Phratora

Phratora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Tribe: Chrysomelini
Genus: Phratora
Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836
Synonyms

Phyllodecta Kirby, 1837

Phratora is a genus of leaf beetles. It is synonymous to Phyllodecta .[1] European Phratora species can be distinguished based on morphology of female genitalia.,[2] but they differ little in size and body form and most show metallic coloration.[3]

Distribution

Phratora species are found in the Northern Hemisphere in areas that tend to be cool and moist where their host plants thrive.[4] They are usually found in Northern and Southern Europe,[3] China and Japan,[5][6][7] and in Canada and the United States of America.[8][1]

Head of Phratora adult
Head of Phratora adult

Host plants

Species in this genus are of considerable interest to evolutionary ecology researchers because they vary with respect to host plant preference and chemistry of their larval defensive secretions.[8] Phratora species are known to feed on willows (Phratora americana, P. frosti, P. interstitialis, P. tibialis, Phratora vitellinae, Phratora vulgatissima, P. polaris, P. purpurea), poplars (Phratora laticollis, P. atrovirens, Phratora vitellinae, P. purpurea), or birch (P. polaris in Lapland, Phratora hudsonia), and their host plant use is evolutionarily conserved in that closely related beetle species tend to feed on more closely related plant species.[8][9]

Host plant use and evolutionary relationships among Phratora species
Host plant use and evolutionary relationships among Phratora species[8]

Natural enemies

Predators of Phratora eggs include A. nemorum, Orthotylus marginalisand the syrphid fly Parasyrphus nigritarsis.[10] Larval predators include A. nemorum, the bug Rhacognathus punctatus,[10] and the wasp Symmorphus bifasciatus.[11] Adult beetles are consumed by R. punctatus.[10] More information about natural enemies can be found in the articles about Phratora laticollis, Phratora vitellinae and Phratora vulgatissima.

Larval defense secretions

The mechanism of larval defensive secretion production, its relationship to host plant preference, and its evolutionary significance has been studied.[12][13] The secretions can repel natural enemies or conspecifics.[14] More information about larval secretions can be found in the articles about Phratora laticollis and Phratora vitellinae.

Egg of Parasyrphus nigritarsus (top, pale) on egg clutch of Phratora vitellinae (yellow)
Egg of Parasyrphus nigritarsus (top, pale) on egg clutch of Phratora vitellinae (yellow). The crusty secretion on top of the beetle eggs is evident.
Phratora vitellinae larvae feeding on Populus tremula
Phratora vitellinae larvae feeding on Populus tremula
Third instar Phratora vitellinae larva feeding on a willow leaf
Third instar Phratora vitellinae larva feeding on a willow leaf

Economic Importance

Some species (especially Phratora vulgatissima) are considered pests when populations build up in willow plantations.[15]

Species

These 16 species belong to the genus Phratora:

Data sources: i = ITIS,[16] c = Catalogue of Life,[17] g = GBIF,[18] b = Bugguide.net[19]

References

  1. ^ a b W. J. Brown (1951). "The American Species of Phratora Chev. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)". The Canadian Entomologist. 83 (5): 121–130. doi:10.4039/Ent83121-5. S2CID 86211344.
  2. ^ Sundholm, A. (1956). "Studien über die Gattung Phyllodecta Kirby (Col. Chrysomelidae)". Opuscula Entomologica. 21: 5–7.
  3. ^ a b Görnandt, H. (1955). "Die Käfergattung Phyllodecta Kirby". Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. 2: 1–100. doi:10.1002/mmnd.19550020102.
  4. ^ Silverberg, H. (1994). "Chrysomelidae in the Arctic". In P. H. Jolivet; M. L. Cox; E. Petitpierre (eds.). Novel aspects of the biology of Chrysomelidae. Vol. 50. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic. pp. 503–510.
  5. ^ Shuyong, W. (1992). "Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae- Chrysomelinae". Insects of the Hengduan Mountains Region. 1 (5): 628–645.
  6. ^ Chen, S. H. (1965). "On the Chinese species of the Chrysomeline genus Phratora". Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica. 2 (3): 218–224.
  7. ^ Gressitt, J. L.; Kimoto, S. (1963). "The Chrysomelidae (Coleopt.) of China and Korea, Part 2". Pacific Insects Monograph. 1b: 301–1026.
  8. ^ a b c d Köpf, A.; Rank, N. E.; Roininen, H.; Julkunen-Tiitto, R.; Pasteels, J. M.; Tahvanainen, J. (1998). "The evolution of host-plant use and sequestration in the leaf beetle genus Phratora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)". Evolution. 52 (2): 517–528. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1998.tb01651.x. PMID 28568343. S2CID 24641299.
  9. ^ Canty, Roy; Ruzzier, Enrico; Cronk, Quentin C.; Percy, Diana M. (2019). "Salix transect of Europe: additional leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) records and insights from chrysomelid DNA barcoding". Biodiversity Data Journal. 7: e46663. doi:10.3897/BDJ.7.e46663. PMC 6848237. PMID 31736630. S2CID 208033474.
  10. ^ a b c Rank, N. E.; Smiley, J. T.; Köpf, A. (1996). "Natural enemies and host plant relationships for chrysomeline leaf beetles feeding on Salicaceae". In P. H. Jolivet; M. L. Cox (eds.). Chrysomelidae Biology. Vol. 2: Ecological Studies. Amsterdam: SPB Publishing. pp. 147–171.
  11. ^ Blüthgen, P. (1961). Die Faltenwespen Mitteleuropas (Hymenoptera, Diploptera). Berlin: Akademie Verlag.
  12. ^ Soetens, P.; Pasteels, J. M.; Daloze, D. (1993-11-01). "A simple method for in vivo testing of glandular enzymatic activity on potential precursors of larval defensive compounds in Phratora species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelinae)". Experientia. 49 (11): 1024–1026. doi:10.1007/BF02125653. ISSN 1420-9071. S2CID 32185705.
  13. ^ Termonia, A.; Hsiao, T. H.; Pasteels, J. M.; Milinkovitch, M. C. (2001). "Feeding specialization and host-derived chemical defense in Chrysomeline leaf beetles did not lead to an evolutionary dead end". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. 98 (7): 3909–3914. Bibcode:2001PNAS...98.3909T. doi:10.1073/pnas.061034598. PMC 31152. PMID 11259651.
  14. ^ Hilker, M. (1989). "Intra- and interspecific effects of larval secretions in some chrysomelids (Coleoptera)". Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 53 (3): 237–245. doi:10.1111/j.1570-7458.1989.tb03571.x. S2CID 86351214.
  15. ^ J. Stenberg; A. Lehrman; C. Björkman (2010). "Uncoupling direct and indirect plant defences: Novel opportunities for improving crop security in willow plantations". Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 139 (4): 528–533. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2010.09.013.
  16. ^ "Phratora Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  17. ^ "Browse Phratora". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  18. ^ "Phratora". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  19. ^ "Phratora Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-27.

Further reading

  • Arnett, R.H. Jr.; Thomas, M. C.; Skelley, P. E.; Frank, J. H., eds. (2002). American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0849309540.
  • Clark, S.M.; Le Doux, D.G.; Riley, E.G.; Gilbert, A.J.; et al. (2004). Host Plants of Leaf Beetle Species Occurring in the United States and Canada. Coleopterists Society. ISBN 9780972608732.
  • Riley, Edward G.; Clark, Shawn M.; Seeno, Terry N. (2003). Catalog of the leaf beetles of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae and Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae). Special Publication. The Coleopterists Society. ISBN 0-9726087-1-0.
  • Media related to Phratora at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Phratora at Wikispecies