Palophaginae, a new subfamily for leaf-beetles, feeding as adult and larva on Araucarian pollen in Australia (Coleoptera : Megalopodidae)

Abstract

A new genus Palophagus and a new subfamily Palophaginae are proposed for a megalopodid chrysomeloid beetle reared from male strobili (cones) of Araucaria bidwillii from south Queensland, Australia. The beetle feeds as adult and larva on pollen. The larva pupates in the soil where it goes through an additional but inactive instar. The beetle shares with Megalopodinae a mesonotal stridulatory organ and the same characteristic male and female genitalia but differs in various other structures. The relationship of the subfamily is discussed. A key to families of Chrysomeloidea based on the male and female genitalia is offered as well as keys to the genera and species of Palophaginae. Palophagus bunyae and P. australiensis are described as new, and Cucujopsis setijer Crowson is transferred from Orsodacninae to Palophaginae and redescribed. Habitus drawings of two adults are provided. The immature stages of Palophagus species are described and illustrated.

Temporal lags and overlap in the diversification of weevils and flowering plants

“…3), which predate most estimates for the timing of first appearance of crown-group angiosperms [fossils Ϸ132-141 Ma (24), molecules Ϸ140-180 Ma (25)]. Conifers are also thought to be the ancestral hosts of the weevil sister group, superfamily Chrysomeloidea (long-horned beetles, leaf-beetles, and allies) (6,26,27). The ancestrally angiosperm-associated sister groups Brentidae and Curculionidae (2) diverged during the earlier Early Cretaceous (ca.…”

Agathomerus (Agathomeroides) flavomaculatus (Coleoptera, Megalopodidae, Megalopodinae): morfologia da larva e do adulto

“…Pouco se sabe sobre os imaturos de Megalopodidae e a única larva conhecida é a de Palophagus bunyae Kuschel, 1990, descrita na subfamília Palophaginae (KUSCHEL & MAY, 1990 Larva (Figs. 1-9).…”

“…Comprimento total, 8,0/8,2; comprimento do protórax, 1,4/ 1,5; maior largura do protórax, 2,2/2,3; comprimento do élitro, 5,9/6,3; largura umeral, 3,6/3,4. Kuschel, 1990(KUSCHEL & MAY, 1990, principalmente, por esta apresentar corpo alongado, pernas 3-segmentadas e espiráculos com tubos anulares. Em A.…”

Chrysomelidae fauna (Coleoptera) of Obedska bara and Mt. Fru?ka gora

“…Tako, na primer, Zeugophora Kunze, 1818 je predstavljala osnovu za formiranje podfamilije Zeugophorinae, Aulacoscelis Duponchel & Chevrolat, 1843 i Janbechynea Monrós, 1953 za Aulacoscelinae, Syneta Dejean, 1835 za Synetinae, itd. Kuschel & May (1990) su predložili novu podfamiliju Palophaginae iz australoazijskog regiona.…”

“…Palophaginae se hrane polenom muških šišarki vrsta roda Araucaria Juss. (Kuschel & May, 1990 (Araucariaceae) (Jolivet & Hawkeswood, 1995). Zeugophorinae se hrane listovima žbunastih i drvenastih biljaka, a moguće je da se neke vrste hrane i polenom.…”