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Research Article
Recent advances in the knowledge of Mexican Alticinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)1
expand article infoDavid G Furth
‡ Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., United States of America
Open Access

Abstract

The present study updates previously published biodiversity/faunistics of the flea beetles of Mexico published by the author after examination of 6132 specimens from 8 institutional collections. The following 9 genera were selected as indicators of the effects of known diversity only through examination of museum specimens (i.e., “indoor collecting”): Alagoasa Bechyné; Asphaera Chevrolat; Capraita Bechyné; Disonycha Chevrolat; Kuschelina Bechyné; Omophoita Chevrolat; Prasona Baly; Systena Chevrolat; and Walterianella Bechyné. From the specimens examined in these genera from the 8 collections, there were 394 new records for Mexican states of the 287 new species records representing 47% new records of the species recorded from those states. Total new state records 287 from 80 species. States with most new records: Chiapas (32); Nayarit (27); Sinaloa (24). 80 spp. (47%) with new state records. Systena oberthuri Baly is reported from Mexico for the first time. The current total of Alticinae in Mexico is 90 genera/626 species. The difficulties of the generic boundaries between Systena and Prasona, Alagoasa and Kuschelina; as well as the specific boundaries between A. jacobiana and A. decemguttatus and the specific level pattern variation in Disonycha glabrata and Alagoasa decemguttatus are discussed. Kuschelina semipurpurea, formerly placed in Alagoasa, is placed is considered as a new combination.

Keywords

Mexico state records, Flea Beetles, indoor collecting, faunistics, new combinations, Systena/ Prasona and Alagoasa/Kuschelina confusion, Alagoasa decemguttatus , Omophoita octomaculata , Mexican biodiversity

Introduction

For about 30 years I have been studying the biodiversity/faunistics of the Central American Alticinae (Furth and Savini 1996, 1998, Furth et al. 2003), especially the Mexican Alticinae (Furth 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013). The current project is a continuation of research about the biodiversity/faunistics, distribution, and biogeography of the Alticinae (Flea Beetles) of Mexico. The author has conducted extensive field work in the majority of the 32 Mexican states as well as examination and determination of thousands of Mexican specimens from many museums in North America. Two previous published surveys by the author were of individual selected states. The first one from Chihuahua and Sonora (Furth 2009) revealed 26 genera with 70 species from Chihuahua, including 44 species new to Chihuahua, 9 species new to Sonora, 10 species new to Mexico, and two species new to science. The second from Oaxaca (Furth 2013) discovered 68 genera with 275 species (113 species known only from Oaxaca) in that state alone elevating the total recorded Alticinae fauna of Mexico to 90 genera and 625 species. This Oaxaca study demonstrated a very strong biogeographic affinity to the Neotropical Region. Some of the species in this Oaxaca study were at the time unidentifiable morpho-species and some either far from their known distribution or even new to science. The last comprehensive list of the entire Mexican Alticinae fauna was over 10 years ago and a lot of new specimen data has become accessible. There are still many more specimens in the remaining Alticinae genera currently being studied by the author from the institutions mentioned in the current study as well as others in a few other North American and Mexican institutions. Some details of the Mexican Alticinae fauna as well as about Mexican biogeography were included in Furth (2006) which recorded 89 genera and 524 species of Alticinae in Mexico.

Some of the author’s recent publications (mentioned above) concerning the Mexican fauna stressed the value of a combination of strategies for biodiversity research beginning with a comprehensive search of the literature examination, combined with fieldwork and extensive search of institutional collections. The current study concentrates on the latter of these strategies to uncover additional specimens and localities in order to better understand Mexican flea beetle diversity.

Methods

During the past 10+ years the author has visited the institutions listed below and has pulled out all Alticinae from Mexico and borrowed them. For the current study nine genera, including the genera of the “Oedionychini/a” tribe/subtribe (Alagoasa, Asphaera, Capraita, Kuschelina, Omophoita, Walterianella), as well as a few other randomly selected genera (Disonycha, Prasona, Systena) were studied and determined to species. There were 6625 adult specimens studied and determined to species based on morphology and using literature and reference collections. The term species refers also to all taxa, including subspecies recorded from Mexico.

The institutional collections studied are: American Museum of Natural History (New York, New York, USA) [AMNH]; Monte L. Bean Museum of Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah, USA) [BYU]; Natural History Museum (London, United Kingdom) [NHM]; California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco, California, USA) [CAS]; California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California, USA) [CDFA]; University of California Berkeley (Berkeley, California, USA) [UCB]; University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA) [UCD]; U.S. National Museum/NMNH (Washington, D.C., USA) [NMNH]; and a few specimens donated to the author by R. Wills Flowers (Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA) [RWF]. Specimens were studied and determined using a Leica MZ-APO dissecting stereomicroscope, as well as specimen reference collections at the U. S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. USA [NMNH/NMNH], relevant literature in the author’s library and certain online references, e.g., MCZ Type Database.

