Table Of ContentPROC ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
100(3), 1998, pp. 484-488
LARVAL MORPHOLOGY OF SYSTENA BLANDA MELSHEIMER
(COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: ALTICINAE)
Jong Eun Lee, Steven W. Lingafelter, and Alexander S. Konstantinov
(JEL) Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Andong National Univer-
sity, Andong, Kyungbuk 760-749. South Korea; (SWL. ASK) Systematic Entomology
Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, c/o Na-
tinal Museum of Natural History, MRC-168, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. (email:
[email protected]; [email protected]).
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Abstract. The first detailed morphological description and illustrations are presented
for the larva of a species of Systetui (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), S. blanda
(Melsheimer). Compound microscopic examination ofthe head, antennae, mouthparts, and
legs revealed characters typical of other soil dwelling and root feeding alticine genera.
Key Words: Systena, Alticinae, Chrysomelidae, larva, morphology, character, system-
atic, flea beetle, leaf beetle
The morphology and biology ofmany al- acters of the anal plate. Drake and Harris
ticine larvae, particularly those including (1931) provided a slightly larger lateral
forest and agricultural pests have been stud- habitus illustration of the larva but no dis-
ied by many workers, although much more cussion of characters important in identifi-
is known for Old World taxa. Notable cation. Peters and Barton (1969) provided
works on Old World taxa include those of a brief description of the larva of Systena
Ogloblin and Medvedev (1971), Kimoto frontalis Fabricius but did not provide ad-
and Takizawa (1994) and Steinhausen equate detail to understand unique and
(1994) who studied many genera ofalticine shared characters of this and related taxa.
larvae taxonomically, emphasizing charac- The purpose of this paper is to provide a
ters of the anal plate and chaetotaxy. Other thorough description of the larva of the
less expansive taxonomic works on altici- pale-striped flea beetle, Systena blanda
nes include: Reed (1927); Boving and (Melsheimer). This species is widely dis-
Craighead (1931); Newton (1933); Ander- tributed, ranging from the northeastern
son (1938); Paterson (1943); Dobson United States to California (Chittenden
(1960); Yano (1963, 1965); Welch (1972); 1902b). Members of this species are en-
countered on a range of agricultural crops,
and Lee (1992).
having been reported on onions (Drake and
Despite the contributions of these re-
Harris 1931); beans (Chittenden 1900,
searchers, detailed larval morphology of
1902a): corn (Chittenden 1900); cotton
Systena has heretofore remained unde-
(Bissell 1941); and sugar-beets (Chittenden
scribed. Chittenden (1900) provided minute
1902b).
illustrations of the larval habitus and anal
Methods
plate of Systena blanda (Melsheimer) (this
plate also reproduced in Chittenden 1902a) Detailed morphological description and
and a brief discussion of diagnostic char- discussion are provided for the larva Sys-
VOLUME 100, NUMBER 3 485
teiia blondo. Characters of larval exemplars 6 setae. Ligula stump-like, separated from
of 5. blaiida were examined using a Leica prementum, not extending from between la-
MZ-APO stereoscope and Leitz Diaplan bial palpi, with 2 pairs of setae and numer-
compound microscope fitted with transmit- ous minute micro-setae. Labial palp 2-seg-
ted light interference contrast apparati mented. Prementum with 2 pairs of setae
(ICT). Stereo and compound microscopic and 1 pair of sensilla; postmentum with 3
illustrations were made using camera luci- pairs of setae.
das. Images were scanned at 600 dpi using Thorax: Pronotum pale brown, weakly
a Nikon Scantouch scanner and enhanced sclerotized, with 12 pairs of setae. Meso-
using Adobe Photoshop 3.0 and labelled us- thoracic spiracles annuliform, situated on
ing Macromedia Freehand 5.5. epipleural anterior part; peritreme darker
than adjacent cuticle. Legs (Fig. 8) rather
Description stout; tibia with 8 setae (5 stout); tarsun-
gulus falciform, moderately curved anteri-
Systena blcmda (Melsheimer), 1847
orly, enlarged base with I seta; pulvillus
(Figs. 1-8) whitish, bladder-like, as long as tarsungu-
—
Mature larva. Body (Fig. 1) yellowish lus.
