Aulacophora abdominalis Mer
Creators: name: Reid, Chris
name: Halling, Luke
name: Beatson, Max
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Aphididae
Aulacophora
Aulacophora abdominalis

description: Aulacophora abdominalis (Fabricius, 1781)
(Figs 2, 10, 18, 26, 32–35, 44–46, 58–69, 83–84, 94–97, 108–111, 121–124, 135–138, 150–152, 164–167, 182)
Crioceris abdominalis Fabricius 1781: 151.
Cryptocephalus abdominalis: Gmelin 1790: 1719.
Galeruca abdominalis: Olivier 1791: 590.
Galleruca abdominalis: Fabricius 1792: 23.
Raphidopalpa abdominalis: Chevrolat 1836: 378.
Aulacophora abdominalis: Baly 1879: 445.
Rhaphidopalpa abdominalis: Weise 1892: 395.
Raphidopalpa argyrogaster Montrouzier 1861: 299; syn. nov.
Aulacophora fabricii Baly 1886: 14; syn. nov.
Aulacophora armigera Baly 1889: 305; syn. nov.
Rhaphidopalpa aruensis Weise 1892: 394; syn. nov.
Aulacophora fauveli Beenen 2008: 73; syn. nov.
Aulacophora coffeae sensu Baly 1886, nec Hornstedt, 1788.
Aulacophora palmerstoni sensu Lea 1924, nec Blackburn, 1888.
Aulacophora punctata sensu Lea 1924, nec Boisduval, 1835.
Aulacophora relicta sensu Lea 1924, nec Boisduval, 1835.
Aulacophora similis sensu Maulik 1929, nec Olivier, 1808.
Material examined. Type material: Neotype (this designation): ♁/ Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo, VARIC, c6k N Lu- ganville, 15:27S 167:11E, 90m, on crops, 19.v.2014 G Jackson / Aulacophora abdominalis (F, 1781) Neotype, des. Reid et al. 2019 (AMS).
Non-types (734): AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Torres Strait Islands: 1♁/ Badu Island, 10.16S 142.17E, on Phaseolus lunatus, 8.xi.2002, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 2♁/ Dalrymple Is, Torres Straits, CT McNamara (ANIC); 1♁/ Darnley Id, Torres Straits, Lea / Aulacophora abdominalis [Lea handwriting] (SAM); 1♁/ Darnley Island, pumpkin, 30.iv.1984, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 1♁, 5♀, ditto, on pumpkin, 1.v.1984, N Gough (NAQS); 1♁, ditto, 17.iii.1985, JW Turner (NAQS); 1♁, ditto, 18.iii.1985, JW Turner (NAQS); 1♁, 1♀, ditto, 15.iv.1985, JW Turner (NAQS); 2♁, 5♀, ditto, 3.ii.1986, K Houston & E. Hamacek (NAQS); 2♁, 3♀, ditto, on pumpkin, 23.iii.1988, Fay & Halfpapp (NAQS); 2♀, ditto, on pumpkin, 10.xi.1990, J Groener (NAQS); 6♁, 1♀, ditto, 4.iii.1992, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 1♀, ditto, pumpkin, 30.iv.1994, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 1♁, ditto, on maize, 11.ii.2000, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 1♁, 2♀, ditto, 9º35’S 143º46’E, Cucurbita maxima, 21.v.2002, JF Grimshaw & M Kame (NAQS); 1♁, 1♀, ditto, 9.59ºS 143.77ºE, 7.v.2013, AD Rice (NAQS); 1♁, 1♀ / Dauan Island, 9º25’S 142º32’E, cucurbit, 1.vii.1989, JW Turner (NAQS); 8♁, 1♀, ditto, Citrullus lunatus [sic], 8.iv.2005, DM Macleod (NAQS); 4/ Mabuyag Island, 8º57’S 142º11’E, 2.vi.2010, L Halling (NAQS); 9♁, 1♁*, 11♀, 1♀ */ Mer Is, Torres Strait, 9º54.658S 144º03.748E, ex