Descrição de larvas de quatro espécies de Alticini (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) que habitam musgo

Abstract

Alticini (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) is the richest tribe among chrysomelids and can be easily recognized by having the dilated hind femur. These phytophagous beetles are closely related to their host plants, being monophagous or oligophagous, mainly associated with Angiosperms. However, in the last two decades, a new and peculiar group of alticinis has been discovered associated with mosses, there are about 61 species from 18 known genera. These beetles are very small, being among the smallest chrysomelids, and therefore both adults and larvae are difficult to see in field. In addition, the degree of specialization of this fauna to Bryophyta is unknown, that is, if they spend their entire life cycle in this habitat, part of their cycle, or if They use them only for food and also, if they are related to a specific set of Bryophyta species. Currently, there are the description of immatures for four species of this specific set of alticini, and knowing this poorly explored fauna is extremely important, both because the morphological data can help in the understanding of the Alticini group itself, to interpret the relationship existing with Galerucinae and other subfamilies of Chrysomelidae and, analyzing this fauna will help to understand its biology, evolutionary history and importance in ecological processes. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the larvae of four recently discovered species of Alticini associated with moss: Menudos toronegro Linzmeier & Konstantinov, 2020, Andersonalica villabarrancoli Konstantinov & Linzmeier, 2020, Erinaceialtica gabbysalazarae Konstantinov & Linzmeier, 2020 and, E. janestanleyae Konstantinov & Linzmeier, 2020. The description was carried out through larvae photographs wich were associatd with adults by molecular analyses. The three genera belong to Monoplatina subtribe and are very similar in terms of arrangement of sclerites, mainly dorsolateral and ventral, chaetotaxy and absence of pulvilus. Menudos is distinguished mainly by i) absence of dorsolateral glandular orifice, ii) endocarene that extends to clipeus and, iii) epipleural sclerite of the prothorax and mesothorax glabrous. Andersonaltica can be distinguished by i) long endocarena, extending to close to the frontoclypeal suture, ii) presence of three pairs of setae on the forehead, and iii) presence of two epipleural setae on the metathorax. Erinaceialtica is distinguished mainly by the short endocarena, which does not extends beyond the middle of the frons. The three genera here studied differ from the other Alticini larvae, mainly because they do not have prominent body tubercles, and have a small, robust and rounded body that probapbly facilitates their locomotion among the moss. From this study, the number of descriptions of Alticini larvae associated with bryophytes increased to eight. In addition, an identification key was presented for larvae of Alticini species moss inhabiting. This study contributed to a better understanding and characterization of this taxon still poorly studied.