Pepila Weise: Taxonomic identity of the genus and revision of the megalopoides species-group, and description of two new species from Australia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae)

Abstract

In this paper some taxonomic observations on the Australian flea beetle genus Pepila Weise, 1923 are reported. The following species are transferred to the genus Pepila and lectotypes for them designated: Chaetocnema carinata Baly, 1877; Plectroscelis crassipennis Blackburn, 1896; Chaetocnema fuscomaculata Baly, 1877; Plectroscelis hypocrita Blackburn, 1896; Chaetocnema laticeps Baly, 1877; Plectroscelis meyricki Blackburn, 1896; Dibolia ochracea Waterhouse, 1838; Plectroscelis pallidior Blackburn, 1896; Dibolia pygmaea Waterhouse, 1838; Plectroscelis quadraticollis Blackburn, 1896; Chaetocnema submetallescens Baly, 1877; Plectroscelis tumbyensis Blackburn, 1896; Chaetocnema waterhousei Baly, 1877. The synonymy of Chaetocnema submetallescens Baly, 1877 with Plectroscelis longior Blackburn, 1896 is proposed. In addition, the megalopoides species-group, including P. megalopoides Weise, 1923, P. uptoni n.sp., and P. longifallica n.sp., is analyzed.

Keywords

• coleoptera
• chrysomelidae
• pepila
• australia
• taxonomy
• new species
• new combinations