A review of the leaf-beetle genus Sinoluperus Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) from China, with the description of a new species.

In this study, all species of the leaf-beetle genus Sinoluperus Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 from China are redescribed based on the reexamination of type specimens, and a new species, S.variegatussp. nov. from Nanling Mountains, is described. A key to the three Chinese species of Sinoluperus is provided, as well as photographs of the habiti and aedeagi of these species.

Characterization of Four Complete Mitogenomes of Monolepta Species and Their Related Phylogenetic Implications.

Monolepta is one of the diverse genera in the subfamily Galerucinae, including 708 species and 6 sub-species worldwide. To explore the information on the mitogenome characteristics and phylogeny of the section "Monoleptites", especially the genus Monolepta, we obtained the newly completed mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of four Monolepta species using high-throughput sequencing technology. The lengths of these four new mitochondrial genomes are 16,672 bp, 16,965 bp, 16,012 bp, and 15,866 bp in size, respectively. All four mitochondrial genomes include 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and one control region, which is consistent with other Coleoptera. The results of the nonsynonymous with synonymous substitution rates showed that ND6 had the highest evolution rate, while COI displayed the lowest evolution rate. The substitution saturation of three datasets (13 PCGs_codon1, 13 PCGs_codon2, 13 PCGs_codon3) showed that there was no saturation across all datasets. Phylogenetic analyses based on three datasets (ND1, 15 genes of mitogenomes, and 13 PCGs_AA) were carried out using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The results showed that mitogenomes had a greater capacity to resolve the main clades than the ND1 gene at the suprageneric and species levels. The section "Monoleptites" was proven to be a monophyletic group, while Monolepta was a non-monophyletic group. Based on ND1 data, the newly sequenced species whose antennal segment 2 was shorter than 3 were split into several clades, while, based on the mitogenomic dataset, the four newly sequenced species had close relationships with Paleosepharia. The species whose antennal segment 2 was as long as 3 were split into two clades, which indicated that the characteristic of "antennal segment 2 as long as 3" of the true "Monolepta" evolved multiple times in several subgroups. Therefore, to explore the relationships among the true Monolepta, the most important thing is to perform a thorough revision of Monolepta and related genera in the future.

Revision of Aplosonyx Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) from China, with descriptions of three new species.

In this study, 21 species of the leaf-beetle genus Aplosonyx in China are described, including three new species, Aplosonyxancorellasp. nov., Aplosonyxnigricornissp. nov. and Aplosonyxwudangensissp. nov., and 1 new record, Aplosonyxduvivieri Jacoby, 1900. Additionally, Aplosonyxancorafulvescens Chen, 1964 is elevated to species. A key to the Chinese species of Aplosonyx is provided.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Distenia punctulatoides (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea: Disteniinae) and its phylogenetic implications.

The family Disteniidae is a moderately large and widely distributed lineage. Distenia punctulatoides belongs to the family Disteniidae from the cerambycoid assemblage. Here, we report the complete mitogenome of D. punctulatoides, which is 15,675 bp in length. It contains 37 genes and a noncoding control region, which are arranged in the same order as that of the putative ancestor of beetles. The total base composition of the new mitogenome is 40.2% for A, 17.1% for C, 10.0% for G, and 32.7% for T. The new mitogenomic organization, nucleotide composition, and codon usage do not differ significantly from other beetles. Using available complete mitogenomes, the high-level phylogeny of the family Disteniidae was explored. The phylogenetic analyses showed that Disteniidae were monophyletic, and the genus Distenia grouped with the genus Clytomelegena as sister groups. Combining the morphological and molecular data, Typodryas Thomson, 1864 is suggested to be a junior synonym of Distenia Lepeletier and Audinet-Serville, 1828.

Parallel metatranscriptome analysis reveals degradation of plant secondary metabolites by beetles and their gut symbionts.

