The taxonomy and biology of the British Chrysomelidae

Abstract

The Chrysomelidae are the second largest family of beetles with over 55,000 World species in seventeen subfamilies, In Britain there are 260 species in eleven subfamilies. They are phytophagous, feeding in the larval and adult state on the primitive Equisetaceae, Monocotyledons and the more specialised Dicotyledons. Each species usually feeds on a strictly limited range of host plants with a few species confined to a single plant species. Many are pests of cultivated plants causing direct injury by reducing the leaf area or indirect injury by transmitting plant viruses. 24 species are known to be capable of transmitting plant viruses and of these all but four belong to the subfamilies Galerucinae and Halticinae. Other beneficial weed feeding species have been used to control weeds. In the present study an attempt is made to show the relationships between the subfamilies, genera and species of the British Chrysomelidae using adult, larval, pupal and biological studies. Keys are also compiled where necessary. The adult characters, the aedeagus, spermatheca, wing venation and claw structure were chosen as these had not been studied in detail by previous workers.