Biology and phenology of three leaf beetle species (Chrysomelidae) in a montane forest in southeast Brazil*

Abstract

The population phenology of the cassidines, Coptocycla arcuata and Omaspides trichroa, and the chrysomeline, Platyphora axillaris, was studied at Serra dos Órgãos National Park, State of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. Monthly surveys of larvae and adults were conducted between 2008 and 2011 at approximately 1000 m altitude on their respective host plants, Cordia polycephala (Boraginaceae), Ipomoea philomega (Convolvulaceae) and Solanum scuticum (Solanaceae). This is the first observation of larviparity and host record for Platyphora axillaris. Although having different life history traits, all species showed similar phenologies. They were abundant from October to March, months of high temperatures and intense rainfall, with two distinct reproductive peaks in the same season. Abundance dropped abruptly during the coldest and driest months, from May to August. Frequently none of these species were recorded during June and July. This phenological pattern is similar to other Chrysomelidae living in subtropical areas of Brazil. Temperature and rainfall appear to be the major factors influencing the fluctuation of these three species.

Elevation and temporal distributions of Chrysomelidae in southeast Brazil with emphasis on the Galerucinae

“…Studies on Chrysomelidae phenologies in mountainous areas at similar latitudes have been showing that these species tend to be more similar to subtropical and temperate species than to those on tropical areas at sea level (e.g. Nogueira-de-Sá et al 2004 , Flinte et al 2015 ). Even though, the difference in abundance was only significant at 1000 m and 1750 m, the relative difference between the means of the dry and the wet seasons was lowest at the lowest site.…”

Chrysomelinae species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and new biological data from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…2 ), with more species recorded in the hot rainy season, from October to January, than during the drier and colder months, between June and August. This seasonal pattern is well-established for the family Chrysomelidae in the area, with annual variation in temperature and precipitation and effects on host plant phenology being likely the main drivers of the temporal dynamics in these beetles ( Flinte et al 2009b , 2011 , 2015 ). This is particularly so because many of the records were made at altitudes above 1000 m, where the pattern normally more closely resembles that found in the subtropical zone (e.g.…”

“… 1 CLEI ; 2 MNRJ ; 3 CEIOC ; 4 MIZA , 5 MPEG ; 6 Olckers 1998 ; 7 Bechyně 1958 ; 8 Sampaio and Monné 2016 ; 9 Flinte et al 2009b ; 10 Flinte et al 2015 . …”

Molecular systematics reveals the origins of subsociality in tortoise beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae)

“…Cassidinae, the second largest subfamily of leaf beetles, comprises close to 6400 species, distributed worldwide (Staines, 2015;Borowiec &Świ ȩtojańska, 2020). Within the subfamily, maternal care (MC) is known in 33 species of tortoise beetles distributed in only 2 of 35 tribes, Eugenysini Hincks, 1952 andMesomphaliini Hope, 1840, both confined to the New World, with most of the diversity in the Neotropical region (Chaboo et al, 2014;Flinte et al, 2015;Macedo et al, 2015). Females care for and defend all immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) over a period of four or more weeks, during which the tending mother largely forgoes feeding and only rarely drinks water (Windsor, 1987;Chaboo et al, 2014).…”

“…with MC recorded/n ∘ of valid spp. ), Acromis Chevrolat (3/3), Paraselenis Spaeth (10/29) and Omaspides Chevrolat (15/40) (Windsor, 1987;Chaboo et al, 2014;Flinte et al, 2015;Macedo et al, 2015). Within the 35 species classified in three genera of Eugenysini, MC is reported in Agenysa Spaeth (1/9) and Eugenysa Chevrolat (4/18) (Chaboo et al, 2014;Macedo et al, 2015) (Table S1).…”