Submitted to: Coleopterist Bulletin Publication Type: Peer
Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: October 28, 2002
Publication Date: January 28, 2004 Citation: Konstantinov, A.S.,
Tishechkin, A. 2004. The first nearctic leaf litter flea beetle
(coleoptera: chrysomelidae) from the great smoky mountains
national park. Coleopterist Bulletin. 58: 71-76 Interpretive
Summary: Flea beetles are one of the largest and most
morphologically diverse groups of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae),
containing thousands of species, some of which are important
pests of cultivated plants, whereas others are highly beneficial
as biological control agents of exotic weeds. This paper
describes and illustrates a previously unknown species of flea
beetle inhabiting leaf litter and provides characters for its
identification. This study will be important to taxonomists,
morphologists, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and any
other persons involved in identification of beetles. A leaf
litter flea beetle was collected for the first