Switching to a new host plant is a driving force for divergence and speciation in herbivorous insects. This process of incorporating a novel host plant into the diet may require a number of adaptations in the insect herbivores that allow them to consume host plant tissue that may contain toxic secondary chemicals. As a result, herbivorous insects are predicted to have evolved efficient ways to detoxify major plant defences and increase fitness by either relying on their own genomes or by recruiting other organisms such as microbial gut symbionts. In the present study we used parallel metatranscriptomic analyses of Altica flea beetles and their gut symbionts to explore the contributions of beetle detoxification mechanisms versus detoxification by their gut consortium. We compared the gut meta-transcriptomes of two sympatric Altica species that feed exclusively on different host plant species as well as their F1 hybrids that were fed one of the two host plant species. These comparisons revealed that gene expression patterns of Altica are dependent on both beetle species identity and diet. The community structure of gut symbionts was also dependent on the identity of the beetle species, and the gene expression patterns of the gut symbionts were significantly correlated with beetle species and plant diet. Some of the enriched genes identified in the beetles and gut symbionts are involved in the degradation of secondary metabolites produced by plants, suggesting that Altica flea beetles may use their gut microbiota to help them feed on and adapt to their host plants.

Revision of Sphenoraia Clark, 1865 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) from China, with descriptions of two new species.

In this study, ten species of Sphenoraia Clack, 1865 are recognized and re-described: Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) anjiensis Yang & Li, 1998, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) berberii Jiang, 1992, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) duvivieri (Laboissière, 1925), Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) haizhuensis Yang, 2021, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) micans (Fairmaire, 1888), Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) nebulosa (Gyllenhal, 1808), Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) nigromaculata Jiang, 1992, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) punctipennis Jiang, 1992, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) rutilans (Hope, 1831), and Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) yajiangensis Jiang, 1992. Two new species, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraia) decemmaculata Feng, Yang & Liu, sp. nov. and Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) flavomarginata Feng, Yang & Li, sp. nov., are described. Additionally, Sphenoraia (Sphenoraia) cupreata Jacoby, 1890 and Sphenoraia (Sphenoraia) nigra Wang, Li & Yang, 2000 are transferred from Sphenoraia to Gallerucida. A key to the 12 Chinese species of Sphenoraia is given.

Notes on spotted-elytron species of Gallerucida Motschulsky with the description of six new species from China (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae).

In this study, fifteen species of Gallerucida Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), with spotted elytra, from China are reviewed, including one new record: G.balyi (Duvivier, 1885), six new species: G.fortispina Xu & Yang, sp. nov., G.levifasciata Xu & Nie, sp. nov., G.nigrovittata Xu & Yang, sp. nov., G.octodecimpunctata Xu & Yang, sp. nov., G.piceusfasciata Xu & Yang, sp. nov., G.rufipectoralis Xu & Nie, sp. nov., and Aplosonyxgansuica (Chen, 1942), comb. nov. is removed from genus Gallerucida. A key to the spotted-elytron species of Gallerucida from China is given as well as habitus photographs of the related species and Aplosonyxgansuica comb. nov. and photographs of the aedeagus of each new species.

Five new species of the leaf-beetle genus Monolepta Chevrolat (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) from China.

In this study, five new species of the leaf-beetle genus Monolepta Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) are described from China: M.albipunctata sp. nov., M.alticola sp. nov., M.bivittata sp. nov., M.mengsongensis sp. nov., and M.rubripennis sp. nov. A key and catalogue to the 68 Chinese species of Monolepta with the second and third antennomeres of equal length are given as well as photographs of the habitus and aedeagus of the new species and type habitus images of 37 known species.

