ANTHOPHAGY IN LEAF-BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

Laboratory experiments were performed on leaf-beetles collected on flowers. Flower consumption (anthophagy) was established for adults of Donacia bicolora, D. brevitarsis, D. obscura, D. thalassina, Plateumaris discolor, Cryptocephalus laetus, C. sericeus, C. solivagus, Labidostomis longimana, Hydrothassa marginella, Phaedon concinnus, Galerucella nymphaeae, Neocrepidodera femorata, Altica oleracea, Aphthona lutescens, Longitarsus pellucidus, and larvae of Entomoscelis adonidis, H. marginella, and G. nymphaeae for the first time for all the species except for P. discolor, L. longimana, and C. sericeus. Feeding behavior is described. Mouth parts of adults are studied. Mandibles and maxillae of the Donacia, Plateumaris, and Orsodacne species mentioned are adapted to pollen eating. Some questions of ecology and evolution of anthophagy are discussed. An overview of literature on the anthophagy in leaf-beetles is presented.