(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae)
Epitrix Foudras
Epitrix caucasica |
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Epitrix caucasica |
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Distribution: The majority of species occur in the New
World. Fewer in Palearctic region, China, Africa, Madagascar, Sri
Lanka.
Statistics: Palearctic about 15 spp., more than 100
species worldwide.
Host Plants: Mostly Solanaceae:
Atropa, Hyoscyamus, Lycium, Solanum (Medvedev &
Roginskaja, 1988).
Diagnosis: Body small,
oval, more or less convex from lateral view. Color
sometimes yellow, usually dark brown or black, rarely with
metallic lustre. Pronotum and elytron covered with hair.
Head almost hypognathous, convex from lateral view,
ovoid. Frontal ridge usually narrow and long, not forming
T-shaped ridge with anterior margin of head capsule. Antennal
calli small, usually well delimited by furrows from vertex and
from each other. Interantennal space narrower than or equal to
diameter of antennal socket, but narrower than transverse
diameter of eye. Eye comparatively large. Clypeus sometimes long,
labrum narrow. Antenna 11-segmented, filiform.
Pronotum wide, convex, with antebasal transverse and
longitudinal impressions, sinuate basally. Procoxal cavity closed
behind. Intercoxal prosternal process wide and flat.
Elytra oval, more or less convex from lateral view,
with well developed humeral calli. Elytral punctures arranged in
striae; interspaces narrow, usually convex. Epipleuron wide.
Metatibia long, narrow dorsally, flattened laterally.
Dorsal surface convex, flat at apex. First metatarsal segment
inserted apically, short, shorter than following three segments
combined.
