Biology, Ecology, and Management of Flea Beetles in Brassica Crops

Brassica vegetable and oilseed crops are attacked by several different flea beetle species (Chrysomelidae: Alticini). Over the past decades, most research has focused on two Phyllotreta species, Phyllotreta striolata and Phyllotreta cruciferae, which are major pests of oilseed rape in North America. More recently, and especially after the ban of neonicotinoids in the European Union, the cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala, has become greatly important and is now considered to be the major pest of winter oilseed rape in Europe. The major challenges to flea beetle control are the prediction of population dynamics in the field, differential susceptibility to insecticides, and the lack of resistant plant cultivars and other economically viable alternative management strategies. At the same time, many fundamental aspects of flea beetle biology and ecology, which may be relevant for the development of sustainable control strategies, are not well understood. This review focuses on the interactions between flea beetles and plants and summarizes the literature on current management strategies with an emphasis on the potential for biological control in flea beetle management.

Two new species of the Longitarsusviolentus group from China (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Two new species of Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 from China are described: L.pekingensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Beijing) and L.xinjiangensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Xinjiang). Images of dorsal and lateral habitus, pronotum, head, and male and female genitalia are provided. The records of Longitarsusviolentus Weise, 1893 and Longitarsusweisei Guillebeau, 1895 in China are discussed. Holotypes of L.marguzoricus Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 and L.violentoides Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 are illustrated with images of pronotum and median lobe of aedeagus. A key to species of L.violentus species group is provided.

Description of three new species of Benedictus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) from China, with comments on their biology and modified ethanol traps for collecting flea beetles

The diversity and biology of the moss and leaf litter-inhabiting flea beetles are still poorly known. In this study, three new species of Benedictus are described from China: Benedictusfuanensis Ruan & Konstantinov, sp. nov., Benedictusquadrimaculatus Ruan & Konstantinov, sp. nov., and Benedictuswangi Ruan & Konstantinov, sp. nov. Comments on their biology are given. Benedictusquadrimaculatus has a highly unusual morphological feature not reported before in flea beetles: black spots on the abdominal tergites that are visible through the elytra. Traditional and modified ethanol traps were tested and proven useful for collecting leaf litter- and moss-inhabiting flea beetles. Based on our tests, eight traps could collect one specimen each day in the testing sites in Fujian Province; three traps could collect one specimen each day in the testing sites in Guangdong Province.

Contributions to the knowledge of Chinese flea beetle fauna (II): Baoshanaltica new genus and Sinosphaera new genus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Two new genera: Baoshanalticagen. n. and Sinosphaeragen. n., and two new species: Baoshanaltica minutasp. n. and Sinosphaera apterasp. n. from south-west China are described and illustrated. Baoshanaltica is compared to the allied moss-inhabiting genera Cangshanaltica Konstantinov et al. and Phaelota Jacoby, in addition to Minota Kutschera. Sinosphaera is compared to Sphaeroderma Stephens, Omeisphaera Chen & Zia, Jacobyana Maulik, and Kamala Maulik.

Review of the West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyné (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) with description of five new species

The West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyné is reviewed, redescribed and illustrated. Five new species are added: Monotalladominica sp. n. (Dominica); Monotallalecticofolia sp. n. (St. Lucia); Monotallamaierae sp. n. (St. Lucia); Monotallaobrienorum sp. n. (Grenada); and Monotallaviridis sp. n. (St. Lucia). A key to Monotalla species is provided.

Revision of Chaetocnemasemicoerulea species-group (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) in China, with descriptions of three new species

Chinese species of Chaetocnemasemicoerulea group are revised and three new species described as new: Chaetocnemasalixis sp. n., Chaetocnemayulongensis sp. n. and Chaetocnemadeqinensis sp. n.. A key to all five species of this group occurring in China and the illustrations of habitus and genitalia are provided. A map of species distribution is given.

Revision of the Chaetocnema picipes species-group (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) in China, with descriptions of three new species

The Chinese Chaetocnema picipes species-group is revised. It contains 5 species including 3 new species: C. chenisp. n., C. constrictasp. n. and C. kingpinensissp. n. The lectotype of C. fortecostata is designated. A key to all known species of this group from China and the illustrations of habitus and genitalia are provided. A distribution map of species is given.