leaves Cucurbita maxima, 23.v.2002, JF Grimshaw, M Kame & J Bon (NAQS); 3♁, 2♀ / Moa Island, St Pauls, on cucumber, 6.iii.1992, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 4♁/ Moa Island, Kubin, on pumpkin, 7.iii.1992, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 2♁, 3♀ / Murray Is, viii–x.1907, Hedley & McCulloch (AMS); 1♀ / Murray I, R. Raven-Hart, 1947 (AMS); 1♁/ Murray Island, maize & pumpkin, 4.v.1981 (NAQS); 3♀, ditto, maize & pumpkin, 18.v.1981 (NAQS); 4♀, ditto, maize & pumpkin, 18.iv.1983, JW Turner (NAQS); 8♁, 2♀, ditto, pumpkin, 2.v.1984, N Gough (NAQS); 2♀, ditto, 23.iv.1986, JW Turner (NAQS); 1♀, ditto, 9º56S 144º04E, watermelon, 21.iii.1991, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 2♀, ditto, pumpkin, 5.iii.1992, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 2♁, 1♁*, 3♀ / Saibai Is, 18.vii.1975 H Heatwole 9 (AMS); 2♁, 1♀ / Saibai Island, 15.iv.1983, JW Turner (NAQS); 1♁, ditto, 9º22’S 142º36’E, 5.iv.1990, JF Donaldson (NAQS); 1♀ / Stephens Island, 9.51S 143.54E, pumpkin, 30.iv.1984, N Gough (NAQS); 1♁, 1♀, ditto, on watermelon, 20.iii.1990, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 1♀, ditto, on pumpkin, 24.iv.1996, JF Grimshaw (NAQS); 1♁, 2♀, ditto, 9º30’S 143º32’E, cucurbitaceae, 5.iv.2005, DM Macleod (NAQS); 1♁/ Yorke I, 1947, Major R Raven-Hart (AMS); FIJI: 7♁, 4♀ / Moturiki, June, AM Lea (SAM); 1♁, 5/ Ovalau, AM Lea (SAM); 1♀ / Vanua Levu, 1k W Savusavu Pier, 0–5m, road verge, on Jasminum flws, 18.xi.2005, C Reid (AMS); INDONESIA: Maluku: 1♁, 1♀ / Aru Is, H El- gner (SAM); 1♁/ Dosi [Aru Island] (NAQS); Nusa Tenggara Timor: 7, 6♁, 1 ♁*, 7♀ / W Timor, Beloto, 9º53.04’S 124º13.06E, congregating on seedhead of Oryza sativa, 3 Apr 1998 GAB00116 G Bellis & Supandi (AMS, DPID, NAQS); Papua and Papua Barat: 1♁/ Holima (NAQS); 11/ Desa Telagamaya, Kec. Sentani, Kab. Jayapura, 2º35.26S 140º35.91E, Citrullus lanatus, 12.iv.1999, G Bellis & Supandi, GAB49965 (AMS, DPID, NAQS); 1♁/ Kotaraja [Jayapura] (NAQS); 2♁/ Koya Barat [Jayapura] (NAQS); 1♁/ Koya Timor [Jayapura] (NAQS); 1♀ / Mar- ga Mulia [Merauke] (NAQS); 4♁, 2♀ / Merauke (NAQS); 1♁/ Nimbekrang [Nimbokrang] (NAQS); 2♁/ Prafi [Manokwari] (NAQS); 1♁, 1♀ / Rimbajaya (NAQS); 2♁/ Wamena (NAQS); 2♁/ Wasur (NAQS); NEW CALE- DONIA: 1m / Poindimé, ix.1962, G Gross (SAM); PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1♁/ New Guinea, coll Sayer, 120/ (AMS); 1♀, no locality (AMS); 2/ Amora (NAQS); 5♁, 5♀ / Balamuk (NAQS); 2♁, 1♁*, 4♀ / Bewani (NAQS); 1♀ / Bisiatabu, Port Moresby, W.N.Lock (SAM); 4♁/ Bosavi, 5.1975, 1.1976, 10.1976, H Ohlmus (ANIC); 3♁, 3♀ / Bougainville, Rev A.H. Voyee (SAM); 2♁/ Bougainville Is, Konga Village, 6.2– 21.3.1961 WW Brandt (ANIC); 1♀ / Bougainville, iv.1933 W.M. Morgan (SAM); 8♁/ Buji, 9º08’S 142º13’E, (NAQS); 1♁, 4♀ / Buzi (NAQS); 6♁, 1♀ / Dimiri (NAQS); 11♁, 7♀ / Dimisisi, 8º37’S 142º13’E, (NAQS); 1/ Dome 2 (NAQS); 1♁, 1♁*, 1♀ / Elenagora, Brit New Guinea, 