Spilopyrinae Chapuis: a new subfamily in the Chrysomelidae and its systematic placement (Coleoptera)

Abstract

The phylogeny of the Chrysomeloidea is re-assessed, with data from recently described larvae of three chrysomeloid taxa. Cladistic analyses were performed on 19 subfamilies and tribes with 56 informative characters. The tribe Megascelidini is shown to be correctly placed in Eumolpinae and the subfamily Aulacoscelidinae in Orsodacnidae, but Spilopyra and associated genera are the probable monophyletic sister-taxon of (Eumolpinae + (Lamprosomatinae + Cryptocephalinae)) and are therefore elevated to subfamily: Spilopyrinae Chapuis (= Stenomelini Chapuis, syn. nov. = Hornibiinae Crowson, syn. nov.). The genera included in Spilopyrinae are: Bohumiljania Monrós, Cheiloxena Baly, Hornius Fairmaire, Macrolema Baly, Richmondia Jacoby, Spilopyra Baly and Stenomela Blanchard. Adults and larvae of Spilopyrinae are described and a key given for the genera. The status of several genera formerly placed in association with members of the Spilopyrinae is reviewed. The subfamily Spilopyrinae has a southern trans-Pacific distribution, in Chile, New Caledonia, New Guinea and Australia, indicating an origin before the late Cretaceous break-up of Gondwana. The species feed on Sapindaceae (Spilopyra), Nothofagaceae (Hornius) and Myrtaceae (Cheiloxena, Stenomela). New keys are provided to the adults and larvae of the subfamilies of Chrysomeloidea.