Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5306 No. 2: 20 Jun. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-06-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5306.2.6
Page range: 266-276
Abstract views: 333
PDF downloaded: 20

Three new species of Merma Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachnini) from Madagascar

Museum and Institute of Zoology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Wilcza 64; 00-679; Warsaw; Poland
Museum and Institute of Zoology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Wilcza 64; 00-679; Warsaw; Poland
Coleoptera Coccinelloidea taxonomy ladybird beetles herbivory new species cryptic species

Abstract

The herbivorous ladybird genus Merma Weise was regarded as an African endemite, however, recent examination of the type material of the two Malagasy species Epilachna hovana Sicard,1908 [now Merma hovana (Sicard,1908)] and Peralda quadriguttata Sicard, 1909 [now Merma quadriguttata (Sicard, 1909)], revealed they also belong to that genus. Here further three new species of Merma from Madagascar, M. ankarana sp. nov., M. antakotako sp. nov. and M. fisheri sp. nov., are described, diagnosed and illustrated. An updated key to species of Merma from Madagascar is also provided.

 

References

  1. Jadwiszczak, A. & Węgrzynowicz, P. (2003) World Catalogue of Coccinellidae Part I—Epilachninae. Mantis, Olsztyn, 264 pp.
  2. Korschefsky, R. (1931) Pars. 118, Coccinellidae. I. In: Junk, W. & Schenkling, S. (Eds.), Coleopterorum Catalogus. W. Junk, Berlin, pp. 1–224.
  3. Latreille, P.A. (1807) Genera crustaceorum et insectorum secundum ordinem naturalem in familias disposita, iconibus exemplisque plurimis explicata. Tomus tertius. A. Koenig, Paris, 258 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.4819 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.65741
  4. Lawrence, J.F., Ślipiński, A., Seago, A.E., Thayer, M.K., Newton, A.F. & Marvaldi, A.E. (2011) Phylogeny of the Coleoptera based on morphological characters of adults and larvae. Annales Zoologici, 61, 1–217. https://doi.org/10.3161/000345411X576725 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3161/000345411X576725
  5. Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 824 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542
  6. Mulsant, E. (1846) Histoire Naturelle des Coléoptères de France. Sulcicolles-Sécuripalpes. Maison, Paris, xxiv + 26 + 280 pp., 1 pl.
  7. Sicard, A. (1908) Revision des Coccinellides de la faune Malgache. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 76, 425–482.
  8. Sicard, A. (1909) Revision des Coccinellides de la faune Malgache. II. Coccinellidae Aphidiphagae. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 78, 63–165.
  9. Ślipiński, S.A. (2007) Australian ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Their biology and classification. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, 286 pp.
  10. Szawaryn, K., Bocak, L., Ślipiński, A., Escalona, H.E. & Tomaszewska, W. (2015) Phylogeny and evolution of phytophagous ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachnini), with recognition of new genera. Systematic Entomology, 40, 547–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12121
  11. Szawaryn, K. Churata-Salcedo, J. (2022) Revision of Malagasy species of the genus Merma Weise (Coccinellidae: Epilachnini). Zootaxa, 5087 (4), 571–582. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5087.4.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5087.4.5
  12. Tomaszewska, W. & Szawaryn K. (2016) Epilachnini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)—A revision of the World genera. Journal of Insects Science, 16, 1–91. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iew082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iew082
  13. Weise, J. (1898) Coccinelliden aus Kamerun. Deutsche EntomologischeZeitschrift, 1898, 97–125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.48018980113