Rhembastus

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Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Suborder:Polyphaga
Rhembastus
Rhembastus variabilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Eumolpinae
Tribe: Typophorini
Genus: Rhembastus
Harold, 1877[1]
Type species
Rhembastus variabilis
Harold, 1877[2]
Synonyms

Rhambastus Pic, 1939[3]

Rhembastus is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae, native to Africa. Whilst the taxonomy of the genus is disputed, the genus has been suggested as a biological control agent for Bryophyllum delagoense in Australia.[4]

The genus was first identified by the German entomologist Edgar von Harold in 1877 from species in Madagascar, Nyassa and Port Natal.[1] By 1914, 18 different species had already been recorded from Madagascar. In 1965, Brian J. Selman reduced the size of the genus by 45 species, transferring them to other genera such as Paraivongius, Massartia and Sarum. He also suggested that a revision of the Eumolpinae of Madagascar would produce a complete generic separation of the Madagascan and African species.[2] In 2006, it was suggested that a full revision of the genus is necessary.[4]

Species

References

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