Cangshanaltica, KONSTANTINOV ET AL.

Damaška, Albert František, Konstantinov, Alexander & Fikáček, Martin, 2022, Multiple origins of moss-inhabiting flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): molecular phylogeny, overview of genera and a new genus from Africa, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196, pp. 647-676 : 659-660

CANGSHANALTICA KONSTANTINOV ET AL., 2013

( FIG. 4 )

Type species: Cangshanaltica nigra Konstantinov et al., 2013 .

Synonymy: No generic synonyms.

Phylogenetic position: Cangshanaltica has recently been revealed as a member of the Chabria group, together with the moss-inhabiting genus Ivalia and the leaf-surfaceliving genera Chabria Jacoby, 1887 , Chabriosoma Chen, 1934 and Sutrea Baly, 1876 ( DamaŠka et al., 2020). In our present study, the sister-group of Cangshanaltica is Ivalia (pp = 0.95). However, a larger phylogenetic analysis of the Chabria group revealed Cangshanaltica as a sister-group of a clade containing mostly winged genera, namely Chabria , Chabriosoma , Sutrea and Parathrylea Duvivier, 1892 ( DamaŠka et al., 2020).

Revisions: The genus was recently described ( Konstantinov et al., 2013) as monotypic, with additional species described since ( DamaŠka & Konstantinov, 2016; Konstantinov et al., 2016; DamaŠka & Aston, 2019; Ruan et al., 2020; Takemoto & Suenaga, 2021).

Diversity and distribution: Seven species have been described; descriptions of four additional species are in preparation (DamaŠka et al., in prep.). The genus is distributed in the Himalayan foothills ( China and Thailand), the Philippines, the Chinese coast from Hong Kong to Zhejiang, in Taiwan ( DamaŠka et al., 2021) and in the Ryukyu Archipelago ( Takemoto & Suenaga, 2021).

Morphological characteristics: Body generally ovate to round in dorsal view, strongly convex in lateral view, head nearly hypognathous. Antennal calli indistinct. Antennae with 11 antennomeres; apical antennomeres tend to be widened. Antennomere 7 bears a distal protrusion. A remarkably similar protrusion was recently discovered in a flightless galerucine Prathapanius fortis Viswajyothi & Clark, 2020 . Pronotum short, convex, with an anterolateral setiferous pore placed nearly in the midlength of the lateral pronotal margin. Procoxal cavity open posteriorly. Mesoventrite entirely covered by the anterior process of the metaventrite in the area between the mesocoxae. The surface of the anterior metaventral process is strongly modified with distinctly projecting lateral margin, forming a specific ‘horseshoe-like’ shape. Elytra convex, usually covered with scattered feeble punctures. Legs robust, metatibiae slightly or strongly curved. First metatarsomere elongated. First abdominal ventrite with an elevated ridge, surrounded by deep punctures, exceeding as an anterior abdominal process between metacoxae. Aedeagus usually simple, long, with somewhat arrow-like apex. Spermathecal duct without coils. Vaginal palpi fused basally.

Ecology: Unlike other moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera, the ecology of Cangshanaltica is well documented. The montane species ( C. mindanaoensis DamaŠka et al., 2020 , C. nigra and C. siamensis DamaŠka & Konstantinov, 2003 ) live in moss cushions in montane cloud forests or close to the tree line. Cangshanaltica sprynari DamaŠka & Aston, 2019 and C. fuanensis Ruan et al., 2020 , on the contrary, were found at low elevations. Individuals of C. sprynari were documented to be active only for few days during the year, usually after rains, walking over substrate covered by thin layers of mosses (instead of inside of moss cushions). Cangshanaltica nigra is documented to feed on tissues of Hypnum Hedw. moss, as documented by the dissection of its gut content; C. sprynari feeds on Fissidens Hedw. , which was also demonstrated by dissection ( Konstantinov et al., 2013; DamaŠka & Aston, 2019). Ruan et al. (2020) described the larva and ecology of C. fuanensis , including the length of the larval development and egg-laying ecology.

Remarks: Externally, Cangshanaltica is s i m i l a r t o I v a l i a, s h a r i n g m o s t o f i t s g e n e r a l morphological features, i.e. round and convex body, curved metatibiae and the horseshoe-like anterior metaventral process. The main diagnostic characters between Cangshanaltica and Ivalia are: the anterolateral pronotal setiferous pore situated nearly in the midlength of the pronotal margin (in Ivalia , it is placed anteriorly, usually with an anterior lobe placed before the pore); seventh antennomere is modified, bearing a distal protrusion (in Ivalia , seventh antennomere does not bear such a protrusion). Members of Ivalia are also usually more ovate ( Cangshanaltica is usually more rounded) and less convex in body shape.

Figures

Figure 4. Moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera distributed in Asia. A A, Paraminotella nigrita; B, Benedictus shivalayanicus; C, Paraminota lauribina; D, Ivalia korakundah; E, Cangshanaltica nigra; F, Baoshanaltica minuta; G, Phaelota viridipennis; H, Clavicornaltica dali.