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Flea beetles of the genus Psylliodes have evolved specialized interactions with plant species belonging to several distantly related families, mainly Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, and Fagaceae. This diverse host use indicates that Psylliodes flea beetles are able to cope with different chemical defense metabolites, including glucosinolates, the characteristic defense metabolites of Brassicaceae. Here we investigated the evolution of host use and the emergence of a glucosinolate-specific detoxification mechanism in Psylliodes flea beetles. In phylogenetic analyses, Psylliodes species clustered into four major clades, three of which contained mainly species specialized on either Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, or Fagaceae. Most members of the fourth clade have broader host use, including Brassicaceae and Poaceae as major host plant families. Ancestral state reconstructions suggest that Psylliodes flea beetles were initially associated with Brassicaceae and then either shifted to Solanaceae or Fagaceae, or expanded their host repertoire to Poaceae. Despite a putative ancestral association with Brassicaceae, we found evidence that the evolution of glucosinolate-specific detoxification enzymes coincides with the radiation of Psylliodes on Brassicaceae, suggesting that these are not required for using Brassicaceae as hosts but could improve the efficiency of host use by specialized Psylliodes species., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE).)

The genus Theopea Baly, 1864 is redefined. Seventeen species from Sundaland and the Philippines are recognized and classified into four species groups (including seven new species): T. impressa (Fabricius, 1801), T. longicollis (Jacoby, 1896), T. louwerensi Jolivet, 1951, T. lunduensis Mohamedsaid, 1998, T. chungi sp. nov. in the T. impressa group; T. flavipalpis Laboissère, 1940, T. guoi sp. nov., T. lui sp. nov., T. sabahensis sp. nov. in the T. flavipalpis group; T. elegantula Baly, 1864, T. pulchella Baly, 1864, T. fairmairei Duvivier, 1885, T. kedenburgi Weise, 1922, T. houjayi sp. nov., T. tsoui sp. nov., T. yuae sp. nov. in the T. pulchella group; and T. costata (Allard, 1889) in the T. costata group. The following new synonyms are established: Theopea pulchella Baly, 1864 = T. nigricollis Jacoby, 1892 syn. nov.; Theopea impressa (Fabricius, 1801) = T. impressa flavicornis Laboissère, 1940 syn. nov. and T. impressa malaccana Laboissère, 1940 syn. nov.; T. lunduensis Mohamedsaid, 1998 = T. sepilokensis Mohamedsaid, 2000 syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Crioceris impressa Fabricius, 1801, Ozomena longicollis Jacoby, 1896, Theopea elegantula Baly, 1864, T. fairmairei Duvivier, 1885, T. nigricollis Jacoby, 1892, and T. pulchella Baly, 1864. Theopea obliterata Jacoby, 1884, T. variabilis (Jacoby, 1887), T. incostata (Allard, 1889), T. clypeata Jacoby, 1896, T. modiglianii Jacoby, 1896, T. dohrni (Jacoby, 1899), T. viridipennis (Jacoby, 1899), and T. weberi (Weise, 1913) are removed from Theopea and regarded as species incertae sedis.

Pyrrhalta Joannis, 1865 species with maculate elytra are revised. Pyrrhalta maculata is shown to be a complex of several species. Seven species are recognized: P. maculata Gressitt Kimoto, 1963 (Fujian, Taiwan), P. carolusi sp. nov. (Laos, Thailand), P. kaboureki sp. nov. (Sumatra), P. kambaitiensis sp. nov. (Myanmar), P. lucka sp. nov. (Laos, Thailand, Yunnan), P. schillhammeri sp. nov. (Laos) and P. tsoui sp. nov. (Taiwan). Colour photos of habitus, as well as drawings of male and female genitalia are provided.

