Immature stages of Azteriza flavicornis (Olivier) and Physonota alutacea Boheman (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)

Abstract

The first instar larva of Physonota alutacea Boheman, 1854, a member of the ribe Physonotini Spaeth, 1942, and the mature larva and pupa of Asteriza flavicornis (Olivier, 1790), a member of the tribe Asterizini Hincks, 1952, are described for the first time. The mature larva and the pupa of Physonota alutacea are redescribed. Immatures are figured and described using light microscopy, the first instar larva of Physonota alutacea using scanning electron microscopy. Similarities in the larval morphologies of Cistudinella Champion, 1894, a member of the tribe Ischyrosonychini, Chapuis, 1875, and Physonota suggest both genera are close phylogenetically and should be placed in a single tribe. The additional similarities between the mature larva of Asteriza and those of Physonota and Cistudinella suggest all three genera should be placed within a single tribe.