The American Species of Phratora Chev. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

This paper offers a taxonomic treatment of the American species belonging to the genus properly known as Phratora but designated as Phyllodecta Kby. by recent authors. Phyllodecta was described by Kirby in 1837 (p. 216); the month of publication is given as October by Sherborn (1929, p. 4931), and, according to Westwood (1837). Kirby's volume was presented on November 6 to the monthly meeting of the Entomological Society of London. Phratora has been attributed to Redtenbacher, because he was the first to publish the name with a description of generic characters, and has been dated 1845 (p. 116) or 1849 (p. 554). Phratora Redt., lacking priority, has been considered a synonym of Phyllodecta Kby. However, in 1837 both Chevrolat (p. 405 or 429) and Faldermann (p. 363) used Phratora in ways that would validate the name; Chevrolat's usage, and possibly that of Faldermann, antedates Kirby's description of Phyllodecta. Chevrolat listed previously described species Phratora, and his usage, as shown by Barber and Bridwell (1940, p. 4), was published between March 1 and July 5, 1837. Faldermann, without comment on the genus, described a new species in Phratora, but the exact date of his publication is unknown. The species considered by all these authors are congeneric. A consideration of genotypes is impractical at this time, but such is not required to show that the genus should be known as Phratora and that Phyllodecta is a synonym.