The habitus photographic images were taken using the Visionary Digital BK Lab Imaging system outfitted with the Canon EOS 5D and a MP-E 65 mm 1–5× Canon macrolens. Stacked images were processed in part with Helicon Focus; final editing was done with Adobe PhotoShop. Specimens will be returned to their original institutional collections with some vouchers deposited at the NMNH.

Images of adult species for Figures 46, 89 were taken randomly from the Internet by searching for the species name. Figures 13 were taken by the author; Figure 7 was taken by K. Darrow.

In Table 2 (totaled in Table 1) there are some new state records from multiple institutional collections, but each new state record is only counted once (e.g., for Alagoasa acutangula Nayarit is a new state record and was recorded from AMNH, CAS, CDFA, and UCB, but it is only counted as a single state record). The taxa in Table 2 are referred to in the text as species, but a few are subspecies names.

The author follows a less popular classification, i. e., Alticinae rather than Alticini, as explained in several publications, e.g., Furth and Lee (2000), Furth and Suzuki (1998), Mohamedsaid and Furth (2011).

Table 1.

Indoor Collecting. Numbers of specimens examined, by institutional collection. For Specimens Examined, the number in parentheses are those not determined to species.

Collection Specimens Examined New State Records/Collection
AMNH 374 (9) 30
NHM 120 (14) 1
BYU 309 (33) 29
CAS 1412 (93) 105
CDFA 374 (20) 27
UCB 3131 (223) 150
UCD 846 (97) 46
NMNH 59 (4) 6
TOTALS 6625 (493) 394/287*
Table 2.

List of determined species by institution with state records (new state records in bold print).

