Abstract
The larva and pupa of the sagrine chrysomelid Mecynodera balyi Clark, 1864 are described and life history notes provided for this species. The larva of Mecynodera balyi is spermophagous and feeds inside seed pods of Pandorea, a vine in the Bignoniaceae. This is the first record of larval spermophagy in any chrysomelid other than Bruchinae, the sister subfamily to Sagrinae. Several morphological features of the immature stages are newly recorded for the Sagrinae. The implications of these new data for systematic placement of Sagrinae are discussed.
References
Atlas of Living Australia (2019) Pandorea (Endl.) Spach. Available from: https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2900252 (accessed 20 March 2019)
Australian Plant Census (2019) Vascular plants. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79127623@N00/392820762 (accessed 20 May 2019)
Australian Virtual Herbarium (2019) Pandorea. Available from: https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=pandorea#tab_mapView (accessed 20 March 2019)
Bocak, L., Barton, C., Crampton-PLatt, A., Chesters, D., Ahrens, D. & Vogler, A.P. (2014) Building the tree-of-life for >8000 species: composition of public DNA and fit with Linnaean classification. Systematic Entomology, 39 (1), 97–110.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12037
Bousquet, Y. (2016) Litteratura Coleopterologica (1758–1900): a guide to selected books related to the taxonomy of Coleoptera with publication dates and notes. Zookeys, 583, 1–776.
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.583.7084
Böving, A.G. & Craighead, F.C. (1931) An illustrated synopsis of the principal larval forms of the Order Coleoptera. Entomologica Americana, New Series, 11, 1–351.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6818
Carolin, R. & Tindale, M. (1993) Flora of the Sydney region. Fourth edition. Reed, Chatswood, 840 pp.
Casoti, R., Manfron, M.P. & de Oliviera, J.M.S. (2016) Ovary and fruit morphology and anatomy of Amphilophium crucigerum. Revista Brasiliera de Farmacognosia, 26 (1), 15–20.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.08.006
Clark, H. (1864) Descriptions of new Australian Phytophaga. Journal of Entomology, 2, 247–263.
Costa, C., Vanin, S.A. & Casari-Chen, S.A. (1988) Larvas de Coleoptera do Brasil. Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 282 pp., 165 pls.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.100233
Cox, M.L. (1996) The pupae of Chrysomeloidea. In: Jolivet, P.H.A. & Cox, M.L. (Eds.), Chrysomelidae Biology. Vol. 1. The classification, phylogeny and genetics. Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, pp. 119–265.
Crowson, R.A. (1946) A revision of the genera of the chrysomelid group Sagrinae (Coleoptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London, 97 (4), 75–115.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1946.tb00276.x
Crowson, R.A. (1953) The classification of the families of British Coleoptera (part). Entomologist’s monthly Magazine, 89, 181–198.
Crowson, R.A. (1981) The biology of the Coleoptera. Academic Press, London, xii + 802 pp.
Haddad, S. & McKenna, D.D. (2016) Phylogeny and evolution of the superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia). Systematic Entomology, 41, 697–716.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12179
Harden, G., McDonald, B. & Williams, J. (2007) Rainforest climbing plants. A field guide to their identification in Victoria, New South Wales and subtropical Queensland using vegetative features. Gwen Harden publishing, Nambucca Heads, xvi + 176 pp.
Hnatiuk, R.J. (1990) Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series, 11, xvi + 1–650.
Howell, J. & Benson, D. (2000) Sydney’s bushland: more than meets the eye. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, 128 pp.
Hyland, B.P.M., Whiffin, T., Zich, F., Duffy, S., Gray, B., Elick, R., Venter, F. & Christophel, D. (2010) Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. 6th Edition. Available from: http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/index.html (accessed 20 May 2019)
Jefferies, M. (2010) Mecynodera coxalgica. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogcodes/5269898770/ (accessed 20 March 2019)
Jolivet, P. (1988) Food habits and food selection of Chrysomelidae. Bionomic and evolutionary perspectives. In: Jolivet, P., Petitpierre, E. & Hsiao, T. (Eds.), Biology of Chrysomelidae. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp. 1–24.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3105-3_1
Jolivet, P. & Hawkeswood, T.J. (1995) Host-plants of Chrysomelidae of the world. Backhuys, Leiden, 281 pp.
