Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 28, 2010
Publication Date: February 9, 2011
Citation: Konstantinov, A.S., Baselga, A., Grebennikov, V.V., Prena, J., Lingafelter, S.W. 2011. Revision of the Palearctic Chaetocnema species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). Zootaxa. 95:1-363. Interpretive Summary: Leaf beetles, and in particular flea beetles, are among the most important insects for U.S. agriculture. Many are serious pests, feed on crops, and destroy valuable plants; many are important biological control agents that can be used to control unwanted weeds. This work revises 75 species of an important and common genus of flea beetle to the Palearctic Region. Seven new flea beetle species are described and nine new synonyms are proposed. Biological and host-plant information for each species is included. An identification key for all the recognized species in this group in the Palearctic Region is included, both in traditional hardcopy format and as an electronic LucID identification tool. All species are illustrated with drawing or photographs. This study will be useful to biological control workers, taxonomists, ecologists, and anyone interested in plant feeding beetles.
Technical Abstract: The Palearctic Chaetocnema species are revised. Seven species are described as new: Chaetocnema belka new species; Chaetocnema bergeali new species; Chaetocnema eastafghanica new species; Chaetocnema franzi new species; Chaetocnema igori new species; Chaetocnema lubischevi new species; Chaetocnema tbilisiensis new species. The following nine synonyms are proposed: Biodontocnema Biondi 2000 = Chaetocnema Stephens 1831; C. altisocia Chen & Wang 1981 = C. psylloides Pic 1909; C. arisi Pic 1915b = C. grandis Pic 1909; C. castillana Bergeal & Doguet 2005 = C. rufofemorata Pic 1915b; C. christinae Heikertinger 1909 = C. subcoerulea Kutschera 1864; C. insolita Allard 1860 = C. sahlbergii Gyllenhal 1827; C. medvedevi Palij 1968 = C. aridula Gyllenhal 1827; C. meridionalis Foudras 1860 = C. obesa Boieldieu 1859; C. ogloblini Palij 1970 = C. ingenua Baly 1877a. Altica chlorophana Duftschmidt 1825 is designated here as the type species of Exorhina Weise. The following two homonyms are proposed: C. insolita Allard 1860 = C. insolita Foudras 1860; C. meridionalis Foudras 1860 = C. meridionalis Allard 1859. Status of three species is restored: C. grandis Pic, C. ljudmilae Lopatin and C. septentrionalis Kimoto. New status is proposed for C. mandschurica Heikertinger, C. pelagica Caillol, and C. transbaicalica Heikertinger. The lectotypes are designated for the following species: C. aeneicolor Pic 1915a, C. aridula Gyllenhal 1827, C. arisi Pic 1915, C. bella Baly 1877a, C. brenskei Pic 1910, C. christinae Heikertinger 1909, C. coyei Allard 1863, C. cylindrica Baly 1874, C. delarouzeei Brisout 1884, C. discreta Baly 1877a, C. grandis Pic 1909, C. granulosa Baly 1874, C. ingenua Baly 1877a, C. jurassica Pic 1915a, C. leonhardi Heikertinger 1951, C. longula Weise 1890, C. mannerheimii Gyllenhal 1827, C. orientalis Bauduér 1874, C. psylloides Pic 1909, C. punctifrons Abeille 1907, C. rufofemorata Pic 1915b, C. sahlbergii Gyllenhal 1827, C. sinuata Weise 1889, C. splendens Motschulsky 1845.