Genus Species Author Distribution Amnh Bmnh Byu Cas Cdfa Nhm Ucb Ucd Rwf Usnm New Records No. New Records
Alagoasa acutangula (Jacoby) CHIS, COL, DGO, GRO, JAL, MEX, MOR, NL, OAX, VER NAY GRO, JAL, CHIS, GRO, MOR, NAY, SIN, SLP JAL, MICH, NAY VER CHIS, DGO, GRO, JAL, MICH, MOR, NAY, NL, PUE, SIN, VER GRO, MOR, PUE, SIN GRO, QRO MICH, NAY, PUE, QRO, SIN, SLP 6
bipunctata (Chevrolat) CHIS, DF, OAX, SLP, VER, YUC CHIS, SLP, QROO, TAMPS, VER, YUC PUE, SLP VER MOR, VER CHIS, QRO, SLP, VER SLP MOR, PUE, QROO, QRO, TAMPS 5
chevrolati (Baly) OAX, VER, YUC VER VER
clypeata (Jacoby) CHIS, DGO, HGO, MICH, OAX, TAB, VER VER CHIS, VER VER CHIS, DGO, OAX, VER CHIS, VER VER DGO 1
donckieri (Jacoby) GRO PUE PUE 1
extrema (Harold) MOR, OAX, TAB, VER CHIS, VER CHIS VER VER VER YUC CHIS, YUC 2
fimbriata (Forster) GRO, MICH, MOR, OAX MICH
hoegei (Jacoby) OAX, VER VER
inconspicua (Jacoby) DGO, JAL JAL JAL SIN DGO, JAL, SIN SIN 1
jacobiana* [comb. n.] (Horn) CHIH, CHIS, DGO, JAL, MOR, NAY, OAX, SON, SIN, YUC GRO, SON CHIS, MOR, NAY, SIN, SON COL, JAL, NAY, SIN MEX CHIH, CHIS, DGO, GRO, JAL, NAY, OAX, SIN, SON CHIH, JAL, MOR, SIN SIN, YUC 2
lateralis (Jacoby) COL, GRO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, NAY, OAX NAY PUE CHIH, COL, MOR, NAY, NL, SIN, VER COL, JAL, NAY, SIN VER GRO, MOR, NAY, SIN, VER CHIS, MOR CHIH, CHIS, COL, NL, SIN, VER 6
longicollis (Jacoby) OAX VER VER 1
semipurpurea** (Jacoby) VER CHIH CHIH 1
seriata (Baly) GRO, MOR, OAX, PUE, VER MOR MOR, SLP, TAMPS, VER CHIS, GRO CHIS, SLP, TAMPS 3
tehuacana Bechyné JAL, PUE JAL JAL
tridecimmaculata (Jacoby) GRO, MICH SIN JAL, MEX MOR GRO, MEX, MOR JAL, MEX, MOR, SIN 4
trifasciata escuintla Bechyné Mexico NAY, SLP, TAB, TAMPS, VER SLP, VER CHIS, MEX, NAY, TAMPS, VER CHIS, JAL, NAY, SIN VER CHIS, JAL, NAY, SLP, TAB, VER NL, TAMPS, VER CHIS, JAL, MEX, NAY, NL, SIN, SLP, TAB, TAMPS, VER 10
virgata (Harold) CHIH, CHIS, COL, DGO, GRO, JAL, MEX, MOR, NAY, PUE, OAX, SIN, SLP, TAB, VER GRO JAL, NAY, PUE CHIS, JAL, MOR, NAY, SIN, SON, VER JAL, NAY, SIN MEX, MOR, VER CHIS, GRO, JAL, MOR, NAY, ?QRO, SIN, SON, VER, ?YUC CHIH, CHIS, MOR, OAX, VER ?QRO, SON, ?YUC 3
Asphaera abdominalis (Chevrolat) AGS, CHIH, CHIS, COAH, COL, DF, DGO, GRO, GTO, HGO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, NL, OAX, SIN, SLP, TAMPS, VER, ZAC HGO, SIN CHIS, DGO, GTO, JAL, MICH, MOR, NAY, NL, OAX, SIN, SLP, TAB, VER, ZAC JAL, MEX, MICH, PUE, SIN, SLP DF, JAL, MEX, MOR CHIH, CHIS, DGO, GRO, GTO, HGO, JAL, MEX, MICH, NL, OAX, PUE, QRO, SIN, TAMPs, VER, ZAC AGS, HGO, JAL, MEX, MICH, SON, SIN, ZAC QRO NAY, PUE, QRO, SON, TAB 5
cyanopsis Harold DF, DGO, OAX, SLP, TAB, VER OAX, SLP PUE, SLP VER CHIS, PUE, SLP, TAB, VER VER CHIS, PUE 2
lustrans (Crotch) BC MEX MEX 1
mexicana (Harold) CHIS, DGO, GRO, MICH, MOR, NAY, OAX, VER
reichei (Harold) CHIS, DF, OAX, SLP, VER CHIS, JAL, MOR, NAY, VER MEX CHIS, GRO, JAL, MICH, NAY, NL, OAX, VER VER GRO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, NAY, NL, 7
Capraita conspurcata (Jacoby) CHIS, DF, DGO, GRO, GTO, HGO, MEX, MICH, MOR, OAX, PUE, VER SIN CHIS, DGO, MEX, PUE, TAB, VER DF, DGO, MEX, MICH, PUE, SIN, VER SIN SIN, TAB 2
maculata (Harold) CHIS, GRO, JAL, MEX, MOR, OAX, VER, YUC JAL, MICH, NAY, SIN GRO, JAL GRO, NAY, SIN MICH, NAY, SIN 3
Disonycha angulata Jacoby SLP, TAB, VER, YUC VER CHIS, VER CHIS 1
annulata Blake Mexico JAL JAL 1
antennata Jacoby COL, DGO, GRO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, OAX, VER MEX MICH, MOR, NAY, SIN, VER SIN CHIS, GRO, JAL, MICH, NAY, OAX, SIN, VER CHIH, MICH, SIN, VER CHIH, CHIS, NAY, SIN 4
arizonae Casey CHIH, DGO?, GRO, MOR? CHIH, COAH, NL, SON CHIH, NL COAH, NL, SON 3
barberi Blake GRO, SIN, VER SIN MICH NAY, VER SIN MICH, NAY 2
