Field survey of Cassidinae beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and their host plants in southern Guangxi, China.

Few systematic studies have been conducted on the faunal composition and food web structure of Cassidinae of China. During 2013-2019, we systematically investigated Cassidinae beetles and their host plants in the southern Guangxi. A total of 2,255 Cassidinae individuals from 66 species, 23 genera and ten tribes were collected in southern Guangxi. Most species belonged to the tribe Hispini (23 species, 34.8%), followed by the tribe Gonophorini (13 species, 19.7%), Cassidini (eight species, 12.1%) and Aspidimorphini (six species, 9.1%). The others (16 species) belonged to the tribes Anisoderini, Botryonopini, Callispini, Oncocephalini, Notosacanthini and Leptispini. The tribe Notosacanthini was recorded from Guangxi for the first time. The genera Neownesia (Botryonopini), Gonophora (Gonophorini), Micrispa (Gonophorini), Notosacantha (Notosacanthini) and Prionispa (Oncocephalini) were firstly recorded in Guangxi. In total, we obtained 47 newly-recorded species in southern Guangxi and 33 newly-recorded species in the whole Guangxi, of which, Callispafrontalis Medvedev, 1992 was newly recorded in China. Dactylispafeae Gestro (625 individuals) and D.chinensis Weise (565 individuals) were the most common species. A total of 69 species, 53 genera and 19 families of host plants were identified for Cassidinae in southern Guangxi. Many host plant associations are new records for Cassidinae. Quantitative food web analysis indicated that Cassidinae species in southern Guangxi primarily fed on Poaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cyperaceae and Rosaceae. Generally, the plant-Cassidinae food webs were moderately complex and stable in southern Guangxi. This is the first large contribution to the knowledge of the species composition and host plant diversity of Cassidinae in southern Guangxi.

Mitochondrial genome characterization and phylogeny of Wallacea dactyliferae Maulik 1919 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from China.

Wallacea dactyliferae Maulik 1919 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has been reported as a new invasive palm pest in Asia recently. So far, a total of 29 species have been reported in Wallacea. In the present study, the whole mitochondrial genome of W. dactyliferae was identified for the first time (also for the first species of Wallacea) by using high throughput sequencing systems. The entire genome is 16,243 bp in length (ACCN: OK513040) consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that insects from the same subfamily were clustered together, with W. dactyliferae being clustered together with other Cassidinae species. This study can provide essential DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses for Chrysomelidae family of the Coleoptera order.

The complete mitochondrial genome of basiprionota bisignata (Boheman, 1862) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Basiprionota bisignata (Boheman, 1862) (a species of leaf beetles) was successfully sequenced, annotated, and analyzed in this study. This mitochondrial genome is a circular DNA molecule of 16,069 bp in size with 78.5% AT content, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and an AT-rich region (control region). The gene order is consistent with the putative ancestral arrangement of insects. All PCGs are initiated by ATN (A/T/C/G) condons and terminated with TAA/G or their incomplete form single T-. All tRNAs can be folded into common clover leaf secondary structures, except for trnS1. The phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using maximum likelihood analysis, and the topology recovered the monophyly of Cassidinae and the sister relationship between Basiprionota and the clade (Thlaspida + Aspidomorph).

Evolutionary Dynamics of Host Organs for Microbial Symbiosis in Tortoise Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae).