Kalshoven, L.G.E. (1951) De plagen van de cultuurgewassen in Indonesië. Deel II. Van Hoeve, ‘S-Gravenhage, 551 pp. [pp. 515–1065]
Katsuki, M., Yokoi, T., Funakoshi, K. & Oota, N. (2014) Enlarged hind legs and sexual behavior with male-male interaction in Sagra femorata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Entomological News, Japan, 124, 211–220.
https://doi.org/10.3157/021.124.0306
Kergoat, G., Delobel, A., Le Ru, B. & Silvain, J.-F. (2008) Seed beetles in the age of the molecule: recent advances on systematics and host-plant association patterns. In: Jolivet, P., Santiago-Blay, J. & Schmitt, M. (Eds.), Research on Chrysomelidae Vol. 1. Brill, Leiden, pp. 59–86.
Kimoto, S. (1962) A phylogenetic consideration of Chrysomelinae based on immature stages of Japanese species. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 12, 67–89.
Kingsolver, J.M. & Pfaffenberger, G.S. (1980) Systematic relationship of the genus Rhaebus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Proceedings of the entomological Society of Washington, 82, 293–311.
Lawrence, J.F. & Reid, C.A.M. (2014) 2.7.10 Sagrinae Leach, 1815. In: Leschen, R.A.B. & Beutel, R.G. (Eds.), Coleoptera, beetles. Vol. 3. Morphology and systematics (Phytophaga). De Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 264–270.
Lawrence, J.F. & Ślipiński, S.A. (2013) Australian beetles. Vol. 1. Morphology, classification and keys. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, 561 pp.
https://doi.org/10.1071/9780643097292
Lee, C.-F. (2015) New records of an alien species, Sagra femorata (Drury, 1773), in Taiwan (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Sagrinae). Japanese Journal of systematic Entomology, 21 (2), 269–270.
Leschen, R.A.B. & Beutel, R.G. (2014) Coleoptera, beetles. Vol. 3. Morphology and systematics (Phytophaga). De Gruyter, Berlin, xi + 675 pp.
Li, J., Gu, D. & Tian, M. (2004) Preliminary research on biology of purple stem beetle, Sagra femorata purpurea Lichtenstein (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a natural enemy on kudzu. Natural Enemies of Insects, 26 (1), 43–47. [in Mandarin]
Macleay, W.S. (1826) Annulosa. Catalogue of insects, collected by Captain King, R.N. In: King, P.P. (Ed.), Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia. Performed between the years 1818 and 1822 by Captain Phillip P. King. With an appendix, containing various subjects relating to hydrography and natural history. In two volumes, illustrated by plates, charts, and wood-cuts. Vol. II. Appendix B. John Murray, London, pp. 438–469, pl. B.
Maulik, S. (1941) Biology and morphology of the Sagrinae (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera). Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 11, 7, 235–254, pl. 3.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00222934108527152
May, B. (1994) An introduction to the immature stages of Australian Curculionoidea. In: Zimmerman, E.C. (Ed.), Australian Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea). Vol. II. Brentidae, Eurhynchidae, Apionidae and a chapter on immature stages by Brenda May. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, pp. 365–728.
Medvedev, L.N. (1971) The ways of evolution and phylogeny of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera). Proceedings of the 13th International Congress of Entomology, 1, 271.
Mills, K. & Jakeman, J. (1995) Rainforests of the Illawarra district. Coachwood Publishing, Jamberoo, ii + 143 pp.
Monrós, F. (1955) Biologia y descripcion de la larva de Atalasis sagroides (Col., Chrysomelidae). Revista Agronomica Noroeste Argentino, 1 (3), 275–281.
Monrós, F. (1960) Los géneros de Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera). Opera Lilloana, 3, 1–337, pls. 1–3.