brevilineata Jacoby DGO, GRO, JAL, MOR, OAX MEX CHIS, MOR JAL CHIS, JAL, NAY CHIS, MEX, NAY 3
brunneofasciata Jacoby GRO, PUE, SLP OAX, SIN OAX, SIN 2
collata (Fabricius) CHIH, COAH, DF, DGO, GTO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, OAX, PUE, TAB, VER, YUC DGO, JAL, MEX, MOR, NAY, PUE, SIN, SON SIN, VER DF, JAL, NAY, SIN NAY, SIN NAY, SIN, SON 3
dorsata Harold MOR, OAX, TAB, VER, YUC VER CHIS, JAL, MOR, NAY, VER JAL CHIS, NAY, OAX, SLP, VER CHIS, JAL, MOR, NAY, SLP 5
figurata Jacoby AGS, CHIH, CHIS, COAH, COL, DF, DGO, GRO, GTO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, NAY, OAX, SIN, TAB, VER, YUC CHIH MEX CHIH, JAL, SON CHIH, MOR, NAY, SIN, JAL, MOR, SIN CHIH, CHIS, COL, DF, DGO, GRO, GTO, JAL, MICH, NAY, OAX, SIN, SON, TAMPS, VER CHIH, CHIS, JAL, MICH, NAY, SIN, ZAC SON, TAMPS, ZAC 3
fumata fumata LeConte BC, CHIH, CHIS, DGO, GRO, HGO, JAL, MEX, MICH, MOR, NL, OAX, PUE, SLP, SON, TAB, VER, ZAC COL, TAB MEX JAL, MEX CHIS, GRO, NAY, PUE, SIN, SON, ZAC JAL, MOR, SIN BCS, CHIS, COL, DGO, GRO, JAL, MICH, NAY, NL, PUE, SIN, SON, VER CHIH, JAL BCS, COL, NAY, SIN 4
glabrata (Fabricius) BC, BCS, CAMP, CHIS, COL, DGO, GRO, JAL, MOR, NAY, OAX, PUE, SIN, SON, TAB, TAMPS, YUC, VER COL, TAB JAL, MOR SON BCS, CHIH, CHIS, JAL, MEX, MOR, NAY, NL, SIN, SON, TAMPS, VER COL, JAL, NAY, SIN, SON CAMP, CHIH, CHIS, COL, GRO, GTO, JAL, MICH, MOR, NAY, NL, OAX, QROO, SIN, SON, TAB, VER, YUC GRO, JAL, MOR, NAY, SIN, SLP, SON, VER CHIH, GTO, MEX, MICH, NL, QROO, SLP 7
guatemalensis Jacoby CHIS, GRO, MOR, OAX, VER? CHIS CHIS, GRO, JAL, TAB, VER MOR, TAMPS JAL, TAB, TAMPS 3
jalapensis Blake VER CHIS CHIS, COL, SIN VER CHIS, COL, SIN 3
knabi Blake GRO OAX, VER OAX, VER 2
leptolineata texana Schaeffer DGO, GRO, JAL, MOR, NL, OAX, QROO, TAMPS, YUC MEX NAY, SON CHIH, CHIS, COL, MICH, OAX, VER CHIS, MOR CHIH, CHIS, COL, MEX, MICH, NAY, OAX, SON, VER 9
limbata Jacoby DGO, MEX, MOR DGO
maculipes Jacoby CHIS, VER SON BCS, DGO, SON COAH CHIS, TAMPS BCS, COAH, DGO, SON, TAMPS 5
melanocephala Jacoby VER CHIS CHIS, VER CHIS 1
mexicana Jacoby TAB, SLP, VER, YUC TAMPS VER BC, CHIS, DGO, NAY, OAX, PUE, SON, TAB, VER BC, CHIS, DGO, NAY, OAX, PUE, SON, TAMPS 8
militaris Jacoby TAB, VER, YUC CHIS CHIS CHIS CHIS 1
nigrita Jacoby OAX (Furth, 2013) COL, NAY NAY COL, NAY 2
pluriligata LeConte BC, CHIH, DGO, JAL, NAY, SIN, SLP, SON, VER JAL CHIH, JAL, SLP, SON CHIS, JAL, NAY, SLP, SON, TAMPS, VER CHIS, DGO, OAX, VER CAMP, CHIH, DGO, MEX, MICH, SIN, SON CAMP, CHIS, MEX, MICH, OAX, TAMPS 6
politula Horn AGS, CAMP, CHIH, DF, DGO, GRO, GTO, HGO, JAL, MEX, MOR, OAX, PUE, QRO, SLP, SON, TAMPS, VER, ZAC VER DGO CHIH AGS, CHIS, DGO, JAL, NAY, SON AGS, CHIH, DGO, GRO,GTO, HGO, JAL, MICH, NAY, NL, PUE, SLP, SON, ZAC CHIH, DGO, HGO, JAL, PUE, ZAC, CHIS, MICH, NAY, NL 4
procera Casey NAY NAY NAY
Disonycha quinquelineata (Latreille) CHIS, COL, GRO, OAX, QROO, TAB, TAMPS, VER JAL VER JAL 1
recticollis (Jacoby) NAY, VER VER
sallei (Baly) VER VER
scriptipennis (Jacoby) CHIS, COL, DGO, GRO, MOR, NAY, OAX, YUC CHIS, NAY CHIS, JAL, MICH, SIN GRO, JAL, NAY JAL, MICH, SIN 3
subaenea Jacoby DGO, GRO, MOR, OAX JAL JAL 1
tenuicornis Horn CHIH, DGO, HGO CHIS, SIN HGO, JAL, SIN CHIH, DGO, HGO, NL, SIN CHIS, JAL, NL, SIN 4
trifasciata Jacoby CHIS CHIS CHIS
Kuschelina laeta (Perbosc) TAMPS, VER COL, NAY CHIH BC, MOR, NAY, NL, VER BCS, DGO, GTO, JAL, NAY, SIN, SON BC, BCS, CHIH, COL, DGO, GTO, JAL, MOR, NAY, NL, SIN, SON 12
modesta (Jacoby) CHIH, CHIS, DF, DGO, GRO, GTO, HGO, MEX, MOR, OAX, PUE, SLP, TLAX, VER CHIH PUE MEX CHIH
semipurpurea *** (Jacoby) CHIH CHIH 1
Omophoita aequinoctialis aequinoctialis (Linnaeus) Mexico TAB TAB, VER TAB, VER 2
affinis ? (Jacoby) Mexico ? CHIS CHIS 1
