Taxonomic revision of the Calotheca parvula species group from southern Africa, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Calotheca Heyden, 1887 is a flea beetle genus that occurs predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, comprising 29 species. The examination of new material is revealing a significantly higher species richness and high intraspecific variability. A group of five species, occurring in the southernmost portion of the distribution range for the genus, is here attributed to the C. parvula species group: C. parvula (Weise, 1908), C. pallida (Bryant, 1945), C. danielssonisp. nov., C. oberprielerisp. nov., and C. prinslooisp. nov. Species in the C. parvula group have strong similarities in body shape and sculpture on the integument, spermathecal shape, and for most species the morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus. A key to species of the Calotheca parvula group is provided along with photographs of the habitus, main diagnostic characters, median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. In addition to the geographic distribution, the available information on the habitat, host plants, and phenology are provided for the five species analysed.

Calotheca nigromaculata species-group from sub-Saharan Africa with descriptions of two new species from KwaZulu-Natal (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

“…Diagnostic characters at species level, based on morphology, are mainly found on the median lobe of the aedeagus, the pronotum, and in the color of the dorsal integument. The identification of particular species groups relies mainly on the characteristics of the spermatheca and pronotum ( D’Alessandro et al 2020 , 2021 ; Biondi unpublished data). Based on these characteristics C. carolineae sp.…”

“… Calotheca Heyden, 1887 is a flea beetle genus ( Chrysomelidae , Galerucinae , Alticini ) that is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa where is particularly common in the eastern and southern parts, with some records from Israel and the Arabian Peninsula ( Biondi and D’Alessandro 2010a , 2012 ; Biondi et al 2017 ; D’Alessandro et al 2018a ). Up to now this genus comprised 32 species, mainly associated with plants in the family Anacardiaceae , particularly Searsia spp., which are distributed in several different forest and savannah environments ( D’Alessandro et al 2018a , 2020 , 2021 ; Iannella et al 2021 ). The new material under examination is revealing an increase in species richness and intraspecific variability.…”

Calotheca borowieci sp. nov. and C. Orophila sp. nov. from Southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)

“…A shallow medial dimple is sometimes present (smd: Figs 1B, 2B, 3B). It is generally possible to identify species groups based primarily on the morphology of the spermatheca, the median lobe of the aedeagus and, to some extent, other characters of the external anatomy (D'Alessandro et al 2020(D'Alessandro et al , 2021(D'Alessandro et al , 2022.…”

Taxonomy, Habitat Preference, and Niche Overlap of Two Arrow-Poison Flea Beetle Species of the Genus Polyclada in Sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

“…Adult and larval stages feed mainly on the stems, leaves, or roots, but rarely on the flowers, of almost all the higher plant families in different environments, being sometimes classified as pests [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] and generally showing high levels of specialization [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The Afrotropical flea beetle fauna includes about 1600 known species in 103 genera; among them, the genus Polyclada Chevrolat widely occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Sixteen species are currently attributed to the genus, although at least four of these actually belong to different genera, while others await description (Biondi, unpublished data).…”

“…Sixteen species are currently attributed to the genus, although at least four of these actually belong to different genera, while others await description (Biondi, unpublished data). Polyclada belongs to the Blepharida group of genera sensu Furth (1998) [ 16 ], and Prathapan and Chaboo (2011) [ 17 ], along with Diamphidia Gerstaecker, Xanthophysca Fairmaire, and the recently re-evaluated Blepharidina Bechyné and Calotheca Heyden [ 11 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Polyclada species are associated with the Anacardiaceae ( Sclerocarya birrea ) and Burseraceae ( Commiphora spp.)…”