The morphology and biology of Pterodunga mirabile Daccordi, an unusual subsocial Chrysomeline (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

摘要

New information is provided on the morphology and biology of the Australian leaf-beetle Pterodunga mirabile Daccordi. This species is unusual in the Chrysomelinae for the following features: adult with deeply grooved prothoracic hypopleuron, laterally pointed elytral margins, concealed mesoventrite and fused abdominal ventrites; female ovoviviparous and without spermatheca; first-instar larva with lappet-like sclerites; maternal care; host plant in the Proteaceae. The systematic position and conservation status of Pterodunga are discussed. Maternal care in the Chrysomelinae and Proteaceae-feeding in the Chrysomelidae are reviewed. The first record of maternal care in Chrysomelinae, for Labidomera suturella Guerin-Meneville, is shown to be a misidentification of Platyphora selvae Daccordi.