Redescription of Omophoita octoguttata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its immature stages, with notes on life history

Given that many descriptions of Coleoptera were made with only external and superficial characters, an update to the original characterization of species is deemed necessary. This study focuses on updating the know morphological data for the adults of Omophoita octoguttata (Fabricius,1775) (Galerucinae, Alticini), a flea beetle native of southern Brazil. We also give insights on the morphology of its immature stages. The adult can be easily recognized by the pale macula at vertex, six large pale maculae, and two smaller in the humeral region at the elytra. The immatures are similar to other know Oedionychina. Eggs oval and orange. Mature larvae present setae bearing scoli, a reddened body, pygopod present, and lacking stemmata, but with curved hook-like tarsal claws. The pupae present slender black setae through its yellowed body, with the elytral and hind wing thecae curved around the body. The eggs are laid in small clutches in the soil and when the larvae eclode they stay in the aerial parts of plants. The mature larvae form a cocoon of soil matter around themselves for their pupal phase. Morphological remarks for larva and pupa of this species when compared to other members of the genus remain limited, demanding further studies with other species.(AU)

Redescription of Omophoita octoguttata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its immature stages, with notes on life history

Given that many descriptions of Coleoptera were made with only external and superficial characters, an update to the original characterization of species is deemed necessary. This study focuses on updating the know morphological data for the adults of Omophoita octoguttata (Fabricius,1775) (Galerucinae, Alticini), a flea beetle native of southern Brazil. We also give insights on the morphology of its immature stages. The adult can be easily recognized by the pale macula at vertex, six large pale maculae, and two smaller in the humeral region at the elytra. The immatures are similar to other know Oedionychina. Eggs oval and orange. Mature larvae present setae bearing scoli, a reddened body, pygopod present, and lacking stemmata, but with curved hook-like tarsal claws. The pupae present slender black setae through its yellowed body, with the elytral and hind wing thecae curved around the body. The eggs are laid in small clutches in the soil and when the larvae eclode they stay in the aerial parts of plants. The mature larvae form a cocoon of soil matter around themselves for their pupal phase. Morphological remarks for larva and pupa of this species when compared to other members of the genus remain limited, demanding further studies with other species.

Redescription of Omophoita octoguttata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its immature stages, with notes on life history

ABSTRACT Given that many descriptions of Coleoptera were made with only external and superficial characters, an update to the original characterization of species is deemed necessary. This study focuses on updating the know morphological data for the adults of Omophoita octoguttata (Fabricius,1775) (Galerucinae, Alticini), a flea beetle native of southern Brazil. We also give insights on the morphology of its immature stages. The adult can be easily recognized by the pale macula at vertex, six large pale maculae, and two smaller in the humeral region at the elytra. The immatures are similar to other know Oedionychina. Eggs oval and orange. Mature larvae present setae bearing scoli, a reddened body, pygopod present, and lacking stemmata, but with curved hook-like tarsal claws. The pupae present slender black setae through its yellowed body, with the elytral and hind wing thecae curved around the body. The eggs are laid in small clutches in the soil and when the larvae eclode they stay in the aerial parts of plants. The mature larvae form a cocoon of soil matter around themselves for their pupal phase. Morphological remarks for larva and pupa of this species when compared to other members of the genus remain limited, demanding further studies with other species.

Andersonoplatus, a new, remarkable leaf litter inhabiting genus of Monoplatina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

Andersonoplatus, a new genus with 16 new species from Venezuela (A. andersoni, A. bechyneorum, A. castaneus, A. flavus, A. jolyi, A. laculata, A. lagunanegra, A. macubaji, A. merga, A. merida, A. microoculus, A. peck, A. rosalesi, A. sanare, A. saviniae) and Panama (A. baru), is described and illustrated. All the specimens were collected in leaf litter by R. Anderson and S. and J. Peck. Andersonoplatus is compared to Andersonaltica Linzmeier & Konstantinov, Apleuraltica Bechyne, Distigmoptera Blake and Ulrica Scherer.

Morphology of juvenile stages of Kuschelina bergi (Harold) with biological information (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Alticini).

Kuschelina bergi (Harold, 1881) is being studied to be evaluated as a natural enemy of Phyla nodiflora var. minor (Hook.) N. O'Leary & Múlgura (Verbenaceae), an invasive weed in Australia. Eggs, and 1(st) and 3(rd) instar larvae are described and illustrated for the first time. The following characters distinguish Kuschelina bergi: presence of two medial setae in prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum, absence of tubercle on sternum I and eight setae in abdominal segment IX. The 3(rd) instar larvae of Kuschelina bergi resemble Kuschelina gibbitarsa (Say) larvae: the body shape and details of mouthparts are similar, but the morphology of the mandible is different, as is the tarsungulus which has a single seta. Differences between Kuschelina bergi and other known larvae of Oedionychina are discussed. New biological data based on laboratory rearing and field observation are also presented and discussed.

Seasonal pattern of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil / Padrão sazonal de Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) no estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil

The aim of this paper was to describe the seasonal patterns of Chrysomelidae and of its most abundant species at eight sites in different geomorphological and floristic regions in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Samples with Malaise traps, from August 1986 to July 1988 were performed. The Chrysomelidae showed seasonal patterns with the highest abundance in the spring and/or summer at all sites, but with variations in the months of highest captures. Photoperiod was the variable that most influenced the seasonality of Chrysomelidae, and along with temperature and relative humidity, determined most of the seasonal patterns of the family at the different sites. Some dominant species of Chrysomelidae showed different seasonal pattern compared to the family level. A better knowledge of the seasonal distribution patterns of these species will only be possible when their life history, such as host plants and behavior, was better understood.

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever os padrões de sazonalidade de Chrysomelidae e de suas espécies dominantes, capturadas em oito locais de diferentes regiões geomorfológicas e florísticas do estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. As coletas foram realizadas com armadilha Malaise de agosto/1986 a julho/1988. Chrysomelidae apresentou padrão sazonal com picos de abundância na primavera e/ou verão em todos os locais, mas com variações quanto aos meses de maior captura. O fotoperíodo foi a variável com maior influência na sazonalidade de Chrysomelidae e juntamente com a temperatura e umidade relativa, determinaram a maioria dos padrões sazonais da família nos diferentes locais. Algumas das espécies dominantes de Chrysomelidae apresentaram padrão sazonal distinto do observado para a família. O entendimento dos padrões de distribuição das espécies de Chrysomelidae somente será possível quando informações sobre a história de vida, como plantas hospedeiras e comportamento, forem melhor esclarecidas.