Revision of the <em>Calotheca nigrotessellata</em> species group from southern Africa, with description of two new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Calotheca Heyden is a mostly sub-Saharan flea beetle genus, comprising twenty-seven species previously included in Blepharida Chevrolat. The examination of new material is revealing a high species richness, as there is high intraspecific variability. Calotheca luteomaculata sp. nov. from Zimbabwe a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paola D'Alessandro, Mattia Iannella, Elizabeth Grobbelaar, Maurizio Biondi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2020-11-01
Series:Fragmenta entomologica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.fragmentaentomol.org/index.php/fragmenta/article/view/457
Description
Summary:Calotheca Heyden is a mostly sub-Saharan flea beetle genus, comprising twenty-seven species previously included in Blepharida Chevrolat. The examination of new material is revealing a high species richness, as there is high intraspecific variability. Calotheca luteomaculata sp. nov. from Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa, and C. luteotessellata sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa are here described and attributed to the C. nigrotessellata (Baly) species group, mainly based on genitalic characters. Photographs of the main diagnostic characters are supplied, including the median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. A forward stepwise discriminant function analysis, using morphometric variables, has been performed. It supports the attribution of the examined specimens to the three species here considered, thus adding characters useful for their identification. Information on geographical distribution and host plants are also provided.
ISSN:0429-288X
2284-4880