K. Prathapan, A. Konstantinov: Orisaltata, a new genus of flea beetles from the Oriental Region ...

Zootaxa 1109: 39-47 (2006) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) 
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ZOOTAXA 

Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) 

Orisaltata, a new genus of flea beetles from the Oriental Region (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) 

K. D. PRATHAPAN & A. S. KONSTANTINOV

Department of Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani P. O., Trivandrum - 695 522, Kerala, INDIA, 
prathapankd@gmail.com 

Systematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, c/o 
National Museum of Natural History, MRC 168 Washington, DC 20560, U. S. A., akonstan@sel.barc.usda.gov 

Abstract 

A new genus, Orisaltata, with the type species Aphthona azurea Jacoby (the only known species) 
from the Oriental Region is described and illustrated. Comparative notes and host plant information 
are provided. Aphthona babai Kimoto is synonymized with Orisaltata azurea. 

Key words: Chrysomelidae, new genus, synonymy, Oriental Region 

Introduction 

A revision of the Aphthona Chevrolat of the Oriental Region necessitated removal of 19 
incorrectly placed species from the genus (Konstantinov & Lingafelter, 2002). Two 
congeneric species, Aphthona azurea described by Jacoby (1896) from Myanmar and A. 
babai described by Kimoto (2000) from Thailand, were placed under incertae sedis in the 
above revision because they do not share any synapomorphy with Aphthona. Further 
studies of additional material collected in India and Thailand revealed that these species 
are synonymous and belong to a new genus,which is described below. Dissecting 
techniques and terminology follow Konstantinov (1998). The beetles are deposited in the 
following collections: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 
Washington, D. C. (USNM); Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (MCZC); University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India (UASB), 
Kitakyushu Museum and Institute of Natural History, Kitakyushu, Japan (KMHJ), and the 
personal collection of the senior author (PKDC).