cinctipennis (Chevrolat) JAL, OAX, PUE, SLP, VER SLP, VER NL, SLP PUE, SLP, VER VER NL 1
cyanipennis octomaculata **** Crotch (= some aequinoctialis aequinoctialis & punctulata Bechyne & Bechyne) (Crotch) OAX, TAB, TAMPS, VER CHIS, NAY, SLP, TAB, TAMPS, VER, YUC NL, SLP, TAMPS CHIS, MEX, NL, SLP, VER VER CHIS, TAB, VER CAMP, CHIS, COAH, OAX, SLP, VER SLP, TAMPS, VER CAMP, CHIS, COAH, MEX, NAY, NL, SLP, YUC 8
quadrinotata centraliamericana Bechyné OAX, TAB, VER TAB, VER CHIS, MEX, VER TAB, VER CHIS, TAB, VER VER VER CHIS, MEX 2
recticollis (Baly) CHIS, HGO, OAX, TAB, TAMPS, VER VER CHIS, VER
violacea Jacoby GRO NAY NAY CHIS, JAL, MICH, NAY, SON SIN CHIS, JAL, MICH, NAY, SIN, SON 6
Prasona viridis Baly VER PUE VER JAL? PUE, VER JAL?, PUE 2
Systena abbreviata Jacoby PUE MOR PUE, VER PUE MOR, VER 2
bitaeniata LeConte CHIH CHIH BC VER BC, VER 2
blanda Melsheimer BC?, CHIH, JAL, MICH, NL, SIN, SLP?, SON, TAB, VER CHIH, JAL NAY, NL, PUE, SLP, SON CHIS, JAL, MOR, NAY, SIN, SLP CHIH, COAH, JAL, SIN, SON CHIS, COAH, MOR, NAY, PUE, SLP 6
contigua Jacoby CHIS, GRO, GTO, HGO, OAX, SON?, TAMPS, VER?, ZAC CHIS, HGO, SLP CHIS, VER JAL NAY, NL, PUE, QRO, SIN, SON, VER JAL, NAY, NL, PUE, QRO, SIN, SLP, SON, VER 9
discicollis Clark CAMP, CHIH, DF, DGO, GTO, JAL, MEX, MICH, TAB, TAMPS, VER?, ZAC MICH DGO DF, JAL DGO, HGO, MEX, MICH JAL, MICH, ZAC HGO 1
gracilenta Blake NL CHIH CHIH, CHIS, SLP, SON, TAMPS MOR, SLP, TAMPS, VER, ZAC CHIS CHIH, GRO, PUE, SIN, SLP, VER CHIH, HGO, SLP, VER QROO, ZAC CHIH, CHIS, GRO, HGO, MOR, PUE, QROO, SIN, SLP, SON, TAMPS, VER, ZAC 13
laevis Blake BC BC 1
marginata Jacoby PUE, VER CHIS CHIS 1
nigroplagiata Jacoby AGS, CHIH, DF, DGO, GTO, GRO, JAL, MICH, MOR, OAX, PUE, VER CHIH, CHIS, GRO, JAL, MOR, OAX, SLP, SON, VER MOR, PUE, SIN, TAMPS, VER DGO, GRO, GTO, JAL, MICH, MOR, PUE, SIN CHIH, JAL, MOR, SIN CHIS, SIN, SLP, SON, TAMPS 5
oberthuri Baly CHIS CHIS 1
pectoralis Clark CHIS, GTO, OAX, VER VER CHIS, PUE, VER GRO GRO, PUE 2
s-littera (Linnaeus) CHIS, GTO, TAB, VER VER VER VER CHIS, TAB, VER VER
salvini Jacoby CHIS CHIS CHIS
semivittata Jacoby BCS, GRO, GTO, HGO, MEX, MOR, NL, OAX, SIN CHIH CHIH, SON PUE MOR CHIH, CHIS, NAY, SON CHIH, CHIS, JAL, PUE, SIN, SON, ZAC CHIH, CHIS, JAL, NAY, PUE, SON, ZAC 7
subcostata Jacoby MICH, MOR, VER GRO MICH GRO, JAL, NAY, VER MICH GRO, JAL, NAY 3
subrugosa Jacoby GTO, MICH, MOR TAB GRO GRO, PUE ZAC GRO, PUE, TAB, ZAC 4
sulphurea Jacoby CHIH, DGO, GRO, MOR, OAX CHIH, CHIS, PUE, SON GRO, MOR, PUE CHIS, PUE, SON 3
Systena thoracica Jacoby CAMP, HGO, PUE, QROO, TAB, VER CHIS, MEX, VER JAL, NAY, SLP, VER CHIS, JAL, NAY, SIN, TAB, VER JAL, VER CHIS, JAL, MEX, NAY, SIN, SLP 6
undulata Jacoby AGS?, CAMP?, GRO?, GTO, MOR?, VER MOR MEX GRO, MICH GRO, MEX, MICH, MOR 4
variabilis Jacoby CHIH, CHIS, COL, DGO, GRO, GTO, MICH, MOR, NAY, OAX, VER GRO, MOR, PUE, SLP, TAMPS, VER CHIH, JAL, MOR, NAY, SIN, VER JAL, SIN CHIH, JAL, MICH, MOR, NAY, QRO, SIN, VER CHIH, MICH, SIN, VER JAL, PUE, QRO, SIN, SLP, TAMPS 6
Walterianella biarcuata (Chevrolat) CHIS, VER NAY, VER VER VER NAY 1
durangoënsis (Jacoby) CHIH, DGO SON NAY, SON DGO, JAL CHIH, SIN DGO JAL, NAY, SIN, SON 4
inscripta (Jacoby) OAX, SLP, VER SLP CHIS VER CHIS, VER CHIS 1
oculata ? (Fabricius) VER VER VER
signata (Jacoby) CHIS, JAL, TAB, TAMPS, VER, YUC QROO, VER, YUC CHIS, MOR ?,VER VER CHIS SLP? MOR?, QROO, SLP? 2
sublineata (Jacoby) OAX, TAB, VER, YUC QROO, VER CHIS, VER CHIS, SLP, VER CHIS, QROO, SLP 3
tenuicincta (Jacoby) SLP, TAB, VER SLP CHIS, NAY, SLP, VER CHIS, NAY 2
venustula (Schaufuss) CHIS, COL?, GRO, JAL, MICH, MOR, NAY?, QROO, TAMPS?, VER, YUC VER, YUC NAY, SLP COL, JAL, MOR, NAY, OAX, SLP, SON JAL, MICH, NAY JAL JAL, SON MOR, NAY, SIN, VER CHIS COL, NAY, OAX, SIN, SLP, SON 6
TOTAL 287

