Morphometrical aspects of adults of Gratiana spadicea (Klug) Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from Southern Uruguay

Abstract

Morphometrical data of pronotum, elytra, and total length of adult males and females of a Gratiana spadicea population from southern Uruguay are given. Descriptions and illustrations of aedeagus and spermatheca are provided for the first time. Females were significatively larger than males in total length. The coefficient of variation of the aedeagus measures ranged from 3.7% to 7.7%, and those of the spermatheca from 4.1% to 11.2%. The best value for the coefficient of determination was obtained for the reciprocal regression (1/Y = a + bX) of the total length of the aedeagus versus the length from the apex to the basal region of the median lobe.Key words: Chrysomelidae, Morphometrics, Gratiana, Uruguay. RESUMO Aspectos morfométricos de adultos de Gratiana spadicea (Klug) (Coleoptera, chysolelidae) do sul do UruguaiDados morfométricos do pronoto, do elitra e do comprimento total de machos e fêmeas adultos de uma população do sul do Uruguai são apresentados. A primeira descrição e ilustrações do edeago e da espermateca são fornecidos. Em termos de comprimento total, as fêmeas são significativamente maiores do que os machos. O coeficiente de variação das medidas do edeago variou de 3,7% a 7,7%, e o da espermateca, de 4,1% a 11,2%. O melhor valor para o coeficiente de determinação foi obtido para a regressão recíproca (1/Y = a + bX) do comprimento total do edeago versus o comprimento do apex à região basal do lobo mediano.

Allometric growth and adaptive value of exaggerated body parts in the larvae of Gratiana spadicea (Klug) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…Gratiana Spaeth includes seven species distributed throughout the Neotropical region, principally South America (Buzzi, 1994;Borowiec &Świȩtojańska, 2012). Gratiana spadicea inhabits southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay (Kvasina & Ponce De León, 1985;Buzzi, 1994;Becker & Freire, 1996;Ponce De León et al, 1999). Gratiana spadicea inhabits southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay (Kvasina & Ponce De León, 1985;Buzzi, 1994;Becker & Freire, 1996;Ponce De León et al, 1999).…”

“…Five of them are known to feed on Solanum L. (Solanaceae) and tend to be host-specific (Buzzi, 1994;Borowiec &Świȩtojańska, 2012). Gratiana spadicea inhabits southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay (Kvasina & Ponce De León, 1985;Buzzi, 1994;Becker & Freire, 1996;Ponce De León et al, 1999). All life stages of G. spadicea are found in abundance on S. sisymbriifolium from November to May (Kvasina & Ponce De León, 1985;Albuquerque & Becker, 1986;Becker & Frieiro-Costa, 1988).…”

“…It is a Neotropical tortoise beetle that feeds exclusively on Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Solanaceae) (Kvasina & Ponce De León, 1985;Buzzi, 1994;Becker & Freire, 1996;Ponce De León et al, 1999). This plant is a common shrub, considered a weed in some regions of Brazil, occurring mainly in open grasslands and growing spontaneously in altered and quite sunny environments (Groth, 1989;Mentz & Oliveira, 2004).…”