18.x.1921, EO Pockley (AMS); 3♁, 6♀ / Finschaven, L Wagner (SAM); 4♁, 1♀ / Garaita, More- head, 8º42’S 141º38’E (NAQS); 1♀ / Hargen [sic = Hagen], Mr Hudsons Fm, 9.i.1972, D Mackay (AMS); 1♁*/ Iboki to Talasea, New Britain, xii.1929 C Harslett (AMS); 1♀ / Kaironk Valley (ANIC); 2♁/ Kiunga, 11.1976, Ohl- mus (ANIC); 6♁, 4♀ / Kiunga, 6.55S 141.18E (NAQS); 2♁, 1♀ / Komba, Rev L Wagner (SAM); 1♀ / Konga (ANIC); 1♁, 1♀ / Lake Murray Patrol Post (NAQS); 5♁, 13♀ / Mabaduan (NAQS); 2♁, 2♀ / Manumbo, Madang Distr (SAM); 1♁/ 5k NW Matukar, c40k N Madang, 17.5.1989, P Gullan & R Buckley, in rainforest (ANIC); 7♁, 11♀ / Misima I., Papua, Rev H.K. Bartlett (SAM); 3♀ / Morehead, 8.41S 141.73E (NAQS); 4/ Morehead River (NAQS); 1♁/ Mt Gylfrie, N NG, 1000’, iv.1939 E Cheesman (SAM); 1♀ / Mt Lamington (ANIC); 1♁/ Mt Lamington, Northern Divi- sion, Papua, v.1927 CT McNamara (AMS); 1♁, ditto except vi.1927 (AMS); 1♁, ditto except vii.1927 (AMS); 2♁, ditto except 23–24.vii.1927 (AMS); 3♁, ditto except no date (AMS); 4♁, 1♀ / Mt Lamington 1300–1500’ C.T. Mc- Namara (SAM); 1♀ / Mt Lawes (ANIC); 2/ Musu (NAQS); 1/ Nambis (NAQS); 2/ between Nambis & Wokome (NAQS); 1♁/ New Britain, Iboki to Talasea, xii.1929, C Harslett (AMS); 1♁, 3♀ / New Britain, Keravat Field Sta, 4.19S 152.01E, 23m on watermelon, Canarium plantn, 12–18.xi.2015 C Reid (AMS, NAQS); 3♁*, 2♀, 1♀ */ New Ireland, Rabehen, no 2 village, 3º36S 152º17E, 29.x.2001, M Moulds & MA Humphrey (AMS); 2/ Ossima (NAQS); 1♀ / Owers Corner, Port Moresby area, 8.ix.1973, M Mackay (AMS); 1♀ / Owers Corner, 9:21:38S 147:29:09E 600–665m, edge rainforest/grassy area, 21.v.2016 C Reid (AMS); 1♁/ Pasi, 13.v.2000, A Postle (ANIC); 2♁, 2♁*, 2♀ / Pacific Adv [entist] University, nr Port M[orseby], 9.4098S 147.2750E, 42m, edge arable field/bushes, 16– 28.v.2016, C Reid (AMS); 1♀ / Port Moresby, 2.i.1974, D Mackay (AMS); 2♁/ Relong R [or Lelong?] Rev L Wag- ner (SAM); 2♁, 1♀ / Rouku, Morehead R, 19.3– 28.5.1962, WW Brandt (ANIC); 3♁, 1♀ / St Josephs R [8.833S 146.567E], New Guinea, [1888–1897], Sir W McGregor (AMS); 1♀ / ditto (SAM); 3♁, 13♀ / Sibidiri, 8.58S 142.15E (NAQS); 9♁, 9♀ / Sigabaduru (NAQS); 1♁*/ Sogeri Plat., 1.7k E McDonalds Corner, 9.38503S 147.44315E 540m, roadside bushes/weeds, 21.v.2016, C Reid / (AMS); 1♀ / Sombol, via Bwani (NAQS); 7♁, 12♀ / Suki Village, 8.24S 141.43E (NAQS); 2♁, 1♀ / Tai near Balimo (NAQS); 3♁, 3♀ / Tais, 9.11S 141.50E (NAQS); 4♁/ Terakbils (NAQS); 1♁/ Teste Is [10.95S 151.07E] (AMS); 9♀ / Tiomni, 6.16S 141.18E (NAQS); 3♁, 1♀ / Toko, Fairfax Harbour (SAM); 15♁, 7♀ / Ture-Ture (NAQS); 1♁/ Vanimo (NAQS); 5♁, 1♁*, 4♀ / c25k W Vanimo, 2.62S 141.09E, (NAQS); 9♁, 22♀ / Wando, 8.53S 141.15E (NAQS); 3♁, 3♀ / Wareo, Rev L Wagner (SAM); 17♁, 8♀ / Weam, 8.08S 141.09E (NAQS); 1♁*, ditto, ex snake bean (NAQS); 3/ Wearava, 8.31S 141.06E (NAQS); 1♁, 2♀ / Wipim (NAQS); 2/ Wokome (NAQS); 2♁, 2♀ / Wutung or Wotung (NAQS); 1♀ / Yule Island 19.i.1934, R Oldham (AMS); 5/ Yuri Camp via Green River (NAQS); SOLOMON ISLANDS: 2/ Solomons, vii–viii.1909, WWF (OAI); 1♁, 1♀ / Solo- mon Is, JFC, 20.10.1923, WWF (ANIC); 1♁/ Solomon Is, WW Froggatt 1924 (ANIC); 1♁/ Cape Marsh, Karamula I, Russell Group, NS Heffernan (AMS); 1/ Guadalcanal, Betivatu, 9.50S 160.06E (NAQS); 1♁/ Guadalcanal, Dom Bosco Farm, c25k E Honiara, 9º27’19»S 160º11’59»E c 10m, mixed crops, on cucurbit, 1–11.v.2009 C Reid (AMS); 1♁*, 1m / Guadalcanal, c1k SE Nodondo, c15k E Honiara, swampy arable/cacao plantn, on cucurbit, 24–31.i.2008 C Reid & M Vagalo (AMS); 1♁*, 1♀ / Guadalcanal, Kastom Garden, E Honiara, 9º27’30S 160º01’29»E, c 5m, mixed crops, on watermelon, 1–11.v.2009 C Reid (AMS); 1♁, 1♀ / Henderson, Honiara, on pumpkin leaves, 6.viii.2007 GE Teakle (AMS); 2♁, 1♁*, 2♀ / Guadalcanal, Lavoro Pltn, 27.ix.1927 CE Hart (AMS); 1♀ ditto, viixi.1923 (AMS); 1♀, ditto, 1924 (AMS); 1♀ / Guadalcanal, Tetere, eating watermelon leaves, 11.xi.2005, G Teakle (AMS); 1/ Guadalcanal, Visale, 9.15S 159.41E (NAQS); 1♁/ Peu, Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Gp, 6.viii.1926, E Trough- ton & A. Livingstone (AMS); 2♁, 3♀, ditto, except 14.viii.1926 (AMS); 2♁, ditto except viii.1926 (AMS); 2♁, 3♀ / Malaita, Aifasu Communal Conservation area, 8.995S 160.984E, sweep/beat/leaf litter, 18–19.iv.2019, P Flemons & Kwaio rangers (AMS); 1♁/ Malaita, Talakeli, on watermelon, 26.x.2005, G Teakle, G. Olipou (AMS); 1♀ / Nila, Shortlands, BSIP, 17.xi.1961, M. McCallum (SAM); 1♁, 1♀ / Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Gp, 1926, NS Heffernen (AMS); 2♀ / Vanikoro, VHPA, xi.2003, HP Aberlenc (AMS); TIMOR LESTE: 1♀ */ Fuiloro, on wild sugarcane, 10.iv.2003, A Postle (NAQS); 1♁*/ Metinaro, Dili district, 8º32’S 125º44E, ex Cucurbita sp, 20.ii.2005, G Bellis GAB20540 (AMS); 2♀ / Netende, Bobocase, Oecusse, 9º16’51»S 124º22’50»E 23.ii.2005 G Bellis GAB20565 (AMS); 1♁/ Pante Macassar, Oecusse, 23.ii.1961, G Gross (SAM); 1♀ / Quibifuna, Oecusse, 9º16’11»S 124º21’09»E, 22.ii.2005, G Bellis GAB20546, ex Citrullus lunatus [sic] (AMS); 9♀ / Samora, 2k from Pante Macassar, 9º11’06»S 124º20’06»E, 23.ii.2005 G Bellis GAB20559 ex Cucurbita maxima (AMS, NAQS); TONGA: 1♁, 1 ♁*, 5♀ / Tonga, 1930, HR Rabone (AMS); 1♀ / ditto, except i.1930 (AMS); VANUATU: 8♀ / New Hebrides (ANIC); 5♁, 3♁*/ Espiritu Santo, VARIC, c6k N Luganville, 15:27S 167:11E, 90m, on crops, 19.v.2014 G Jackson (AMS, NAQS); 4, 1♁*, 1♀ */ Futuna Is, Tafea Province, on watermelon and/or cucumber, vii–ix.2014 C Damon, CARE International (AMS); 8/ Ipota, Erromango Id, viii.1971, G Gross (SAM); 1/ Lambouboy Bay, W Malekula Is, 16:11’S 167:23’ E, K.E. Lee (SAM); 16/ Lenakel, Tanna, vii,1971, G Gross (SAM); 3/ Malao Village, Big Bay area, Esperitu Santo, viii.1971, G Gross (SAM); 2/ Palmer Mission, Aore Is, nr Espiritu Santo, xii.1965, G Gross (SAM); 3♁/ Tanna, 11.xi.1989, R Bejsak (ANIC); 2/ Tanna, vii.1971 Bucherfield (SAM); 2/ Vila Elate, xii.1965, G Gross (SAM).
