G. it. Ent., 4 (20): 93-112
December 31, 1988
A Survey of the Leaf Beetles
(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
from the Townsville district, northern Queensland, Australia
by
T. J. HAWKESWOOD
Abstract - An annotated list of 56 species of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) (from 8 subfamilies and 30 genera) is provided, based on observations and collections throughout 1981 in the Townsville district, northern Queensland. The Chrysomelidae fauna consists mostly of tropical species with a few temperate elements. The diversity of leaf beetles is not correlated with plant diversity, i.e. there is a high diversity of leaf beetles but the habitat is depauperate in terms of plant species. A total of 23 plant species from 12 families were utilized as adult food resources by 46 of the 56 chrysomelid species recorded. Most of these host records are new and previously unpublished. The number of species encountered each month throughout the year appeared to be closely correlated with temperature and rainfall, i.e. the largest number of species were collected during the hottest and wettest times of the year (December to March).