Diverse insects host specific microbial symbionts that play important roles for their growth, survival, and reproduction. They often develop specialized symbiotic organs for harboring the microbial partners. While such intimate associations tend to be stably maintained over evolutionary time, the microbial symbionts may have been lost or replaced occasionally. How symbiont acquisitions, replacements, and losses are linked to the development of the host's symbiotic organs is an important but poorly understood aspect of microbial symbioses. Cassidine leaf beetles are associated with a specific gammaproteobacterial lineage, Stammera, whose reduced genome is streamlined for producing pectin-degrading enzymes to assist the host's digestion of food plants. We investigated the symbiotic system of 24 Japanese cassidine species and found that (i) most species harbored Stammera within paired symbiotic organs located at the foregut-midgut junction, (ii) the host phylogeny was largely congruent with the symbiont phylogeny, indicating stable host-symbiont association over evolutionary time, (iii) meanwhile, the symbiont was not detected in three distinct host lineages, uncovering recurrent losses of the ancient microbial mutualist, (iv) the symbiotic organs were vestigial but present in the symbiont-free lineages, indicating evolutionary persistence of the symbiotic organs even in the absence of the symbiont, and (v) the number of the symbiotic organs was polymorphic among the cassidine species, either two or four, unveiling a dynamic evolution of the host organs for symbiosis. These findings are discussed as to what molecular mechanisms and evolutionary trajectories underpin the recurrent symbiont losses and the morphogenesis of the symbiotic organs in the herbivorous insect group. IMPORTANCE Insects represent the biodiversity of the terrestrial ecosystem, and their prosperity is attributable to their association with symbiotic microorganisms. By sequestering microbial functionality into their bodies, organs, tissues, or cells, diverse insects have successfully exploited otherwise inaccessible ecological niches and resources, including herbivory enabled by utilization of indigestible plant cell wall components. In leaf beetles of the subfamily Cassininae, an ancient symbiont lineage, Stammera, whose genome is extremely reduced and specialized for encoding pectin-degrading enzymes, is hosted in gut-associated symbiotic organs and contributes to the host's food plant digestion. Here, we demonstrate that multiple symbiont losses and recurrent structural switching of the symbiotic organs have occurred in the evolutionary course of cassidine leaf beetles, which sheds light on the evolutionary and developmental dynamics of the insect's symbiotic organs and provides a model system to investigate how microbial symbionts affect the host's development and morphogenesis and vice versa.

Functional diversity and trade-offs in divergent antipredator morphologies in herbivorous insects.

Predator-prey interactions may be responsible for enormous morphological diversity in prey species. We performed predation experiments with morphological manipulations (ablation) to investigate the defensive function of dorsal spines and explanate margins in Cassidinae leaf beetles against three types of predators: assassin bugs (stinger), crab spiders (biter), and tree frogs (swallower). There was mixed support for the importance of primary defense mechanisms (i.e., preventing detection or identification). Intact spined prey possessing dorsal spines were more likely to be attacked by assassin bugs and tree frogs, while intact armored prey possessing explanate margins were likely to avoid attack by assassin bugs. In support of the secondary defense mechanisms (i.e., preventing subjugation), dorsal spines had a significant physical defensive function against tree frogs, and explanate margins protected against assassin bugs and crab spiders. Our results suggest a trade-off between primary and secondary defenses. Dorsal spines improved the secondary defense but weakened the primary defense against tree frogs. We also detected a trade-off in which dorsal spines and explanate margins improved secondary defenses against mutually exclusive predator types. Adaptation to different predatory regimes and functional trade-offs may mediate the diversification of external morphological defenses in Cassidinae leaf beetles.

The Cassidinae beetles of Longnan County (Jiangxi, China): overview and community composition.

There are few reports on the community composition and diversity pattern of the Cassidinae species of China. Compared to the neighbouring provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang, the Cassidinae richness in Jiangxi Province is under-reported. Longnan City, a biodiversity hotspot in Jiangxi Province, was chosen to obtain the first overview of the Cassidinae beetles. The sample coverage curves for the three sample sites reached an asymptote which indicated sampling was sufficient for data analysis. A total of eight tribes, 16 genera, 59 species and 1590 individuals of Cassidinae beetles were collected. Most belonged to the tribe Hispini (1121 individuals; 70.5%), followed by the tribe Cassidini (161 individuals; 10.13%) and the tribe Oncocephalini (159 individuals; 10.0%). The remainder (149 individuals) belonged to five tribes (Gonophorini, Basiprionotini, Callispini, Notosacanthini and Aspidimorphini). The tribes Notosacanthini, Aspidimorphini and Oncocephalini were newly recorded for Jiangxi Province. There were 14 families, 27 genera and 39 species of host plants of Cassidinae beetles in Longnan County. Cassidinae larvae mainly feed on the plant families Poaceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae. Most host-plant associations are new reords for the beetle species. This research, together with our planned future work in China, may help to explain the geographical distribution, diversity patterns and host plant associations of these beetles.