Description. Colour (Fig. 2). Head brownish-yellow, except apical half to two-thirds of labrum and apices of mandibles dark brown to black, eyes black; antennae usually with antennomeres 1–3 yellowish-brown and 5–11 entirely slightly darker to almost black, 4 variably coloured but generally with darkened anterodorsal face contrasting with paler posteroventral face, rarely antennae entirely yellowish-brown (some Timorese specimens); pronotum and elytra entirely brownish-yellow; venter of prothorax entirely brownish-yellow; scutellum brownish-yellow; mesanepisternum, mesepimeron and mesoventrite brownish-yellow; metaventrite dark brown to black, rarely with yellowish anterior margins; procoxae brownish-yellow; mesocoxae entirely yellowish-brown (Timorese specimens) or posterior half dark brown; metacoxae usually almost entirely dark brown to black, but yellowish-brown with darker posterior half in Timorese specimens; anterior legs entirely brownish-yellow or tarsi and anterior edge of tibiae brown; mid and hind legs usually brown to dark brown with paler trochanters and tibial bases, rarely entirely brownish-yellow (Timorese specimens); tergites brown to dark brown (some Tongan and Solomons specimens pale brown) including base of pygidium, apical two-thirds of pygidium yellowish-brown to brownish-yellow; abdominal ventrites 1–4 dark brown to black, sometimes with apical margins pale brown; ventrite 5 with dark brown to black basal band, extending apically at sides, remainder brownish-yellow, or middle of base brownish-yellow (some Timorese specimens).
Male: length 6–7.5 mm; frontoclypeus without arcuate ridges or densely setose patches; first antennomere expanded, oval flat area in apical half defined by sharp ridge; antennae 0.6–0.65x body length; antennomere 2 shortest, less than one third length of 1, antennomere 1 longest, comparative lengths: 1>11> 5 = 9> 4 = 7 = 10> 6 = 8> 3> 2; antennomere 5 length 2.4–2.8x width; antennomeres 3–7 slightly expanded to apices; antennomeres 3–11 each with only 1–4 erect lateral setae; pronotal transverse depression posteriorly shallowly arcuate, deepest and broadest at middle; in lateral view anterior half of pronotum slightly more convex than posterior half and median depression with anterior slope steeper than posterior slope; disc with pair of large pits anterior to transverse groove; elytra shining, shallowly microreticulate; elytral humeri with elongate oval patch of 30–100 erect setae; apical lobe of ventrite V asymmetrically sculptured, cavity abruptly but not sharply ridged on left and gradually elevated on right with a basal swelling; elongate cavity deepened from base almost to apex and deepest at left side before apex, then gradually elevated to apical margin; tergite VIII entirely pale brown, bicornual with two prongs separated by a deep U-shaped concavity, prongs usually elongate and narrow with upturned apices and left prong shorter and straighter than right (all specimens examined from Timor, New Guinea, Torres Strait, Solomons & Vanuatu), but prongs broad and triangular in New Ireland and intermediate in shape in New Britain; minute angular projection lateral to the central prongs; penis thin and sinuate in lateral view, with small sharply angulate tubercle at tip; sides penis without punctures, smooth and unridged; broad and asymmetric in dorsal view, right side feebly (Timor) to strongly (Vanuatu) bisinuate, sides almost evenly attenuated from middle to acute apex; membranous area about half penis length.
