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Issue: Vol. 5306 No. 2: 20 Jun. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-06-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5306.2.6
Page range: 266-276
Abstract views: 366
PDF downloaded: 20

Three new species of Merma Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachnini) from Madagascar

Museum and Institute of Zoology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Wilcza 64; 00-679; Warsaw; Poland
Museum and Institute of Zoology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Wilcza 64; 00-679; Warsaw; Poland
Coleoptera Coccinelloidea taxonomy ladybird beetles herbivory new species cryptic species

Abstract

The herbivorous ladybird genus Merma Weise was regarded as an African endemite, however, recent examination of the type material of the two Malagasy species Epilachna hovana Sicard,1908 [now Merma hovana (Sicard,1908)] and Peralda quadriguttata Sicard, 1909 [now Merma quadriguttata (Sicard, 1909)], revealed they also belong to that genus. Here further three new species of Merma from Madagascar, M. ankarana sp. nov., M. antakotako sp. nov. and M. fisheri sp. nov., are described, diagnosed and illustrated. An updated key to species of Merma from Madagascar is also provided.

 

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