brown, moderately convex, C-shaped, long Abdomen: Typical abdominal segments
and slender. All segments elongate, with with three folds. Abdomen with 8 pairs of
numerous scattered setae. Head, spiracles spiracles, the peritremes circular. Epipleu-
and anal plate brown; mandible, pronotum, ron and pleuron each with 6 setae. Anal
and legs pale brown. plate (Fig. 7) saddle- shaped, with 12 pairs
Head: Hypognathous, rounded, slightly of long setae (including 2 pairs of long se-
sclerotized. Epicranial suture rather short, tae on lateral margin of ventral side), 1 pair
endocarina weakly developed. Frontal su- ofmedial sensillae, and about 20 additional,
ture (Fig. 3) moderately divergent (about shorter setae at margin of apex of anal
40°) and nearly straight. Frons (Fig. 3) with plate. Tenth abdominal segment well devel-
5 pairs of frontal setae and 1 pair of frontal oped, straight, with ventrally directed py-
sensilla; epistomal suture (Fig. 3) well de- gopod (Fig. 1).
veloped. Antenna (Fig. 2) 2-segmented, Body length: average 5.2 mm (n = 5).
segment 1 with a large conical sensory pa- Head width: average 0—.45 mm (n = 5).
pilla, 4 setae and 2 sensilla, segment 2 short Material examined. Bard, California, 5
and small, with 1 long seta and 2 short se- specimens, V-15-1913, H. Pinkus, collector.
tae. Clypeus (Fig. 4) trapezoidal, with 1 Deposited in the National Museum of Nat-
pair of clypeal setae and 1 pair of clypeal ural History, Smithsonian Institution,
sensilla; labrum (Fig. 4) with 2 pairs of la- Washington, DC.
bral setae and 1 pair of labral sensilla; epi-
Discussion
pharynx (Fig. 4) with 6 pairs of epiphar-
yngeal setae. Mandible (Fig. 6) palmate, Alticine larvae can be categorized into
well sclerotized, with 5 distal teeth, 2 man- three types based on their ecological asso-
dibular setae and 1 mandibular sensillum, ciation: (1) leaf living including external
penicillus well developed with 3 long and feeders and leaf miners; (2) stem borers;
straight lobes. Maxilla and labium (Fig. 5): and (3) root feeders (soil dwelling). The
Maxillary palp 3-segmented, segments 2 morphology among these types is not al-
and 3 each with 1 seta and 1 sensillum. seg- ways distinctive and convergence clearly
ment 1 without seta; palpifer with 2 setae; exists when distantly related taxa share the
stipes with 2 setae; cardo with 1 seta on same ecological association. Larval char-
outer anterior margin. Galea broad, with 6 acters of external alticine leaf feeders are
setae; lacinia with tightly bunched group of similar to many genera ofgalerucine larvae
486 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 1-8. Larva ofSystenii hiaiida. 1, Mature larva, lateral view. 2, Antenna, dorsal view. 3, Head, dorsal
view. 4, Clypeus. labrum and epipharynx, dorsal view. 5. Lowermouth parts, ventral view. 6, Mandible, buccal
view. 7. Anal plate, dorsal view. 8, Left hind leg, dorsal view. Scale line = 1.0 mm (Fig. I); 0.05 mm (Figs.
2—8). Abbreviations: csp = conical sensory papilla; es = epistomal suture; fs = frontal suture; pe = penicillus;
pu = pulvillus; py = pygopod; sg# = segment number
and are characterized by having a well de- ized by having a flat body form, hind cor-
veloped tubercle, body densely covered ners of epicranium largely produced poste-
with setae, and labial palp 2-segmented. riorly, antenna 1-segmented, cardo reduced
Leaf mining and stem boring alticines are or fused with stipes, 8th abdominal spiracle
similar to hispine larvae and are character- well developed, and labial palp 1-segment-
VOLUME 100, NUMBER 3 487
ed and strongly reduced. Some leaf miners LiTERATLIRE CiTED
and stem borers have 1 pair of terminal Anderson, W. H. 1938. Description of the larvae of
spines on the anal plate. Characters of soil Chaetocnema demiculaui (lUiger) and Ctiaeloc-
dwelling alticine larvae are very similar to nema pulicciria Melsheimer (Col.. Chrysomeli-
those of external leaf feeders but are easily dae). Proceedings ofthe Entomological Societyof
distinguished by their very long and slender Washington 40(6): 161-169.
