Novel host records of some cassidine leaf beetles from Ecuador (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)

Authors

Wills Flowers, Florida A&M UniversityFollow
Caroline S. Chaboo, University of Kansas, LawrenceFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

9-25-2009

Comments

Published in Insecta Mundi 0095: 1-8. Published in 2009 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P. O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 U. S. A. http://www.centerforsystematicentomology.org/

Abstract

Novel host records and feeding behaviors are reported for five species in three genera of two cassidine beetle tribes, Hemisphaerotini and Imatidiini, from Ecuador. Carludovica Ruiz and Pav. (Cyclanthaceae) is reported as a new plant family and genus host for two species of Spaethiella Barber and Bridwell. Calathea G. Mey (Marantaceae) is reported as the first host record for Aslamidium capense (Herbst) and Calathea lutea Schult. and Calathea majestica (Linden) H. Kenn. are reported as the first host records for Aslamidium semicirculare (Olivier). Immature stages of Demotispa elaeicola (Aslam) are reported for the first time; larvae are external folivores and both larvae and pupae are solitary and lack exuvio-fecal shields. The adults and larvae of D. elaeicola feed by rasping palm fruits, a rare feeding pattern in Cassidinae.

Se informan los registros de plantas hospederas y comportamentos de alimentación nuevos en tres gÈneros de Cassidinae de Ecuador en los tribus Hemisphaerotini y Imatidiini. Se informa de Carludovica Ruiz and Pav. (Cyclanthaceae) como una familia y género nuevo de hospedero para dos especies de Spaethiella Barber y Bridwell. Se informa de Calathea G. Mey (Marantaceae) como el primer registro de alimentación para Aslamidium capense (Herbst), y se informa de Calathea lutea Schult. y Calathea majestica (Linden) H. Kenn. como los primeros registros para Aslamidium semicirculare (Olivier). Los estadios inmaduros de Demotispa elaeicola (Aslam) son informados por la primera vez; las larvas son folivoros externos, y las larvas y pupas son solitarias y carecen escudos exuvio-faecales. Los adultos y larvas se alimentan por raspar las frutas de palmas, un patrón raro para los Cassidinae.