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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414868
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 Longitarsus species from the greater Washington DC region (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Galerucinae Alticini)

Author
item Konstantinov, Alexander

Submitted to: The Coleopterists Bulletin
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/16/2025
Publication Date: 2/28/2025
Citation: Konstantinov, A.S. 2025. A new Longitarsus species from the greater Washington DC region (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Galerucinae Alticini) . The Coleopterists Bulletin. 79(1):27-36. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-79.1.27.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-79.1.27

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 a discovery of a flea beetle species previously unknown to science in the greater Washington DC region. It is described, illustrated, compared to related species and included into a key for species identification. The results of this study will allow for more complete understanding of flea beetles native for the United States and will be useful to biological control workers, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.

Technical Abstract: A new species of Longitarsus Latreille, 1829, L. cohongorooto, with the type locality of Maryland, Montgomery Co., Plummers Island is described. It is illustrated and compared to dark colored Longitarsus species known to occur in the eastern United States. A key for species identification is proposed. Mertensia species (Boraginaceae) is reported as the host plant for flea beetles (Alticini) for the first time. Variability of female genitalic characters is illustrated. The lectotype of Longitarsus traductus Horn, 1889 is designated.