Female as male, except: length 7–8 mm; base of pygidium rarely pale (some Tongan specimens); abdominal ventrites 1–4 often with pale brown apical margins; antennomeres relatively thin, usually thicker in western specimens, antennomere 5 length 2.5 (Timor) –3.0 (Vanuatu) x width, antennomere 8 length 2.6 (Timor)—3.2 (Vanuatu) x width; transverse pronotal depression shallower; pygidium apical half slightly raised and extended; apex pygidium variably shaped in dorsal view, from broadly right-angled to narrowly acutely produced (apical angle 80–100̊); apex pygidium thickened and blunt, with minute apicodorsal tubercle; venter of pygidial apex slightly concave, flat or medially convex; apex ventrite V shallowly to deeply but broadly concave, concavity usually asymmetric or with small median projection, (roughly U-, V- or W-shaped, but always much broader than deep (depth: width ratio 1:1.8 or more, deepest specimens from New Ireland); apex of ventrite 5 usually with strongly reflexed edge, with subapical transversely arcuate depression or paired transverse depressions, which are not bounded by lateral ridges, apex of pygidium usually thick in lateral view with small apicodorsal tubercle; vaginal palpi elongate ovate, length 3–4.2x width, with 7–8 pairs of setae in apical half; basal apodemes straight to slightly curved, about 0.48 mm long; sternite VIII with tignum separated from weakly sclerotised posterior margin of the sternite by a transparent membranous area, and posterior margin truncate, not produced; tignum 1–1.4 mm long, apex membranous, broadly rounded and separated from shaft by a band of deeper pigmentation; spermathecal shape variable, falcate to hooked, collum usually abruptly demarkated from receptaculum, usually reflexed relative to receptaculum but variable in shape and insertion point of gland (ramus) flat or produced; receptaculum strongly hook-shaped with angulate interior bend and large beak-like appendix.
Diagnosis. Male: pronotal disc with pair of glands (Fig. 10), humeral setal patch present (Fig. 18), scutellum pale (Fig. 2), tergite 8 deeply arcuate (Figs 83–84), penis laterally sinuate with acutely attenuated apex (Figs 94– 97). Female: frontoclypeus medially keeled (as male, Fig. 10), scutellum pale, abdominal tergites (except pygidium) dark, apex of abdominal venter pale (Figs 44–46), pygidium angularly produced and venter of pygidial apex not deeply notched (Figs 44–46), apical margin of ventrite 5 variably concave but width of concavity at least 1.8x depth (Figs 44–46, 58–69).
Notes. This species was described as Galleruca abdominalis from “Insulis Oceani pacifici”, based on a specimen (or specimens) collected by “Dr Forster” (Fabricius 1781: 151). The original description in latin may be translated as follows: body yellow, antennae and abdomen dark, abdominal apex yellow; antennae dark with yellow base; head and pronotum glabrous, yellow, with black maxillae; elytra smooth, yellow, unspotted; underside yellow, abdomen dark, abdominal apex yellow. This description applies to almost all the species of the complex. The collector was Johann Reinhold Forster, official biologist on the second circumglobal expedition by Cook, 1772–1775 (Forster 1778). On this expedition, Cook (and Forster) visited many different Pacific Islands: Easter Island, Erromanga, Malekula, The Marquesas, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Raiatea, Tahiti, Tanna, Tonga, and Vatoa (in Fiji). The genus Aulacophora is unrecorded from the eastern and southern Pacific, so the list of possible source islands can be reduced to the modern states of Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga and Vanuatu, all of which Forster visited and where species of the PPB complex are well known. Two species of this complex are recorded from New Caledonia (Beenen 2008), but we regard them as synonymous (see below). Only one species (the same one) is in collections we have examined from Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. For clarity it makes most sense therefore to treat A. abdominalis as the PPB species present in these three island groups.
