Lema

Three-lined potato beetle Lema trilineata, by M. Picker & C. Griffiths.

Belongs within: Phytophaga.

Lema is a genus of leaf beetles found almost worldwide. Larvae of this genus form a protective covering for themselves from their own faecal matter, discarding it when they bury themselves below ground to pupate (Jacoby 1908).

Characters (from Jacoby 1908): Head generally constricted posteriorly; antennae filiform; pronotum generally with one, sometimes with two, sulci, an anterior and a posterior one. Elytra punctate-striate. Legs elongate, femora moderately thickened, claws united at base as far as middle.

<==Lema
    |--L. beccarii J89b
    |--L. coromandeliana J89b
    |--L. femorata [incl. L. quadripunctata] J89a
    |--L. haematomelas J89b
    |--L. lacordairei J89a
    |--L. modiglianii Jacoby 1889 J89b
    |--L. postrema Bates 1866 B66
    |--L. rufotestacea J89a
    |--L. rugifrons Jacoby 1889 J89a
    |--L. semifulva Jacoby 1889 J89a
    |--L. stevensi J89a
    |--L. trilineata G22
    `--L. wallacei J89a

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[B66] Bates, H. W. 1866. On a collection of Coleoptera from Formosa sent home by R. Swinhoe, Esq., H. B. M. Consul, Formosa. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1866: 339-355.

[G22] Girault, A. A. 1922. The North American species of Emersonella and Entedon with excuses, etc. Privately published (reprinted Gordh, G., A. S. Menke, E. C. Dahms & J. C. Hall. 1979. The privately printed papers of A. A. Girault. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 28: 161-163).

[J89a] Jacoby, M. 1889a. Viaggio di Leonardo Fea in Birmania e regioni vicine. XVII. – List of the phytophagous Coleoptera obtained by Signor L. Fea at Burmah and Tenasserim, with descriptions of the new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Serie 2a 7: 147-237.

[J89b] Jacoby, M. 1889b. List of the phytophagous Coleoptera collected by Signor Modigliani at Nias and Sumatra, with descriptions of the new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Serie 2a 7: 278-287.

Jacoby, M. 1908. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Coleoptera. Chrysomelidae. Vol. 1. Taylor & Francis: London.