describes and illustrates two species previously unknown to science and provides a key for their identification. The study will be useful to biological control workers, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles. Technical Abstract: West Indian flea beetle genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 is reviewed. Two new species, both from the Dominican Republic are described and illustrated: H. erwini and H. sierramatringarcia. In addition, images of the holotypes of H. portoricensis Blake, H. pulchella Blake, and H. rugosa Blake are provided. Lectotype of H. quatuordecimpunctata (Suffrian, 1868) is designated and illustrated. |
