Demotina
Baly, 1863
Species Guides
1- Demotina modesta(Asian Oak Leaf Beetle)
Demotina is a of leaf beetles in the Eumolpinae containing over 50 described . The genus is native to Asia, Australia, and Oceania, with one species (Demotina modesta) established in the southeastern United States. Some species are known to be parthenogenetic. One species, Demotina fasciculata, has been documented engaging in cecidophagy—feeding on plant galls induced by cynipid .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Demotina: //dɛ.moʊˈtiː.nə//
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Identification
Asian differ from those in Fiji and Vanuatu by the absence of emarginations on the middle and hind legs; the latter have been provisionally transferred to Parademotina based on this and other morphological differences.
Images
Habitat
Native range spans forested and vegetated across Asia, Australia, and Oceania. Demotina fasciculata has been observed in association with leaf galls on Quercus serrata.
Distribution
Native to Asia, Australia, and Oceania. One , Demotina modesta, is in the southeastern United States.
Diet
Demotina fasciculata feed on galls induced by Andricus moriokae on Quercus serrata; this cecidophagy represents the first recorded instance of adult chrysomelid gall-feeding. Diet of other is not documented.
Host Associations
- Quercus serrata - plant of galls consumed by D. fasciculataFagaceae
- Andricus moriokae - gall inducer, food source for D. fasciculataHymenoptera: Cynipidae
Behavior
of Demotina fasciculata preferentially feed on galls of Andricus moriokae rather than on ungalled plant leaves. They do not infest healthy galls of an unidentified cynipid on the same host trees, but will feed on galls inhabited by the Synergus quercicola, presumably because these galls persist longer on trees.
Ecological Role
Demotina fasciculata acts as a /consumer of cynipid galls. strips larval chambers and causes them to fall, resulting in 100% mortality of early-stage Andricus moriokae larvae due to desiccation; 62.5% of late-stage pupae survive if developed before chamber fall.
Similar Taxa
- Parademotina from Fiji and Vanuatu provisionally transferred to this due to presence of leg emarginations absent in Asian Demotina species.
- HyperaxisFormerly contained Demotina balyi and D. nigrita, which were moved to this .
- PseudometaxisFormerly contained Demotina serraticollis, which was moved to this .
More Details
Parthenogenesis
Some in the are known to be parthenogenetic, though specific species are not identified in available sources.
Taxonomic instability
Oceanian classification remains provisional; Gómez-Zurita (2024) transferred Fiji and Vanuatu species to Parademotina pending further study.