Theopea Baly, 1864 species lacking a modified clypeus of East Asia are revised. Theopea aureoviridis Chûjô, 1935, T. collaris Kimoto, 1989, and T. sauteri Chûjô, 1935 are redescribed. Theopea coerulea Gressitt Kimoto, 1963 is removed from synonymy with T. sauteri Chûjô, 1935. Hoplosaenidea irregularis (Takizawa 1978) and H. kanmiyai Kimoto, 1984 are transferred to Theopea and redescribed. A lectotype is designated for T. aureoviridis Chûjô, 1935. Five new species are described, T. cheni sp. nov. from Taiwan, T. geiseri sp. nov. from Northeast India, T. hainanensis sp. nov. from South China (Hainan Island), T. laosensis sp. nov. from West China, North Laos and Vietnam, and T. sekerkai sp. nov. from Central and South Laos.

Six new species within the genus Clerotalia Jacoby are described from Taiwan based on study of more than 340 specimens: C. cheni sp. nov., C. jungchani sp. nov., C. meihuai sp. nov., C. tsoui sp. nov., C. wulaiensis sp. nov., and C. yuae sp. nov.. Clerotilia shirozui (Kimoto, 1969) is regarded as a junior synonym of C. formosana (Chûjô, 1963). Adults were collected by sweeping food plants, including Rhamnus nakaharae and R. formosana (Rhamnaceae).

Forty species of the genus Oides Weber, 1801 are considered as valid in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. Six new species are described: O. bezdeki sp. nov., O. hsui sp. nov., O. takizawai sp. nov., and O. wangi sp. nov. from Sulawesi (Indonesia); O. boreri sp. nov. from Laos; and O. geiseri sp. nov. from India, Nepal, and Myanmar. The following synonymies are proposed: O. maculicollis Jacoby, 1886 as a junior synonym of O. apicalis Jacoby, 1883; O. niasensis Bowditch, 1925 as a junior synonym of O. duodecimpunctata (Clark, 1865); A. sumatrensis Blanchard, 1853, A. philippinensis Boheman, 1859, O. flavipes Duvivier, 1884, O. abdominalis Duvivier, 1884, O. subtilissima Duvivier, 1884, O. flavida Duvivier, 1884, O. elliptica Duvivier, 1884, O. marcida Duvivier, 1884, O. rhabodscelis Weise, 1922, O. bakeri Laboissière, 1925, and O. ovalis Laboissière, 1925 as junior synonyms of O. flava (Olivier, 1807); O. bengalensis Maulik, 1936 as a junior synonym of O. innocua Gahan, 1891; O. violaceipennis Duvivier, 1884 as a junior synonym of O. metallica Jacoby, 1884; O. indosinensis Laboissière, 1927 as a junior synonym of O. palleata (Fabricius, 1801); O. sternalis Weise, 1913 as a junior synonym of O. quadriguttata Duvivier, 1884; O. gyironga Chen & Jaing, 1981 as a junior synonym of O. scutellata (Hope, 1830); O. indica Baly, 1879 and O. chinensis Weise, 1922 as junior synonyms of O. tarsata (Baly, 1865); O. tibialis Duvivier, 1884 as a junior synonym of O. vixilla Duvivier, 1884. Oides epipleuralis Laboissière is removed from synonymy with O. laticlava (Fairmaire, 1889); O. laticlava (Fairmaire, 1889) removed from synonymy with O. maculata (Olivier, 1807); O. thibettana Jacoby, 1900 and O. tibiella Wilcox, 1971 removed from synonymies with O. tarsata (Baly, 1865). Neotypes are designated for Adorium maculatum Olivier, 1807; A. subhemisphaericum Guérin-Méneville, 1830; A. diardi Guérin-Méneville, 1830; O. chinensis Weise, 1922; and O. leucomelaena Weise, 1922. Host plant information is provided when known.

The genus Doryscus Jacoby, 1887 is revised. Twelve new species are described: D. indochinensis sp. nov. from China (Yunnan), India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam; D. krausi sp. nov. from Laos and Thailand; D. kubani sp. nov., from China (Yunnan); D. geiseri sp. nov. from Singapore and Thailand; D. nepalensis sp. nov. from Bhutan, north India, and Nepal; D. luzonensis sp. nov., and D. mindanaoensis sp. nov. from Philippines; D. barclayi sp. nov., D. boreri sp. nov., D. javanensis sp. nov., and D. sumatrensis sp. nov. from Indonesia; D. wangi sp. nov. from East Malaysia (Sabah). Doryscus chujoi Takizawa, 1978 and D. varians (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963) are removed from synonymy with D. testaceus Jacoby, 1887. Doryscus nigricollis Jiang, 1992 and D. marginicollis Jiang, 1992 are regarded as junior synonyms of D. varians (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963). A lectotype is designated for Doryscus testaceus Jacoby, 1887.

