Tortoise beetles (coleoptera : chrysomelidae: cassinae) of Kerala

Abstract

Taxonomic studies on Tortoise beetles (Coleptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) of Kerala were made with the objectives of identification of tortoise beetles of Kerala, provide descriptions and diagnosis of tortoise beetle taxa of Kerala and to gather information on host plants and distribution. Three hundred and eleven specimens from 48 locations were studied. The study treated 33 species of cassidines belonging to 11 genera under four tribes. Ten species previously recorded from the state could not be collected or studied. Description and diagnosis of all the taxa studied are provided. Information on distribution and host plants are also given. The study recognizes 43 species of tortoise beetles, belonging to 11 genera classified under four tribes in Kerala. Of the 12 cassidine tribes, Aspidimorphini, Basiprionotini, Notosacanthini and Cassidini occur in Kerala. Cassidini is the largest tribe represented by 18 species in four genera (Cassida, Chridopsis, Oocassida and Silana), followed by Aspidimorphini with 10 species in 3 genera (Aspidimorpha, Laccoptera and Nilgiriaspis). Basiprionotini, which are large tortoise beetles, are represented by five species in three genera viz. Basiprionota, Craspedonta and Epistictina. Notosacanthini, with a single genus Notosacantha, includes 10 species in Kerala. One genus (Basiprionota) and eight species here recorded are new to Kerala. The species newly recorded for Kerala are Cassida nysea Spaeth, 1926, Craspedonta leayana Latreille, 1807, Nilgiraspis andrewesi Spaeth, 1932, Notosacantha bifenestrella (Boheman, 1862), Notosacantha maduraensis Swietojanska, 2006, Notosacantha shibathai Kimoto, 1981, Notosacantha vicaria Spaeth, 1913 and Oocassida cruenta (Fabricius, 1792), of which Notosacantha shibathai is new to India as well. Trophic selections of cassidines are skewed towards members of Covolvulaceae, followed by Asteraceae, Rhamnaceae, Amaranthaceae, Bignoniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Rutaceae, Fabaceae and Verbenaceae. Seven cassidine species are reported as pests of sweet potato (Aspidimorpha furcata, A. fuscopunctata, A. miliaris, A. sanctaecruces, Laccoptera nepalensis, Cassida circumdata and Chiridopsis bipunctata). Craspedonta lealyana on Gmelina arborea, Silana farinosa on curry leaf, Murraya koenigii and Epistictina reicheana on Stereospermum colais are serious pests.