The draft genome of the specialist flea beetle Altica viridicyanea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

BACKGROUND: Altica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a highly diverse and taxonomically challenging flea beetle genus that has been used to address questions related to host plant specialization, reproductive isolation, and ecological speciation. To further evolutionary studies in this interesting group, here we present a draft genome of a representative specialist, Altica viridicyanea, the first Alticinae genome reported thus far. RESULTS: The genome is 864.8 Mb and consists of 4490 scaffolds with a N50 size of 557 kb, which covered 98.6% complete and 0.4% partial insect Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. Repetitive sequences accounted for 62.9% of the assembly, and a total of 17,730 protein-coding gene models and 2462 non-coding RNA models were predicted. To provide insight into host plant specialization of this monophagous species, we examined the key gene families involved in chemosensation, detoxification of plant secondary chemistry, and plant cell wall-degradation. CONCLUSIONS: The genome assembled in this work provides an important resource for further studies on host plant adaptation and functionally affiliated genes. Moreover, this work also opens the way for comparative genomics studies among closely related Altica species, which may provide insight into the molecular evolutionary processes that occur during ecological speciation.

A monograph of the genus Maladera Mulsant amp; Rey, 1871 of China (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini).

In the present monograph, the taxonomy of the species of the genus Maladera Mulsant Rey, 1871 from China is revised. We recorded 224 valid species for China, including 152 species new to science: Maladera allonitens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. anhuiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. apicalis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. aptera Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. baii Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. baishaoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bansongchana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. baoxingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bawanglingana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bawanglingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. beibengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. beidouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bikouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. breviclava Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bubengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. businskyorum Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. chenzhouana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. constellata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. crenatotibialis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. crenolatipes Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. daanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dadongshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dahongshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dajuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. danfengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dayaoshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. diaolinensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. emeifengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. enigma Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. erlangshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. eshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. excisilabrata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fangana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fangchengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fencli Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fengyangshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fereobscurata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. filigraniforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. flavipennis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fuanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guangdongana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guangzhaishanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guanxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guanxiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guomenshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guomenshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. gusakovi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. haba Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. habashanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hajeki Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hansmalickyi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hongyuanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. houzhenziensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hsui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. huanianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hubeiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hunanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hunuguensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hutiaoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jaroslavi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jatuai Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jiangi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jingdongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jinggangshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jinghongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jiucailingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jizuana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. juntongi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. juxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. kalawensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. kryschanowskii Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. kubeceki Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. laocaiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. lianxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. liaochengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. liwenzhui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. longruiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. luoxiangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. lushanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. lushuiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. maguanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. maoershana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. mupingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. nabanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. nanlingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. nanpingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. ninglangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. panyuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. parabrunnescens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. paradetersa Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. paranitens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. paraserripes Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. parobscurata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. peregoi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pieli Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pingchuanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudoconsularis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudoegregia Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudoexima Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudofuscipes Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudonitens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudosenta Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. putaodiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. qianqingtangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. queinneci Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. riberai Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. robustula Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. rubriventris Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. rufonitida Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. rufopaca Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. sanqingshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. serratiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shaluishanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shangraoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shaowuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shenglongi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shengqiaoae Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shiniushanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shiruguanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shiwandashanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shoumanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. sinobiloba Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. snizeki Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. songi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. taiyangheensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tengchongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tiachiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tiammushanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tiani Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tianzushanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tongzhongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. trifidiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. uncipenis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wandingana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. weni Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wipfleri Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wulaoshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wuliangshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wupingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xingkei Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xingkeyangi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xinqiaoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xuezhongi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yakouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yangi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yibini Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yipinglangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yongrenensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yunnanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. zhejiangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n. The work also resulted in nine new combinations and 17 new synonyms: Maladera (subgenus Omaladera Reitter, 1896) (= Cephaloserica Brenske, 1900, syn. n.; = Coronoserica Brenske, 1902, syn. n.); Maladera formosae (Brenske, 1898) (= Autoserica castanea Arrow, 1913, syn. n.; = Serica korgei Petrovitz, 1967, syn. n.); Maladera motschulskyi (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica furcillata Brenske, 1897, syn. n.; Serica schoenfeldti Murayama, 1937, syn. n.); Maladera pallida (Burmeister, 1855) comb. n. (= Maladera ludipennis Miyake, Yamaguchi Aoki 2002, syn. n.); Maladera renardi (Ballion, 1870) (= Serica delicta Brenske, 1897, syn. n.); Maladera secreta (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica cruralis Frey, 1972, syn. n.); Maladera verticalis (Fairmaire, 1888) (= Autoserica hiekei Frey, 1972, syn. n.); Maladera futschauana (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica atavana Brenske, 1902, syn. n.; = Autoserica montivaga Moser, 1915, syn. n.); Maladera aureola (Murayama, 1938) (= Maladera liotibia Nomura, 1974, syn. n.); Maladera brunnescens (Frey, 1972) comb. n., Maladera exima (Arrow, 1946) comb. n., Maladera gansuensis (Miyake Yamaya, 2001) comb. n., Maladera nigrobrunnea (Moser, 1926) comb. n., Maladera orientalis (Motschulsky, 1858) (= Serica salebrosa Brenske, 1897, syn. n.; =Autoserica davidis Brenske, 1898, syn. n.; = Serica mirabilis Brenske, 1894, syn. n.), Maladera punctulata (Frey, 1972) comb. n., Maladera rotunda (Arrow, 1946) comb. n., Maladera serripes (Moser, 1915) comb. n., Maladera senta (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica subspinosa Brenske, 1898, syn n.); Maladera spissigrada (Brenske, 1897) (= Serica nakayamai Murayama, 1938, syn. n.); Maladera tibialis (Brenske, 1898) comb. n. The lectotypes of the following species were designated: Autoserica furcillata Brenske, 1897, A. cariniceps Moser, 1915, A. diversipes Moser, 1915, A. flammea Brenske, 1898, A. fuscipes Moser, 1915, A. gibbiventris Brenske, 1897, A. hongkongica Brenske, 1898, A. obscurata Moser, 1915, A. piceola Moser, 1915, Serica delicta Brenske, 1897, S. exigua Brenske, 1894, S. nigrobrunnea Moser, 1926, S. orientalis Motschulsky, 1858, S. pallida Burmeister, 1855, S. salebrosa Brenske, 1897, and S. sibirica Brenske, 1897. Keys to the subgenera and species groups of Maladera, as well as a key to the species within each species-group are provided. Furthermore, we provide maps of the species distribution, as well as illustrations of the habitus and male genitalia.