Bis.sell, T. D. 1941. The pale-striped flea beetle. Geor-
body shape.
gia Experiment Station Circular No. 130: 1-8.
Systeiia blanda larvae feed on the under- Boving, A. G. and F. C. Craighead. 1931. An illus-
ground portions of seedling onions, primar- trated synopsisofthe principal larval formsofthe
ily on the subterranean leaf sheaths and orderColeoptera. EntomologicaAmericana 11:1-
rootlets (Drake and Harris 1931). This same Chitt3e5n1d.en. E H. 1900. Some insects injurious to gar-
feeding behavior probably applies to the den crops: A seriesofarticles dealing with insects
other hosts, but has not been documented. of this class. United States Department of Agri-
The larvae expectedly have the character- culture. Division of Entomology Bulletin No. 23:
istic appearance ofroot-feeding alticine lar- 1-92.
Chittenden. E H. 1902a. Some insects injurioustoveg-
vae. In this respect, they are similar to etable crops: A series of articles dealing with in-
Chaetocnema Stephens. Epitrix Foudras. sects of this class. United States Department of
Hemiaeophaga Foudras, Longitarsus Bert- Agriculture, Division ofEntomology Bulletin No.
hold, Phygasia Dejean, Phyllotreta Chev- 33: 1-117.
rolat, Pseudodera Baly, and Psylliodes Chittenden. E H. 1902b. The principal insect ene-
mies of the sugar beet. United States Depart-
Berthold in the long, threadlike body and
ment ofAgriculture. Progress ofthe Beet-Sugar
soil dwelling habits. Two-segmented anten- Industry in the L'nited States, Report No. 74:
nae likely occur in all these genera based 157-221.
on other shared morphology, although the Dobson, R. M. 1960. The immature stages of the flea
antennal morphology for larvae of Phyga- beetles Psylliodes cuprea (Koch) and Psylliodes
chrysocephala (L.) (Col., Chrysomelidae). Ento-
sia, Phyllotreta. Pseudodera, and Psylli- mologist's Monthly Magazine XCVI: 1-4.
odes is unknown. Diagnostic characters of Drake, C. J. and H. M. Hams. 1931. The pale-striped
Systena include: segment 2 of antenna with flea beetle, a pest ofyoung seedling onions. Jour-
a long seta and 2 short setae (potentially nal of Economic Entomology 24: 1132-1137.
shared with other genera), ligula with nu- Kimoto, S. and H. Takizawa. 1994. Leaf Beetles
(Chrysomelidae) ofJapan.Tokai UniversityPress.
merous setae anteriorly, mandible with
539 pp. [In Japanese.]
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Melsheimer, F. E. 1847. Descriptions of neu species
ofColeoptera ofthe United States. Proceedingsof
Acknowledgments the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia
We thank the Department of Entomolo- Newt3o:n.15H8.-1C8.1E. 1933. On the biologyofsomespecies
gy, Smithsonian Institution, and Systematic of Longitarsus (Col., Chrysomelidae) living on
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Ogloblin, D. A. and L. N. Medvedev. 1971. The Lar-
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Judd, Allen Norrbom, Michael Pogue. Eric dae) of the European Part of the USSR. Isdatel-
Smith, Charlie Staines, and an anonymous stuo Nauka Opredelitel po Faune SSSR. Lenin-
reviewer for constructive suggestions that grad. 124 pp [In Russian.]
improved this manuscript. This project was Paterson. N. E 1943. Early stages of two species of
Halticinae (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). Journal
supported in part by a grant from Andong of the Entomological Society of South Africa 6:
National University, Korea. 29-36.
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