Podontia
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| Podontia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Podontia affinis indosinensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Tribe: | Alticini |
| Genus: | Podontia Dalman, 1824 |
| Type species | |
| Galleruca grandis (= Chrysomela lutea Olivier, 1790) Gröndal, 1808 | |
| Synonyms | |
Podontia is a genus of flea beetles in the family Chrysomelidae.[2] They belong in the Blepharida-group of flea beetles.
They are one of the largest representatives of flea beetles and with Podontia lutea adults being around 2 centimeters long, it is reputed that it is the largest flea beetle species in the world.[3] They are distinguished from other genera in the Blepharida-group by their bifurcate prosternum, saddle-shaped mesosternum and strongly inwardly curved bifid tarsal claws.[4][5]
Larval defense
In Podontia (along with some other related genera) larvae retain their feces directly on the dorsum (upside). This coating acts as a deterrent from predators such as ants.[6] The fecal coat may also possibly serve to moderate body temperature or to reduce water loss although it has not been proven yet.[7]
Species
Species include:
- Podontia affinis (Gröndal, 1808)[8]
- Podontia congregata Baly, 1865[9]
- Podontia dalmani Baly, 1865
- Podontia flava Baly, 1865[10]
- Podontia jalur Mohamedsaid, 1989[11]
- Podontia laosensis Scherer, 1969[12]
- Podontia lutea (Olivier, 1790)[10]
- Podontia quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1767)[9]
- Podontia rufocastanea Baly, 1865[9]
Former species:[13]
- Podontia basalis Baly, 1862: moved to Neoblepharella (formerly Blepharella)[14][15]
- Podontia evanida Baly, 1865 moved to Calotheca
- Podontia marmorata Baly, 1865 moved to Calotheca
- Podontia nigrotessellata Baly, 1865 moved to Calotheca
- Podontia pitalohita (Maulik, 1926): synonym of Podontia rufocastanea Baly, 1865[12]
- Podontia reticulata Baly, 1865 moved to Calotheca
- Podontia sacra Baly, 1865 moved to Calotheca
- Podontia soriculata (Swartz, 1808): moved to Paropsides[16]
- Podontia vittata Baly, 1862:[17] moved to Calotheca