The Relationship between Genus/Species Richness and Morphological Diversity among Subfamilies of Jewel Beetles.

A positive correlation between the species richness and morphological diversity of some organisms has been found in almost all studies at the local community scale. However, this documented relationship has not always been consistent because of diverse niches and the status of an organism in an ecosystem. Global taxon sampling, new morphological approaches, and consideration of more taxonomic categories other than species level are possible methods to further investigate this contradiction. In this study, we proposed a new paradigm for higher taxa biodiversity analysis based on a cosmopolitan dataset. A total of 1106 species from around the world representing all subfamilies and 33% genera of Buprestidae (jewel beetles) were selected to test the correlation between morphological diversity (MD) and genus/species richness (GR/SR) among subfamilies. The MD was quantified by the contours of the pronotum and elytron in dorsal view based on a geometric morphometric approach. The positive correlation between MD and GR was found in all test combinations, but was irrelevant in the species-level test. Interestingly, the correlation between MD and GR was higher than MD and SR in both pronotum and elytron measurements. Additionally, the MD of the pronotum is obviously higher than the MD of the elytron. Our results demonstrate that the geometric morphometric approach could quite accurately reveal diversity patterns of the family Buprestidae. Future studies on different groups, using more characters, more analyses and detailed biological interpretations, are required to fully understand the relationship between MD and SR.

A new Himalayan species of Alfieriella (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae).