The brachelytrous galerucine genus Shairella Chûjô is reviewed based on examination of 240 specimens. Five new species are described: S. cheni sp. nov., S. chungi sp. nov., S. guoi sp. nov., S. motienensis sp. nov., and S. tsoui sp. nov. The diversity and distribution of most of Shairella species are reflected on one major host plant - Clinopodium laxiflorum var. taiwanianum. Smaller compound eyes relative to otherwise similar galerucines are characteristic for Shairella and may be related to nocturnal behavior. The occurrence of a subapical white band on the antenna and its possible function is discussed.

The genus Morphosphaera Baly, 1861 is revised. Eleven species are considered as valid, including, M. takizawai sp. nov. (Mt. Basor, 90 km N of Gua Musang, Malaysia, W. Kelantan), described from Malaysia and Indonesia. Color photos of habitus and drawings of diagnostic characters from eleven species are presented. The following synonymies are proposed: M. sodalis Chen, 1935 and M. brunnea Maulik, 1936 are junior synonyms of M. albipennis Allard, 1889; M. margaritacea Laboissière, 1930, M. viridipennis Laboissière, 1930, and M. prava Maulik, 1936 are junior synonyms of M. coomani Laboissière, 1930; M. gracilicornis Chen, 1963 is a junior synonym of M. maculicollis Baly, 1861; M. cavaleriei Laboissière, 1930, M. cincticollis Laboissière, 1930, M. marginata Laboissière, 1930, M. purpurea Laboissière, 1930, M. gingkoae Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963, and M. metallescens Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 are junior synonyms of M. sumatrana Jacoby, 1886. The type material of M. impunctata Allard, 1890 from the Philippines was not found and its taxonomic status remains uncertain. Morphosphaera peregrina Weise, 1913 is transferred to the genus Borneola Mohamedsaid, 1998 nov. comb. A neotype is designated for Chrysomela japonica Hornstedt, 1788. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Adorium chrysomeloides Bates, 1866, A. japonicum Baly, 1874, Morphosphaera albipennis Allard, 1889, M. bimaculata Chûjô, 1938, M. caerulea Jacoby, 1896, M. cavaleriei Laboissière, 1930, M. collaris Laboissière, 1930, M. formosa Laboissière, 1930, M. marginata Laboissière, 1930, M. montivaga Maulik, 1936, M. prava Maulik, 1936, M. purpurea Laboissière, 1930, M. sumatrana Jacoby, 1886, M. viridipennis Laboissière, 1930, and Galerucida simplex Weise, 1922.

Taiwanese species of Siemssenius are separated into two species groups, the S. metallipennis group and S. rufipennis group, based on color patterns and other morphological characters. Members of the S. rufipennis group cannot be distinguished using external morphology but may be diagnosed by distributions and genitalia morphologies. Seven species are recognized in Taiwan, including two previously described species, S. rufipennis (Chûjô, 1962) and S. metallipennis (Chûjô, 1962), and five new species, S. cheni Lee, sp. nov., S. jungchani Lee, sp. nov., S. liui Lee, sp. nov., S. tsoui Lee, sp. nov., and S. yuae Lee, sp. nov. Speciation models explaining the high diversity of Siemssenius species in Taiwan, are discussed.

Field collections and rearing have established the first species-level associations for larvae of Pyrochroidae from Taiwan. Larvae of Pseudopyrochroa carinifrons and Pseudopyrochroa fainanensis were collected from beneath bark and in coarse, decaying woody debris of dead logs and successfully reared to the respective adult stages. The mature larvae are described and salient features are illustrated. Notes on larval habitats and natural history are also provided.

