Taxonomic revision of the Calotheca parvula species group from southern Africa, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

By

D'Alessandro, Paola
Iannella, Mattia
Grobbelaar, Elizabeth
Biondi, Maurizio

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021-4-19

Original Publication

African invertebrates : a journal of biodiversity research

Volume

62

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

315--337

Subjects

Afrotropical region , Alticini , diagnostic key , Galerucinae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Council of the Natal Museum 2001-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.62.62426

 

Abstract

Calotheca Heyden, 1887 is a flea beetle genus that occurs predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, comprising 29 species. The examination of new material is revealing a significantly higher species richness and high intraspecific variability. A group of five species, occurring in the southernmost portion of the distribution range for the genus, is here attributed to the C. parvula species group: C. parvula (Weise, 1908), C. pallida (Bryant, 1945), C. danielssonisp. nov., C. oberprielerisp. nov., and C. prinslooisp. nov. Species in the C. parvula group have strong similarities in body shape and sculpture on the integument, spermathecal shape, and for most species the morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus. A key to species of the Calotheca parvula group is provided along with photographs of the habitus, main diagnostic characters, median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. In addition to the geographic distribution, the available information on the habitat, host plants, and phenology are provided for the five species analysed.