A new species of Alfieriella Wittmer, 1935 (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae), Alfieriella senguptai sp. n. from China and India, is described. This is the first formal record of the genus Alfieriella and the tribe Hypocoprini from the Himalayan region. Alfieriella senguptai is the largest member of Alfieriella, and its presence in a cold, high-altitude environment conforms to Bergmann's rule. The distribution of the genus Alfieriella may be associated with the breakup of the Tethys Ocean and the origin of A. senguptai influenced by the Himalayan orogeny. A distribution map and a key to species of Alfieriella are also provided.

Gut bacterial communities and their contribution to performance of specialist Altica flea beetles.

Host plant shifts are a common mode of speciation in herbivorous insects. Although insects can evolve adaptations to successfully incorporate a new host plant, it is becoming increasingly recognized that the gut bacterial community may play a significant role in allowing insects to detoxify novel plant chemical defenses. Here, we examined differences in gut bacterial communities between Altica flea beetle species that feed on phylogenetically unrelated host plants in sympatry. We surveyed the gut bacterial communities of three closely related flea beetles from multiple locations using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The results showed that the beetle species shared a high proportion (80.7%) of operational taxonomic units. Alpha-diversity indicators suggested that gut bacterial diversity did not differ among host species, whereas geography had a significant effect on bacterial diversity. In contrast, analyses of beta-diversity showed significant differences in gut bacterial composition among beetle species when we used species composition and relative abundance metrics, but there was no difference in composition when species presence/absence and phylogenetic distance indices were used. Within host beetle species, gut bacterial composition varied significantly among sites. A metagenomic functionality analysis predicted that the gut microbes had functions involved in xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism as well as metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. These predictions, however, did not differ among beetle host species. Antibiotic curing experiments showed that development time was significantly prolonged, and there was a significant decline in body weight of newly emerged adults in beetles lacking gut bacteria, suggesting the beetles may receive a potential benefit from the gut microbe-insect interaction. On the whole, our results suggest that although the gut bacterial community did not show clear host-specific patterns among Altica species, spatiotemporal variability is an important determinant of gut bacterial communities. Furthermore, the similarity of communities among these beetle species suggests that microbial facilitation may not be a determinant of host plant shifts in Altica.

A new genus of Languriinae from Mexico (Coleoptera, Erotylidae), with comments on the potential mimic phenomenon of some languriines.

A new genus of Languriinae, Tomolanguria Huang, gen. nov. is erected for a single species, Languria aculeata Gorham, 1887 from Mexico. It is similar to the Neotropical genus Languria Latreille, 1802. The differential diagnosis of this new genus is based on the structural features of the elytral apices and slight impressions present on each elytron. Languria aculeata is designated as the type species of the new genus. This species is redescribed and illustrated (all the three specimens examined are shown in the dorsal, ventral, and lateral views). Finally, a mimic relationship between this new genus and genus Paederus Fabricius, 1775 (Staphylinidae) is discussed.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the seed-borer weevil, Bruchidius uberatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae).

In this study, the complete 15,892 bp mitochondrial genome of Bruchidius uberatus (Fåhraeus) was sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq6000 platform. The mitogenome is a double-stranded circular molecule of 15,892 bp in length with 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes and two ribosomal RNA genes as in other insects. Twenty-five species from 8 subfamilies of Chrysomelidae were selected as ingroups and 3 species of Lamiinae as outgroups for phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenome. The results showed that the subfamily Bruchinae was monophyly. Genus Bruchidius had more closed relationship with Acanthoscelides than Callosobruchus in Bruchinae with high support values.

A taxonomic review of the genus Callilanguria Crotch, 1876 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languriinae).

