Aphthona bombayensis Scherer, 1969

Prathapan, K. D. & Konstantinov, A. S., 2011, A New Species-Group inAphthonaChevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with a Description of a New Species from Southern India, The Coleopterists Bulletin 65 (4), pp. 329-334 : 329-334

Aphthona bombayensis Scherer, 1969 ( Figs. 1–6 )

Aphthona bombayensis Scherer 1969: 70 (Type locality: India, Bombay. Holotype in Hungarian Museum of Natural History, Budapest, Hungary). Medvedev 1992: 24 (distribution, Nepal). Medvedev and Sprecher-Uebersax 1999: 322 (catalog, Nepal). Konstantinov and Lingafelter 2002: 34, 56–58 (redescription, genitalia illustration, key, new record for Sri Lanka).

Aphthonotarsa brunnea Medvedev 1984: 56 (Type locality: Nepal, Kathmandu. Holotype in Sencken- berg Museum, Frankfurt, Germany). Konstantinov and Lingafelter 2002: 56 (synonymized).

Distribution. India (Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra), Nepal, Sri Lanka.

Host plants. Phyllanthus airy-shawii Brunel and Roux ( Fig. 8 ), Phyllanthus amarus Schum. and Thonn. ( Fig. 7 ), and Phyllanthus urinaria L. ( Euphorbiaceae ).

Remarks. This is the first report of A. bombayensis from southern India as defined by Prathapan and Konstantinov (2003). Adults feed on the leaves of Phyllanthus spp. by scraping green tissue from their surface ( Fig. 9 ). An affinity to Euphorbiaceae by A. bombayensis supports our conclusion that this species belongs to Aphthona as many of its congeners are associated with Euphorbiaceae . Herbaceous species of Phyllanthus , especially P. amarus and P. urinaria , are widely used in the traditional Indian medicine in treatment of jaundice.

Material Examined. INDIA: Karnataka: 1♀, Bangalore , 19.vi.1998, Prathapan coll. ; Kerala: 1♀, Vellayani , 26.x.2002 ; 1♀, same data except dating 8.vi.2009 ; 1♂ 7♀, same data except dating 8.x.2010 ; 1♂ 2♀, same data except dating 14.i.2011 ; 1♀, Ponmudi , 14.vi.2009, Prathapan coll. ; 3♂ 2♀, Pandanad , 25.xii.2010, Prathapan coll. ( PKDC) .

Figures

Figs. 1–6. Aphthona bombayensis. 1) Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view; 2) Median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 3) Median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view; 4) Spermatheca; 5) Vaginal palpi; 6) Tignum.

Figs. 7–9. Host plants of Aphthona bombayensis. 7) Phyllanthus amarus; 8) Phyllanthus airy-shawii; 9) Adult feeding scars on leaf.