Morse, G. (2014) 2.7.1 Bruchinae Latreille, 1802. In: Leschen, R.A.B. & Beutel, R.G. (Eds.), Coleoptera, beetles. Vol. 3. Morphology and systematics (Phytophaga). De Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 189–198.
O’Brien, D.M., Katsuki, M. & Emlen, D.J. (2017) Selection on an extreme weapon in the frog-legged leaf beetle (Sagra femorata). Evolution, 71 (11), 2584–2598.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13336
Pfaffenberger, G.S. (1990) A description of the final instar larva of Specularius impressithorax. The Coleopterist’s Bulletin, 44 (1), 19–24.
Prevett, P.F. (1971) The larvae of some Nigerian Bruchidae (Coleoptera). Transactions of the royal entomological Society of London, 123 (3), 247–312.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1971.tb00845.x
van Raders, R. (2002) Pandorea pandorana seed pod. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79127623@N00/392820762/ (accessed March 2019)
Reid, C.A.M. (1991) Immature stages of the genera Johannica Blackburn, Lamprolina Baly and Chalcolampra Blanchard (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae). Journal of Natural History, 25, 341–357.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939100770251
Reid, C.A.M. (1995) A cladistic analysis of subfamilial relationships in the Chrysomelidae sensu lato (Chrysomeloidea). In: Pakaluk, J. & Ślipiński, S.A. (Eds.), Biology, phylogeny and classification of Coleoptera: papers celebrating the 80th birthday of Roy A. Crowson. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa, pp. 559–631.
Reid, C.A.M. (2000) Spilopyrinae Chapuis: a new subfamily in the Chrysomelidae and its systematic placement (Coleoptera). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 14, 837–862.
https://doi.org/10.1071/IT00042
Reid, C.A.M. (2014) 2. Chrysomeloidea Latreille, 1802. In: Leschen, R.A.B. & Beutel, R.G. (Eds.), Coleoptera, beetles. Vol. 3. Morphology and systematics (Phytophaga). De Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 11–15.
Reid, C.A.M. (2017) Australopapuan leaf beetle diversity: the contributions of hosts [sic] plants and geography. Austral Entomology, 56 (2), 123–137.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12251
Reid, C.A.M., Beatson, M. & Hasenpusch, J. (2009) The morphology and biology of Pterodunga mirabile Daccordi, an unusual subsocial Chrysomeline (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of Natural History, 43 (5–8), 373–398.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930802586016
Richter, R. (2017) Day of the jewel beetles. Available from: http://photos.rnr.id.au/2015/01/02/ (accessed 10 March 2019)
Robinson, L. (2003) Field guide to the native plants of Sydney. Kangaroo Press, East Roseville, 448pp.
Sekerka, L. (2007) On the genus Rhagiosoma and the identity of R. madagascariense (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Sagrinae: Megamerini). Acta entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 47, 195–202.
Sekerka, L. (2010) Chrysomelinae: Sagrinae. In: Löbl, I. & Smetana, A. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Vol. 6. Chrysomeloidea. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, pp. 61–62.
Sekerka, L. & Voisin, J.-F. (2013) Types of Sagrinae in the collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 49 (4), 413–429.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2014.893681
Ślipiński, S.A. & Escalona, H. (2013) Australian longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Volume 1. Introduction and subfamily Lamiinae. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, xviii + 484 pp.
https://doi.org/10.1071/9781486300044
Stevens, P.F. (2017) Angiosperm phylogeny website. Version 14. July 2017. Available from: http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb (accessed 18 March 2019)
Tandon, P.L., Krishnaiah, K. & Prasad, V.G. (1975) Sagra femorata Durray [sic] (Sagrinae: Chrysomelidae Coleoptera) a new insect pest of Dolichos lablab. Current Science, 44 (21), 786.
Tayade, D.S. (1978) Anatomy of full grown larva of Sagra femorata Drury (Coleoptera: Sagrinae). Mysore Journal of agricultural Science, 12, 286–288.
Walker, J.J. (1906) Antipodean field notes. III—a sketch of the entomology of Sydney, N.S.W. Entomologists monthly Magazine, 17, 22–55.