The genus Taiwanaenidea Kimoto, 1984 is a little-known galerucine genus known only with original description, which lacks illustrations. A number of specimens belonging to this genus are now available for study with effective collection made by Taiwan Chrysomelid Research Team. Two new species, T. cheni Lee and Beenen sp. nov. and T. jungchangi Lee and Beenen sp. nov. are here described. The other two known species, T. collaris Kimoto, 1984 and T. strigosa Kimoto, 1984 are reviewed and illustrations of diagnostic characters are presented. A key to all species of this genus is provided.

Ten species of the genus Aulacophora Chevrolat, 1836 are reported for Taiwan. Specimens of A. opacipennis Chûjô, 1962 collected from Southeast Asia were misidentified by Kimoto (1989) and should be identified as A. apicipes Jacoby, 1896. Color photos of habitus and drawings of male and female genitalia from eleven species (including A. apicipes) are presented. The following synonymies are proposed: Aulacophora analis (Weber, 1801) = Galeruca quadraria Olivier, 1808 (syn nov.); A. indica (Gmelin, 1790) = Rhaphidopalpa pubescens Allard, 1888 (syn. nov.); A. apicipes Jacoby, 1896 = A. nigripalpis Chen and Kung, 1959 (syn nov.). Lectotypes are designated for Crioceris abdominalis Fabricius, 1781, C. testacea Fabricius, 1787, Galleruca bicolor Weber, 1801, Galeruca quadraria Olivier, 1808, Aulacophora semiopaca Jacoby, 1886, A. frontalis Baly, 1888, A. lewisii Baly, 1886, A. intermedia Jacoby, 1892, A. semifusca Jacoby, 1892, A. dohrni Jacoby, 1899, A. almora Maulik, 1936, A. apicipes Jacoby, 1896, A. tenuicincta Jacoby, 1897, Rhaphidopalpa pubescens Allard, 1888, R. bengalensis Weise, 1892, R. ceramensis Weise, 1892, R. chinensis Weise, 1892, and Orthaulaca (Ceratia) cattigarensis Weise, 1892. A key to the Taiwanese species is provided.

Taiwanese members of the genus Paraplotes comprise a group of species that are not distinguishable based on external morphology but are diagnosed using distributions, aedeagal, and gonocoxal morphologies. Females of all species are brachelytrous. The group includes one previously described species, Paraplotes taiwana Chûjô, 1963, and nine new species, P. cheni sp. nov., P. jengi sp. nov., P. meihuai sp. nov., P. tahsiangi sp. nov., P. tatakaensis sp. nov., P. tsoui sp. nov., P. tsuenensis sp. nov., P. yaoi sp. nov., and P. yuae sp. nov. Diagnostic characters and hind wings of both sexes are illustrated. Models of speciation for the high diversity of Paraplotes in Taiwan are discussed. A novel hypothesis for brachelytrous leaf beetles occurring in tropical forest habitats (selva) is proposed.

Eleven species of the genus Charaea Baly, 1878 are recorded for Taiwan. These are illustrated and a key to the species is provided. Three species, Ch. houjayi sp. nov., Ch. maxbarclayi sp. nov. and Ch. haruoi sp. nov., are described and compared with similar species. Charaea kelloggi (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963) is reported from Taiwan for the first time. Colour photos of habitus and drawings of both male and female genitalia are presented.

During a survey of unidentified yeast isolates deposited in the UNESCO-MIRCEN Biotechnological Yeast Culture Collection housed at the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology of the University of the Free State, one isolate obtained from soil in South Africa showed 100 % identity in D1/D2 rDNA sequence with undescribed basidiomycetous yeasts isolated from the gut of beetles from the United States of America and forest soil from Taiwan in the NCBI sequence database. Phylogenetic analyses using sequences of the D1/D2 rDNA and ITS regions indicated that all these isolates form a well-supported sub-clade that is the sister clade to the Brassicae plus Porosum clades of Trichosporon in the order Trichosporonales. Subsequent phenotypic tests revealed that asexual reproduction by budding is rare but dominated by arthroconidia resulting from segmentation of hyphae and that fusiform giant cells are characterized by budding from a broad base. These findings further suggest that these isolates belong to a single tremellomycetous yeast species for which the name Trichosporon vanderwaltii CBS 12124(T) (=NRRL Y-48732(T), =UOFS Y-1920(T)) is proposed.