Flea beetles of the West Indies: new combinations and new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)

Authors: Konstantinov, Alexander - Alex

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Biodiversity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2021
Publication Date: 5/14/2021
Citation: Konstantinov, A.S. 2021. Flea beetles of the West Indies: new combinations and new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). Journal of Insect Biodiversity. 25(1):1-27. https://doi.org/10.12976/jib/2021.25.1.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12976/jib/2021.25.1.1

Interpretive Summary: As a result of changes in the flea beetle classification in the last 20 years, the following new combinations are proposed for West Indian flea beetles: Acallepitrix nigrita (Jacoby 1897) comb. nov., Centralaphthona crucifera (Blake 1964) comb. nov., Centralaphthona grenadensis (Jacoby 1897) comb. nov., Centralaphthona inornata (Blake 1949) comb. nov., Centralaphthona insularis (Blake 1964) comb. nov., Centralaphthona lepta (Blake 1964) comb. nov., Centralaphthona nana (Blake 1949) comb. nov., Centralaphthona ruficollis (Blake 1970) comb. nov., Centralaphthona salaisa (Bechyné 1956) comb. nov., Centralaphthona schwarzi (Blake 1949) comb. nov., Dibolia dissita (Blake 1931) comb. nov., Erinaceialtica antennata (Medvedev 2004) comb. nov., Gioia crassicornis (Baly 1877) comb. nov., Homoschema auripennis (Suffrian 1868) comb. nov., Homoschema compressa (Suffrian 1868) comb. nov., Hypolampsis ferruginea (Suffrian 1868) comb. nov., Monomacra pallens (Fabricius 1792) comb. nov., Parchicola androsensis (Blake 1946) comb. nov., Parchicola religata (Jacquelin du Val 1857) comb. nov., Syphrea pauxilla (Suffrian 1868) comb. nov. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Cyrsylus volkameriae (Fabricius 1792), Gioia crassicornis (Baly 1877), Homoschema auripennis (Suffrian 1868), Homoschema compressa (Suffrian 1868), Hypolampsis ferruginea (Suffrian 1868), Monomacra pallens (Fabricius 1792), Syphrea pauxilla (Suffrian 1868). The following new species are described from the Dominican Republic: Cyrsylus lasabejas sp. nov. (Sierra de Baoruco, Las Abejas); Dibolia sierradebaoruco sp. nov. (Sierra de Baoruco, Casete 1); Gioia elcachote sp. nov. (Barahona Province, El Cachote); Syphrea baoruco sp. nov. (Sierra de Baoruco, Las Abejas). New species and representatives of the genera – recipients of new combinations are illustrated.

Technical Abstract: 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 the West Indies, properly classify 20 species by placing them in appropriate genera, and describes and illustrates four species previously unknown to science. The study will be useful to biological control workers, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.