Multiple origins of moss-inhabiting flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): molecular phylogeny, overview of genera and a new genus from Africa
Author
Damaška, Albert František
Author
Konstantinov, Alexander
Author
Fikáček, Martin
text
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
2022
2022-02-07
196
647
676
journal article
10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab112
eb68c3ad-c51a-4828-8a1f-314ed0ba6454
0024-4082
7196247
1C9A93CC-F5BE-427B-95B4-B2B9A1F51B46
IVALIA
JACOBY, 1887
(
FIG. 4
)
Type
species:
Ivalia viridipennis
Jacoby, 1887
, designated by Maulik (1926).
Synonyms: Ancyloscelis
Ogloblin, 1930, synonymized by Scherer (1969);
Amphimeloides
Jacoby, 1887
, synonymized by
Duckett
et al
. (2006)
;
Taizonia
Chen, 1934
, synonymized by
Duckett
et al
. (2006)
;
Schereria
Medvedev, 1984
, synonymized by Gruev & Askevold, (1988).
Phylogenetic position:
The genus belongs to the
Chabria
group, based on both our analyses and
DamaŠka
et al
. (2021)
; the latter study revealed polyphyly of the genus, therefore, the genus will require revision.
Diversity and distribution:
There are 86 known species of
Ivalia
; most species were catalogued by
Nadein (2013a)
listing 67 species.An additional two species were described by
Medvedev (2016)
and a further species by
Takizawa & Konstantinov (2018)
. New species from the
Philippines
were described by
DamaŠka
et al
. (2020)
and from
Japan
by
Takemoto & Suenaga (2021)
. The genus is distributed from
India
and the Himalayas to central
China
,
Japan
and southwards to
Australia
. Most species are described from high mountain ranges (Himalayas, Mt. Kinabalu and New
Guinea
).
Revisions:
The genus has not been revised recently.
Duckett
et al
. (2006)
redescribed the genus, described its larva and established new synonyms; fauna of
Australia
was revised by
Nadein (2013a)
. Synoptic keys were presented by
Medvedev (2009)
for Indochina and
Yang
et al
. (2015)
for
China
and
Taiwan
.
Morphological characteristics:
The morphological features diagnosing
Ivalia
were proposed by
Duckett
et al
. (2006)
and should possibly be revised based on
DamaŠka
et al
. (2021)
. The genus consists mainly of small to large flea beetles (1.5–5.0 mm). General body shape oval to rounded, convex in lateral view. Body colour from black, with or without metallic lustre, to yellow basic colour and variable pattern or dark elytral and pronotal spots. The majority of species are wingless. Head nearly hypognathous, antennal shape from long and slender to relatively short, with distal antennomeres somewhat widened, frontal calli poorly developed (
Nadein, 2013a
;
Takizawa & Konstantinov, 2018
). Pronotum usually about twice as wide as long, convex, on apical margins sometimes with rounded lobes visible anterolaterally. Pronotal margin with a setiferous pore situated in the apical half of the pronotal length. Procoxal cavities widely open posteriorly.The anterior process of the metaventrite expanding between the mesocoxae partially covering the mesoventrite, similar to that of
Clavicornaltica
and
Cangshanaltica
. Metaventral intercoxal process surface excavated, forming a horseshoe-shaped structure (as in
Cangshanaltica
). Metafemora strongly curved in many species, some described species bearing straight metafemora (
Takizawa & Konstantinov, 2018
). Metatibiae with a long apical spur, proximal metatarsomere elongated. Vaginal palpi fused basally, with apices widely separated. Spermatheca simply formed, with duct not bearing coils. Aedeagus usually simple with long, wide and flat apex.
Ecology:
In most species the ecology is not known, but all species with known biology are associated with mosses and known larvae feed on mosses (
Duckett
et al.
, 2006
;
Takizawa & Konstantinov, 2018
;
Takemoto & Suenaga, 2021
). The majority of known species are described from high elevations up to
3500 m
, but mid-elevation and lowland species are known as well (
DamaŠka & Aston, 2019
;
Takemoto & Suenaga, 2021
).
Remarks:
Diagnoses from
Clavicornaltica
and
Cangshanaltica
were mentioned above.
Ivalia
is also similar to
Phaelota
Jacoby, 1887
, from which it can be distinguished by the morphology of procoxal cavities, closed posteriorly in
Phaelota
, open in
Ivalia
(
Konstantinov
et al.
, 2013
)
.