At least one type specimen of A. abdominalis, correctly labelled, was present in the Banks collection, London, in 1808 (Olivier 1808), and this collection was donated to the Natural History Museum, London, in 1863 (Radford 1981). Baly (1879: 445) stated that A. abdominalis was originally based on a single specimen “in Forster’s cabinet”, which became part of Banks’ collection and was studied in London by Fabricius (Tuxén 1967). However it has long been missing, presumably irretrievably damaged and discarded, or lost (Baly 1879; Zimsen 1964; Anand & Cox 1986). The specimens seen by Lee & Beenen (2015) in Kiel, labelled A. abdominalis, were not collected by Forster and cannot be types (Baly 1879; Maulik 1936). They include type material of A. testacea Fabricius 1787 described from the ‘East Indies’, which Fabricius later considered a junior synonym of A. abdominalis, therefore almost certainly replacing his original labels (standard practice by Fabricius: Zimsen 1964). The ‘lectotype’ of A. abdominalis erected by Lee & Beenen (2015) and their proposed synonymy of A. abdominalis with A. testacea cannot therefore be valid. The status of A. testacea is discussed in the next section. The best resolution of this taxonomic mess is designation of a neotype from one of the Pacific islands visited by Forster, as provided above. In their paper invalidly nominating a lectotype of A. abdominalis, Lee & Beenen (2015) also confused illustrations of body parts of A. abdominalis with A. kotoensis Chujo, 1962, as is clear from their text. Thus their figures 62–65, 67, 69–72, labelled A. abdominalis (Lee & Beenen 2015: 168) actually illustrate A. kotoensis (Lee & Beenen 2015: 169). The latter, an endemic to Taiwan, is clearly very similar to A. abdominalis but is not treated further here.
Aulacophora argyrogaster (Montrouzier, 1861) was described from New Caledonia as a species of Raphidopalpa, but has been overlooked in revisions of the Galerucinae of New Caledonia by Beenen (2008, 2017), who has described A. fauveli Beenen, 2008 with the same characteristics and type locality. Aulacophora argyrogaster was identified from Fiji (Veitch & Greenwood, 1921). This Fijian record was considered a misidentification of A. similis (Olivier, 1808) by Bryant & Gressitt (1957), but this was a misidentification of A. abdominalis. Weise (1924) and Wilcox (1972) catalogued it as a valid species. The species was described as yellow with black abdomen (except last segment) and black mid and hind legs, which is a reasonable approximation to the typical colour of A. abdominalis. The only PPB we are aware of on New Caledonia is A. abdominalis. We therefore synonymise these species.
Aulacophora fabricii Baly, 1886 was described from Tonga but overlooked by Maulik (1929) in his revision of the Chrysomelidae of Samoa, which included material from Tonga. It was listed from New Caledonia by Allard (1888) and Fiji by Knowles (1907; cited in Bryant & Gressitt 1957). The Fijian record was considered a misidentification of A. similis (Olivier, 1808) by Bryant & Gressitt (1957), but this was a misidentification of A. abdominalis. Weise (1924) and Wilcox (1972) catalogued it as a valid species. The original description and type locality clearly indicate that this is a junior synonym of A. abdominalis and we therefore synonymise these species.
Aulacophora armigera Baly, 1889 was described from Murray Island (now Mer Island) in the eastern Torres Strait Islands. The description is based on a single female and has been treated as valid by subsequent authors (Lea 1924; Weise 1924; Wilcox 1972). There is nothing in the description to distinguish this species from A. abdominalis, which is the only species of PPB known from Mer Island, where it is evidently common (see material examined, above). We therefore synonymise these species.
Aulacophora aruensis (Weise 1892) has not been revised since its description, although Weise was not confident about its differentiation from A. abdominalis (Weise 1892: 395). Aulacophora aruensis was described from New Guinea and Aru Islands and the description, in a diagnostic key to females only, is a perfect fit for A. abdominalis, the only species we have seen from Aru Islands (NAQS, SAM) and the most common PPB on New Guinea. We hereby synonymise these species.
Aulacophora fauveli Beenen, 2008 was described under the assumption that other PPB recorded in the Pacific region belonged to A. indica and without the author being aware of Montrouzier’s A. argyrogaster. Beenen described A. fauveli from New Caledonia and Wallis Island (northeast of Fiji). The detailed description clearly indicates that this is the same species as A. abdominalis and we therefore synonymise them.
PPB specimens identified as A. similis (a junior synonym of A. indica) from Samoa and Niue (Gressitt 1957) have been examined in BPBM by our colleague Al Samuelson and all belong to A. abdominalis (Al Samuelson pers. com., July 2018). Earlier records of A. similis from Samoa and Tonga (Maulik 1929) almost certainly refer to A. abdominalis as well, but the specimens in London have not been examined. Records of A. indica from New Guinea (Hawkeswood & Samuelson 1995), probably belong to A. abdominalis as it is a much commoner species there.