A worldwide review of the genus Callilanguria is presented. Three new species are described: C. weiweii Huang Yang, sp. nov. from Sabah, Malaysia; C. helleri Huang Yang, sp. nov. from Panay, the Philippines; and C. nigripes Huang Yang, sp. nov. from Samar Island, the Philippines. Callilanguria scrupulosa Heller, 1918 is transferred to the genus Doubledaya. The other species are C. eximia Fowler, 1885; C. gorhami Villiers, 1945; C. asymmetrica Heller, 1900; C. ruficeps Achard, 1923; C. milloti Villiers, 1945; C. stenosoma (Harold, 1879); C. flaviventris Fowler, 1886; C. wallacii Crotch, 1876; and C. luzonica Crotch, 1876. In total, twelve species are recognized in the genus Callilanguria, and a key to the described species of the genus is provided.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculates (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) and a related phylogenetic analysis of Chrysomelidae.

In this study, the complete 17,809 bp mitochondrial genome of Callosobruchus maculates (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) was sequenced using Illumina's HiSeq2000 platform. The mitogenome is a double-stranded circular molecule of 17,809 bp in length with 21 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes as in other insects. Specially, there is a 2008 bp-inserted segment between ND2 and tRNA-Trp from 1180 to 3187, which cannot be aligned to any known gene of mitogenomes. To estimate the taxonomic status of Bruchinae, total 17 species from eight subfamilies of Chrysomelidae were selected as ingroups and three species of Lamiinae as outgroups for phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenome. The results showed that three major lineages were formed, including a basal 'Eumolpine' clade (Cassidinae, Eumolpinae, Cryptocephalinae, Clytrinae), ''Criocerine' clade (Criocerinae, Bruchinae) and 'Chrysomeline' clade (Chrysomelinae, Galerucinae s. l.). Bruchinae showed more closed relationship with Criocerinae than other subfamilies. More thorough taxon sampling will be needed to well understand the relationship in Chrysomelidae.

The phylogeny of Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the performance of mitochondrial genomes in phylogenetic inference compared to nuclear rRNA genes.

With efficient sequencing techniques, full mitochondrial genomes are rapidly replacing other widely used markers, such as the nuclear rRNA genes, for phylogenetic analysis but their power to resolve deep levels of the tree remains controversial. We studied phylogenetic relationships of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the tribes Galerucini and Alticini (root worms and flea beetles) based on full mitochondrial genomes (103 newly sequenced), and compared their performance to the widely sequenced nuclear rRNA genes (full 18S, partial 28S). Our results show that: (i) the mitogenome is phylogenetically informative from subtribe to family level, and the per-nucleotide contribution to nodal support is higher than that of rRNA genes, (ii) the Galerucini and Alticini are reciprocally monophyletic sister groups, if the classification is adjusted to accommodate several 'problematic genera' that do not fit the dichotomy of lineages based on the presence (Alticini) or absence (Galerucini) of the jumping apparatus, and (iii) the phylogenetic results suggest a new classification system of Galerucini with eight subtribes: Oidina, Galerucina, Hylaspina, Metacyclina, Luperina, Aulacophorina, Diabroticina and Monoleptina.

Geometric morphometrics analysis of the hind wing of leaf beetles: proximal and distal parts are separate modules.

The success of beetles is mainly attributed to the possibility to hide the hindwings under the sclerotised elytra. The acquisition of the transverse folding function of the hind wing is an important event in the evolutionary history of beetles. In this study, the morphological and functional variances in the hind wings of 94 leaf beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelinae) is explored using geometric morphometrics based on 36 landmarks. Principal component analysis and Canonical variate analysis indicate that changes of apical area, anal area, and middle area are three useful phylogenetic features at a subtribe level of leaf beetles. Variances of the apical area are the most obvious, which strongly influence the entire venation variance. Partial least squares analysis indicates that the proximal and distal parts of hind wings are weakly associated. Modularity tests confirm that the proximal and distal compartments of hind wings are separate modules. It is deduced that for leaf beetles, or even other beetles, the hind wing possibly exhibits significant functional divergences that occurred during the evolution of transverse folding that resulted in the proximal and distal compartments of hind wings evolving into separate functional modules.