Results

Although 6625 Mexican Alticinae specimens from nine institutional collections were studied (see list in the Methods section above) some of these (493) that could not be determined reliably to recorded species (Table 1); therefore, a total of 6132 specimens were determined to species. Table 1 also demonstrates that a total of 394 new state records were found in these 8 collections, but 107 were repeated so that actually there are 287 new state records. The specimens studied belonged to a somewhat random assortment of genera, including the subtribe Oedionychina (Alagoasa, Asphaera, Capraita, Kuschelina, Omophoita, Walterianella) and Disonycha, Prasona, Systena. The genera with the most specimens belonged to Alagoasa, Asphaera, Omophoita, Disonycha, and Systena. Table 2 lists only the species in these genera with the new state records as discovered in the current study with those new state records in bold type; the full distribution of each species can be determined by combining these with the distributions in Furth (2006, 2009, 2013). Map 1 demonstrates the number of species by state as of Furth (2013) in comparison to the current study illustrating in Map 2 only the new species records by states and in Map 3 the total species per state.

As indicated in Table 2 the nine genera studied have a high percentage of new state records based only on examination of these institutional collections, as follows: Alagoasa (13 of 18 species with new state records of the 44 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 1]. However, the two apparent new state records (SIN and YUC) for A. jacobiana are not included as new records because of its confusion with A. decemguttata; Asphaera (4 of 4 species of the 10 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 2]; Capraita (2 of 2 species of the 4 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 3]; Disonycha (27 of 33 species of the 49 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 4]; Kuschelina (2 of 3 species of the 8 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 5]; Omophoita (6 of 7 species of the 13 species record from Mexico) [see also Fig. 6]; Prasona (1of 1 species of the 1 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 7]; Systena (18 of 20 species of the 31 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 8]; and Walterianella (7 of 8 species of the 10 species recorded from Mexico) [see also Fig. 9]. Thus, there are 80 species of the 97, or almost 83% of the species examined from the nine institutional collections with new state records, and this is 47% of the total 170 species in these genera recorded from Mexico (Fig. 10).

Figure 1. 

Alagoasa Bechyné new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Of special note in Table 2 are the confirmed species determinations that verify some questionable state records indicated in Furth (2006). They are as follows: Disonycha guatemalensis from Veracruz; Omophoita affinis from Mexico, a state record for a species only recorded previously as from the country of Mexico; Systena bitaeniata from Veracruz; Systena blanda from San Luis Potosi; Systena contigua from Sonora and Veracruz; Systena undulata from Guerrero and Morelos; Walterianella venustula from Colima.

Systena oberthuri Baly is reported for the first time from Mexico (Table 2; Fig. 12).

Figure 2. 