A cytogenetic analysis in two species of Cassidinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

Two species of Cassidinae have been chromosomally analyzed, Cassida humeralis Kraatz, 1874 from France, with 2n = 18, 8 + Xyp meioformula and Anacassis fuscata (Klug, 1829) from Uruguay, with 2n = 30, 14 + Xy meioformula. The karyotype of the former is composed of similar meta/submetacentric autosomes, a small X-chromosome and a tiny y-chromosome, as many other Cassida and tribe Cassidini species, whereas that of the latter has four pairs of acro/telocentric autosomes at least and the remaining meta/submetacentrics including the X-chromosome and a tiny y-chromosome, which points out to its probable apomorphic origin by centric fissions, as found in some other species of the tribe Mesomphaliini.

A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 5. Revision of the genus Aethiopocassis Spaeth.

The genus Aethiopocassis Spaeth, 1922 is revised and 31 species are recognized as valid, all distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seven species are described as new: Aethiopocassis angulicollis sp. nov. (Tanzania), Aethiopocassis dewittei sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of Congo), Aethiopocassis garambana sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of Congo), Aethiopocassis guineensis sp. nov. (Guinea), Aethiopocassis huilaensis sp. nov. (Angola), Aethiopocassis longidoana sp. nov. (Tanzania), and Aethiopocassis transvaalensis sp. nov. (Republic of South Africa). The following new synonyms are proposed: Aethiopocassis fugax (Spaeth, 1906) = Cassida (Aethiopocassis) scita Spaeth, 1924 syn. nov.; Aethiopocassis gallarum (Spaeth, 1906) = Cassida deplanata Spaeth, 1906 syn. nov. = Cassida sjoestedti Spaeth, 1906 syn. nov. = Cassida (Aethiopocassis) burensis Spaeth, 1924 syn. nov.; Aethiopocassis pauli (Weise, 1898) = Cassida pauli var. deleta Weise, 1899 syn. nov. = Cassida (Aethiopocassis) alluaudi Spaeth, 1924 syn. nov.; Aethiopocassis silphoides (Spaeth, 1906) = Cassida (Aethiopocassis) silphoides ssp. katangana Spaeth, 1933 syn. nov.; Aethiopocassis suspiciosa (Weise, 1903) = Cassida suspiciosa var. connexa Weise, 1906 syn. nov. = Cassida suspiciosa ssp. picturata Spaeth, 1934 syn. nov. = Cassida manubialis Spaeth, 1906 syn. nov., = Cassida decipiens Spaeth, 1906 syn. nov. = Cassida (Aethiopocassis) maynei Spaeth, 1933 syn. nov. = Aethiopocassis suspiciosa ssp. flavofemorata Spaeth, 1934 syn. nov. = Aethiopocassis maynei ssp. biramosa Spaeth, 1934 syn. nov. Colour photos, including intraspecific variablity, a key to species and maps of distribution are given.

Description of immature stages and biological notes of Cassidisparelicta Medvedev, 1957, a newly recorded species from China (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Hispini).

The first instar and mature larva and pupa of Cassidisparelicta Medvedev, 1957, a newly recorded species from China, are described and figured. The chaetotaxy of the head, mouthparts, legs, and dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body is described. This is the first detailed description of immatures in the genus Cassidispa. Diagnostic characters of this species are compared with other described immatures of some Hispini genera. Biological notes on C.relicta, such as host plants, feeding patterns of adults, structure of larval mines and life history, are also presented.

Description of the last-instar larva and pupa of a leaf-mining hispine - Prionispa champaka Maulik, 1919 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Oncocephalini).

The last-instar larva and pupa of Prionispa champaka Maulik, 1919 are described and figured in detail. The chaetotaxy of the head, mouthparts, legs, and dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body are given. The larva of P. champaka mine in the leaves of Pollia japonica Thunb. (Commelinaceae) and pupate in the base of the mid-ribs. The adults were also observed feeding on the leaves of Pollia siamensis (Carib.) Faden ex D. Y. Hong. The prominent diagnostic characters of immature stages of other species of the three genera of Oncocephalini (Prionispa, Chaeridiona, and Oncocephala) are discussed.

Mitochondrial genome of a leaf-mining beetle Prionispa champaka Maulik (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae).

