Hemilactica Blake, 1937

Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2021, Flea beetles of the West Indies: the genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 1044, pp. 589-607 : 589

Hemilactica Blake, 1937

Hemilactica Blake, 1937: 37. Type species: Hemilactica pulchella Blake, 1937: 37, by original designation.

Distribution.

Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico.

Host plants.

Micropholis guyanensis (A. DC.) Pierre ( Sapotaceae ), wild balata ( Blake 1964 for Hemilactica portoricensis Blake).

Remarks.

While describing the genus, Blake compared it with Lactica Erichson and Diphaulaca Chevrolat. It is indeed similar externally to both. However, Hemilactica specimens are missing sclerotized vaginal palpi as Lactica and related genera ( Viswajyothi and Konstantinov 2020). The type species of Diphaulaca [ D. aulica (Olivier)] has vaginal palpi well sclerotized and fully visible. Because of the structure of on the beetle’s head sulci and ridges, the grooves on the pronotum and general body shape, Hemilactica generally fits into the Monomacra group of genera as roughly defined by Bechyne and Springlova de Bechyne (1975) and described in more details in Viswajyothi and Konstantinov (2020). In order to facilitate identification of Hemilactica , a key to it and related genera previously published ( Viswajyothi and Konstantinov 2020) is provided at the end of the paper.

Currently known Hemilactica species exhibit some noticeable differences in “genus” level characters as they are currently understood for the purpose of revising flea beetle genera of the West Indies. The type species, H. pulchella and H. rugosa Blake are quite similar in having strongly punctate dorsum and relatively long and narrow frontal ridge, while species that Blake (1964) described later (e.g., H. portoricensis ) have a much shorter and wider frontal ridge and smooth elytra with much smaller elytral and pronotal punctations. However, the other substantial features of these beetles look similar. Therefore, they are all retained under Hemilactica until more evidence comes to light. Lactica megaspila Blake (Fig. 26 ) is clearly congeneric with Hemilactica portoricensis and therefore is transferred here to Hemilactica .

Figures

Figures 25 - 28. Adult Hemilactica species dorsal habitus 25 H. clara 26 H. megaspila, illustration by Madison Dorr (Systematic Entomology Laboratory internship program 2020) 27 H. portoricensis, holotype 28 H. pulchella, holotype.