Asphaera Chevrolat new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 3. 

Capraita Bechyné new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 4. 

Disonycha Chevrolat new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 5. 

Kuschelina Bechyné new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 6. 

Omophoita Chevrolat new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 7. 

Prasona Baly new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 8. 

Systena Chevrolat new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 9. 

Walterianella Bechyné new state records versus previously recorded state records.

Figure 10. 

Summary of all new records for selected genera.

Figure 11. 

Summary of all genera with species percentages.

From the current study, it is evident that the numbers of recorded species have changed, in some cases significantly (see Maps 1, 2, 3). Map 2 shows these new records clearly (the details are in Table 2). The Mexican states with the most new species records are Chiapas (32), Nayarit (27), and Sinaloa (24).

Taxonomic problems

Generic level confusion

Systena versus Prasona (Fig. 12). There has long been some confusion concerning the genus Prasona Baly as to whether it is synonymous with Systena Chevrolat. Prasona viridis Baly from Mexico is the type species (Baly 1861) and the only one recorded from Central America (Furth and Savini 1996) and eight other species from various parts of South America (Bechyné 1971). Prasona seems to have the primary characteristics of Systena, but seems only to differ in being much larger in size than species of Systena. Prasona was placed near Systena and Cyrsylus in the “catalog phylogeny” (Furth and Suzuki 1998) of Bechyné (1971).

Alagoasa versus Kuschelina (Fig. 17). Kuschelina Bechyné differs from Alagoasa Bechyné by having moniliform antennal segments; smaller eyes (diameter less than 3 times as small as width of frons); head (frons/vertex) rugosely punctured; male terminal sternite ventrally without depression; epipleura bent/slanted downward, i.e., visible in lateral view; elytral pleura narrow, not grooved or explanate; antero-lateral corners of pronotum only slightly protruding (not appearing to surround eyes/head; body shape elongate oval (not very rounded). The first placement of North American Oedionychus Berthold or Oedionychis Latreille (most Alagoasa were placed in one of these generic names previously) into Kuschelina was by Balsbaugh and Hays (1972) [for 14 spp.]. In Riley et al. (2003) there were 28 species of Oedionychis Latreille listed (following Wilcox 1975), but only one (K. scripticollis (Say) was noted as a new combination; however, many of the others are also technically new combinations, e.g., K. amplivittata (Blake), K. barberi (Blake), K. flavocyanea (Crotch), K. jacobiana (Horn), etc. Based on the above characters the author considers K. semipurpurea (Jacoby), formerly placed in Alagoasa, to be a new combination.

Intra-specific variation

Disonycha glabrata (Fabricius) (Fig. 13). Because of melanization of the elytra there are intermediate and dark forms; known only from Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sonora, and Sinaloa.

Alagoasa decemguttatus (Fabricius) (Figs 14, 15). Intra-specific variation in this species is well-documented in the literature (Jacoby 1886; Bechyné 1955).

Figure 12. 

Systena and Prasona generic confusion.

Figure 13. 

Disonycha glabrata (Fabricius) species color forms.

Figure 14. 

Alagoasa decemguttata (Fabricius) intraspecific variation.

Figure 15. 

Alagoasa decemguttata intraspecific variation (ex Bechyné, 1955).

Species confusion (see Table 2)

Alagoasa decemguttatus versus A. jacobiana (Horn) (Figs 14, 16). Alagoasa decemguttatus: Some confusion with this species. According to Bechyné (1971)A. decemguttatus is only from South America and, therefore, most A. decemguttatus recorded from Mexico are probably A. jacobiana; therefore, some records for A. jacobiana may be new records because of this confusion.

Figure 16. 

Alagoasa jacobiana (Horn) species confusion and intraspecific variation.

Figure 17. 

Alagoasa and Kuschelina generic confusion.

Map 1. 

Species numbers by states from Furth (2013).

Map 2. 

New species records by states from the current study.

Map 3. 

Total species records by states as of the current study.

Alagoasa duodecimmaculata (Jacoby): There is some confusion of this species with A. trifasciata escuintla Bechyné & probably most specimens are A. trifasciata escuintla. Its occurrence in Mexico is still somewhat in question (Furth 2006).

Omophoita cyanipennis octomaculata Crotch or O. octomaculata: There has historically been confusion about the exact identity of O. aequinoctialis aequinoctialis. In this study, the author considers records of O. a. aequinoctialis to consist of both O. cyanipennis octomaculata Crotch and O. punctulata (Bechyné & Bechyné). However, according to Blake (1931)O. aequinoctialis (s.s.) has a black metasternum and black metafemora. Indeed, there seems to be some consistent differences between these and an elytral pattern different where aequinoctialis (s.s.) has the median/central spots more rounded and only slightly angled, whereas for O. cyanipennis octomaculata they are more distinctly angled and slender.