Prionispa champaka is a leaf-mining species which feeds on Pollia spp. and widely distributes in southern China. The complete mitogenomic sequence of P. champaka (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) was obtained and annotated, with a length of 20,494 bp. It was longer than those of other Chrysomelid species (not including Bruchinae) because of its much longer non-coding sequences. Gene arrangement and content of P. champaka was identical to the most common type in insects, and it was also biased toward AT (accounting for 78.4%). Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial PCGs indicated that P. champaka was closely clustered with 5 other Cassidinae species, supporting the traditional morphological classification within Cassidinae.

Cassida sekerkai sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), a new species from Madagascar.

Cassida sekerkai sp. nov. is described from Madagascar. This species belongs to the group with completely black pronotal and elytral disc.

Mitochondrial genome of Taiwania circumdata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) and phylogenetic analysis.

In this study we sequenced and annotated the nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Taiwania circumdata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), an important insect pest on sweetpotato and water spinach in Southern China. This mitogenome was 13,546 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 19 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and 2 ribosomal RNA unit genes. The T. circumdata mitogenome with an A + T content of 77.9% presented a positive AT-skew (0.126) and a negative GC-skew (-0.160). Eleven PCGs started with a typical ATN codon, whereas the remaining two PCGs used TTG (nad1) and AAT (cox1) as the initial codon. All the 19 tRNAs had a typical secondary cloverleaf structure, except for trnS1 (AGN) which lacked the dihydrouridine arm. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of 13 PCGs recovered a phylogeny of Bruchinae+ ((Galerucinae + Chrysomelinae) + (Criocerinae + Cassidinae)). In Cassidinae, T. circumdata and Laccoptera ruginosa formed a clade, which was sister to three Cassida species.

Checklist of tortoise beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae) from Colombia with new data and description of a new species.

A new tortoise beetle species, Cyrtonota abrili, is described from the Antioquia and Caldas departments in Colombia. New faunistic data are provided for 87 species, including 16 new additions to the country's fauna. A checklist of the known 238 species of tortoise beetles recorded from Colombia is given.

A revision and phylogenetic analysis of Stoiba Spaeth 1909 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

Stoiba Spaeth, 1909 is revised with a phylogenetic analysis of 38 adult morphological characters for nine Stoiba species and 11 outgroup species (Mesomphaliini, Ischyrosonychini, and Hemisphaerotini). Four Cuban species of Stoiba were not sampled. Parsimony analysis located the four most parsimonious trees. The strict consensus (CI=0.59, RI=0.78, Steps=83) resolved the monophyly of Stoiba. The monophyly of Stoiba is supported by pale yellow antennae, antennomere VII broader than its length, and rounded basal line of pronotum. An illustrated key to ten species of Stoiba is provided along with a distribution map of 11 species. Stoiba rufa Blake is synonymized with Stoiba swartzii (Thunberg) by a morphological comparison which includes female genitalia.

Inventário das espécies de Cassidinae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ, Brasil / Inventory of the Cassidinae species (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ, Brazil

É apresentado um levantamento das espécies de Cassidinae que ocorrem no Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro. O Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI) é situado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil e é uma das mais importantes Unidades de Conservação da Mata Atlântica. Pouco se sabe sobre as espécies de Coleoptera desse parque. Dois inventários de Cassidinae foram realizados previamente no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, totalizando 80 espécies para o PNI. O objetivo do trabalho é realizar uma atualização do inventário das espécies e fornecer uma chave de identificação para as tribos de Cassidinae que ocorrem no parque. Foram examinados exemplares da coleção do Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e da Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Em adição, foram realizadas coletas no período de setembro de 2007 a janeiro de 2010. Este estudo resultou em 88 espécies distribuídas em 29 gêneros e sete tribos. Dezenove apresentam novos registros de distribuição sendo que destes, oito são para o Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia.

A survey of the Cassidinae species recorded to the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, state of Rio de Janeiro, is presented. The Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI), is situated in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is one of the most important Mata Atlântica Conservation Unit. Little is known about the species of Coleoptera from this park. Two surveys concerning Cassidinae fauna of Rio de Janeiro were previously done, totaling 80 species recorded to PNI. The main goal of this study is to update the checklist of species as well as to provide an identification key of Cassidinae tribes that occur at the PNI. We examined specimens from the collection of Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. In addition, samples were done from september, 2007 to january, 2010.This study resulted in 88 species distributed in 29 genera and seven tribes. Nineteen species have now new records of distribution, eight of them for the state of Rio de Janeiro, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia.