There is some variation in colour which is partly geographical. Timorese specimens have paler antennae and legs than other populations of A. abdominalis, but have the same dark base of pygidium and base of ventrite 5, as well as diagnostic primary and secondary sexual characters. Tongan specimens often have paler tergites than specimens from other areas. The female antennae vary in thickness, with thickest specimens in the west (Timor) and thinnest in the east (Vanuatu). The shape of the penis varies slightly, with the least sinuation occurring in Timor and most sinuation in Vanuatu. Most significantly, the shape of the excision of the female last ventrite also varies, creating problems for easy identification of females (Figs 58–69). The deepest excavation we have seen had a depth to width ratio of 1:1.8 (New Ireland, Papua New Guinea; Fig. 62), similar to that of the shallowest specimens of A. indica. However this specimen had the thickened pygidial apex and black apical antennal segments typical of A. abdominalis, and lacked the paired depressions defined by lateral ridges on ventrite V typical of A. indica. Other female genitalic structures are also variable: sternite 8 (Figs 135–138), vaginal palpi (Figs 150–152) and spermatheca (Figs 164–167).
Distribution (Fig. 182) and biology. This is clearly the widespread and dominant PPB in the Pacific Islands south of Micronesia and published records of A. indica in the southwestern Pacific almost certainly represent misidentifications of A. abdominalis (Anonymous 2013, 2018). Besides the material we have examined, more than 230 specimens in BPBM have been identified by our colleague Al Samuelson using the diagnostic key, from the following localities: American Samoa; Fiji (including Lau Is, Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Viti Levu); New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Tonga (including Tongatabu, Vavau); Vanuatu; Western Samoa. Furthermore, the species has been recorded widely in the Samoan Islands (Maulik 1929), the Fijian islands (Bryant & Gressitt 1957) and on New Caledonia and Uvea (Beenen 2008). The mapped distribution shows that this is the dominant and usually the only species of PPB in the southwestern quadrant of the Pacific, including the Torres Strait Islands and New Guinea. The westernmost locality known to us is Timor and the easternmost is Niue.
Aulacophora abdominalis has not been recorded from the Australian mainland, but approaches it to within 60 km at Moa Island in the Torres Strait Islands. Its distribution overlaps with that of A. relicta in the Torres Strait Islands but A. abdominalis is by far the commoner species, occurring on 11 different islands. In the north of its range, A. abdominalis seems to be replaced by A. indica in Micronesia.
It is remarkable that there are no recorded native hosts for A. abdominalis. Aulacophora abdominalis is considered an occasionally serious pest of cucurbits in New Guinea and Vanuatu (Waterhouse & Norris 1987) and a pest of pumpkin, melon, watermelon and cucumber in Fiji (Bryant & Gressitt 1957). Material we have examined was collected on the following plants (number of collection events in brackets): Cucurbitaceae: Citrullus lanatus (10), Cucumis sativus (2), Cucurbita maxima (10), Fabaceae: Phaseolus lunatus (1), Vigna unguiculata (1); Oleaceae: Jasminum species; Poaceae: Oryza sativa (1), Saccharum officinarum (1), Zea mays (1). This suggests a preference for watermelon and pumpkin, but such records may simply reflect the bias of the collectors, mostly biosecurity officers, who may have focussed on these crops in the area. Records of A. abdominalis on non-cucurbits (sugarcane, maize, jasmine, beans) all involve casual singletons except for a cluster of 21 mixed males and females collected “aggregating” on rice seed-heads in West Timor. These are unlikely to have been feeding but may have been part of a mating swarm, like those found on non-hosts in the genus Altica (Reid & Beatson 2015). Cucumber and melons are originally from India and southwest Asia, watermelon from West Africa and Cucurbita species are from the Americas (Bisognin 2002). However, there are wild Cucumis species throughout the range of A. abdominalis (Sebastian et al. 2010) and these are probably the original, native, hosts.
description: Published as part of Reid, Chris, Halling, Luke & Beatson, Max, 2021, Revision of the Australopapuan and West Pacific species of plain pumpkinbeetles, the Aulacophora indica species-complex (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), pp. 1-73 in Zootaxa 4932 (1) on pages 13-21, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4932.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4545448