Discussion

Interesting that this study did not reveal new genera and only discovered one new species for Mexico (Furth 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013). This may indicate that the number of described species found in Mexico may be reaching the level of being relatively well known. Only one new species record for Mexico (Systena oberthuri) was discovered in this study. However, based on the athor’s previous and current research, there are certainly many additional undescribed species living within Mexico; probably as many as another 300–400 species. Few other Central American countries have been surveyed for Chrysomelidae. Only Costa Rica is relatively well-known with 350 species in 89 genera (Furth et al. 2003) with only 113 species in 43 genera known previously from the literature. Panama is poorly-known and has 270 species in 70 genera recorded (Furth and Savini 1996, 1998).

Indoor Collecting (Table 1):

The author is not aware of any references in the literature referring to “indoor collecting”, especially in the meaning used in this study. One interview in 2015 of Dr. Art Evans referred to this term for picking up a beetle collection, something the author of this study has been doing for 50 years. However, the meaning for the current study refers to visiting institutional or private scientific collections for the purposes of scientific research, e.g., systematic revisions, faunisitcs, biodiversity, biogeographical, etc. Most biologists interested in nature, prefer the fun of “outdoor collecting” coupled with subsequent study of material and data from this back home, “indoor collecting” can be just as fun and usually even more productive scientifically; as evidenced from the current study. This kind of work is certainly nothing new, all students and professional biologists conduct this kind of work because the wealth of information “hiding” in such collections is phenomenal, vast, full of valuable information that can help answer many scientific questions and enhance most studies, and for the most part except data already published (at least in entomology), not available elsewhere. The current study is an example of “indoor collecting” where a large percentage (47%) of new Mexican state records were discovered.

Although the choice of the 9 genera and 8 collections for this study was rather random they still provide a very good example of the scientific value of collections. The author plans to continue such research on the Mexican Flea Beetle fauna based on much more specimen material he has borrowed from the same (and eventually other) collections. The 8 collections sampled represent a large percentage of the collections not yet studied by the author likely to have material from Mexico, notable exceptions are the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum, Texas A. & M. University, and, of course, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico.

There is no particular pattern to the states with the most new records (Map 2). This is probably only an artifact of the historical collecting of individuals whose material is associated with the nine collections sampled. One of the 3 states with the most new records is Chiapas that is one of several southern states with strong tropical biogeographical affinities (Furth 2013). As evident in Map 2, this study produced new state records in all but three states (Aguascalientes, Distrito Federal, Tlaxcala) and there were new records with 10 or more in 13 states, i.e., over 30%; this is a testament to the value of “indoor collecting”. In previous studies of the Mexican Alticinae fauna some records were questionable because of unclear label data, unclear assignment in the literature, etc. (Table 2), but in the current study of the specimens in these 8 collections some of these were confirmed or enhanced for 7 species (see results above) for eight of the state, including one for the country.

In the Results section above the author has pointed out and attempted to clarify the taxonomic confusion at the generic and specific levels that came to light during the current study. There is no real need to elaborate in detail about these. Resolution of the confusion between Systena and Prasona requires considerably more study, but it is quite possible that Prasona will become a synonym of Systena. The confusion within the “Oedionychina” of Alagoasa and Kuschelina has caused some problems in faunistic studies in the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions, e. g., Riley et al. (2003). In the Results section above the author attempts to explain his interpretation of these two genera and to clarify the morphological differences, as well as to point out some new combinations created by this confusion.

Therefore, there are 80 species of the 96 species found in this study from 8 collections, or 83%, with new state records, and this is 47% of the total 170 species in these genera recorded from Mexico (Fig. 10). Figure 11 illustrates the nine genera in this study and their species percentages of the total.

In conclusion, the author hopes that not only does this study of a relatively few collections and genera significantly increase the knowledge of the Mexican Flea Beetle fauna, but also that it demonstrates the value of “indoor collecting” as an integral part of any biodiversity and faunistic research.

Acknowledgements

Lee Herman (AMNH), Sharon Shute (NHM), Shawn Clark (BYU), Norm Penny† (CAS), Charles Bellamy† (CDFA), Cheryl Barr (UCB), Steve Heydon (UCD), Dr. R. Wills Flowers (RWF). For professional assistance with imaging I am very grateful to Karolyn Darrow (NMNH). For help with producing the generic charts of new/old state records I would like to thank Dr. Floyd Shockley (NMNH). For access to the NMNH Chrysomelidae collection I am indebted to Dr. Alexander Konstantinov (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, NMNH). I also thank Dr. Raymond Gagne (NMNH) for assistance in translation of the French description of Kuschelina Bechyne. Finally, I am indebted to an anonymous reviewer and the Editor (M. Schmitt) for helpful comments.

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Contribution to the 9 th International Symposium on the Chrysomelidae, Orlando, FL, USA, September 28, 2016

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