Altitudinal and temporal distribution of Plagiometriona Spaeth, 1899 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae) in a tropical forest in southeast Brazil.

Species richness and abundance of seven Plagiometriona species on their host plants were studied along a single trail in the mountainous Serra dos Órgãos National Park in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Six sites were chosen along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 1300 m to 2050 m, where all Solanaceae host plants were inspected in search of adults every two months from June 2006 to June 2007. Species richness did not vary clearly with altitude, but abundance increased up to 1800 m, where the highest mean host plant density was found, and abruptly decreased at the last elevational site. Most species showed a restricted distribution and just one occurred across the entire gradient. For at least four species, altitudinal distribution seems to be strongly related to host plant availability, while for the others it is difficult to access which factors are decisive, due to their low numbers. Only in October all species were found in the field, although February was the month with the highest total abundance. Over the course of the study, the greatest abundances were recorded from October to February, comprehending the hottest and rainiest months, and the lowest abundances were found from June to August, which include the coldest and driest months. Thus, species seasonal distribution, supported by other studies in the same area, seems to be related to the local climate.

Datos bionómicos y descripción de los inmaduros de Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), plaga de la palma aceitera (Elaeis guineensis J. ) y de la palma camedor (Chamaedorea elegans Mart. ) (Arecaceae) en Tabasco, México / Bionomics data and descriptions of the immatures of Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), pest of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis J. ) and camedor palm (Chamaedorea elegans Mart. ) (Arecaceae) in Tabasco, Mexico

En el presente trabajo se presentan descripciones de la morfología externa del huevo, instares larvales y pupa de Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman, insecto plaga de la palma aceitera (Elaeis guineensis J.) y de la palma camedor (Chamaedorea elegans Mart.) en el estado de Tabasco, México. Además se aportan algunos datos acerca de la bionomía de esta especie, la cual fue criada en laboratorio sobre plantas jóvenes de palma aceitera.

Characters of the external morphology of egg, larval instars and pupae of Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman, insect pest of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis J.) and camedor palm (Chamaedorea elegans Mart.) in the State of Tabasco, Mexico, are described and illustrated. Some bionomics data are also presented. The specie was reared in the laboratory on young oil palm plants.

Adaptations of two specialist herbivores to movement on the hairy leaf surface of their host, Solanum guaraniticum Hassl (Solanaceae)

Plant trichomes can difficult the attachment and movement of small insects. Here, we examine the hypothesis that the success on the use of densely haired hosts by two cassidine species is determined by differential morphology and behavior. Larvae of Gratiana graminea (Klug, 1829) and Gratiana conformis (Boheman, 1854) move on the leaf surface of their host, Solanum guaraniticum Hassl by anchoring their tarsungulus on the trichome rays or by inserting the tarsungulus tip directly into epidermis. This kind of movement is only possible due to a similar tarsungulus shape among the species. Tarsungulus growth pattern is also similar between species, being relatively small on the posterior aperture, matching the diameter of the host plant trichome rays. The tarsungulus shape associated with differences on ontogenetic growth and attachment pattern allow these two Cassidinae larvae to efficiently move on the pubescent leaf surface of their host.

Os tricomas foliares podem dificultar a fixação e o movimento de pequenos insetos. Neste trabalho, testamos a hipótese de que o sucesso na exploração de plantas com folhas densamente cobertas por tricomas é determinado pela morfologia e comportamento diferenciados em duas espécies de cassidíneos. As larvas de Gratiana graminea (Klug, 1829) e Gratiana conformis (Boheman, 1854) se movem sobre a superfície foliar de sua hospedeira, Solanum guaraniticum Hassl através do ancoramento de seus tarsúngulos no raio dos tricomas estrelados da planta ou da inserção da ponta desta estrutura diretamente na epiderme. Tais tipos de movimento só são possíveis devido à forma dos tarsúngulos, a qual é similar nas duas espécies. O padrão de crescimento dos tarsúngulos das espécies estudadas é também similar e apresenta-se relativamente menor na abertura posterior, correspondente ao diâmetro dos raios dos tricomas estrelados. A forma dos tarsúngulos, associada às diferenças no seu padrão de crescimento permite às larvas destas duas espécies de Cassidinae se moverem com eficiência sobre a superfície pubescente de sua planta hospedeira.