PhD

The study entitled ‘The galerucine leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae:
Galerucinae: Galerucini) of southern India’ was carried out at College of Agriculture,
Vellayani during September 2016−April 2021. The study was designed with the
objectives of collection and identification of galerucine leaf beetles of southern India;
documentation of host plants and other ecological data in all possible cases;
preparation of illustrations and descriptions, with emphasis on characters of male and
female genitalia; and preparation of an illustrated key to species. The study area
encompasses the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and
Telangana.
Eight hundred and thirty-three specimens belonging to 41 species in 27 genera
were studied. Detailed descriptions were prepared, with colour photographs of dorsal,
ventral, lateral and anterior habitus as well as diagnostic characters, including male
and female genitalia. Additionally, internal sac or endophallus was everted in relevant
and possible cases and illustrated. Measurements and proportions are provided. An
illustrated key to select genera and species of Galerucini of south India is given. A
checklist of known galerucine leaf beetles of south India is provided.
Two putative new genera and two putative new species are described and
illustrated. A new species Charaea sahyadrica Bezdek and Viswajyothi was published
from this study. The habiti of 20 species in colour, male genitalia of 22 species and
female genitalia of 24 species are given for the first time.
Twenty-seven new host plants, including eleven (40.7%) economically
important ones, were recorded. New host plant records are Aulacophora calva on
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, Cucumis sativus L. and Cucurbita moschata Duchesne
ex Poir. (Cucurbitaceae); A. cincta on Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard
(Sapotaceae); A. frontalis on Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae); A.
impressa on Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir. and
Trichosanthes cucumerina L. (Cucurbitaceae); A. opacipennis on Momordica
charantia L. and Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae); Cassena
bengalensis on Mucuna bracteata (L.) DC. (Fabaceae); Erganoides flavicollis on
Naravelia ceylanica (L.) DC. (Ranunculaceae) and an unidentified legume (Fabaceae);
Galerotella sp. on Cayratia Juss. sp. (Vitaceae); Hoplosaenidea indica on
Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. N. Parker (Meliaceae); Monolepta longitarsis on
Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae) and Spondias pinnata (L. f.) Kurz (Anacardiaceae);
Oides affinis on Spermacoce hispida L. and Spermacoce ocymoides Burm.F.
(Rubiaceae); Oides flava (Olivier) on Cayratia sp. (Vitaceae); Gallerucida sp. on
Cayratia sp.; Sphenoraia hopei on Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) and
Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae); Trichomimastra hirsuta on Syzygium
cumini (L.) Skeels) (Myrtaceae); Genus 1 on Spatholobus parviflorus (DC.) Kuntze
(Fabaceae) and Genus 2 on Aporosa lindleyana (Wight) Baill. (Phyllanthaceae).
New distribution records include two new country records and 10 new state
records. The new records to India are A. opacipennis in Karnataka and Kerala and A.
tibialis in Kerala. The new records to Kerala are A. frontalis; Cassena bengalensis;
Erganoides flavicollis; Galerotella simplicicollis; Kanarella unicolor; Liroetes
apicicornis; Mimastra alternata; Oides flava (Olivier); Genus 1 and Genus 2. The new
records to Karnataka are Aulacophora parambikulamensis; Hoplasoma costatipennis;
Mimastracella hirsuta; Sastroides besucheti and Trichomimastra hirsuta.
Aulacophora calva is being reported for the first time in Karnataka and Kerala.