Sumitrosis inaequalis (Weber)

Eiseman, Charles S., Feldman, Tracy S. & Palmer, Michael W., 2024, New larval host records, parasitoid records, and DNA barcoding data for North American leaf-mining leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea), Zootaxa 5549 (1), pp. 1-60 : 32-35

Sumitrosis inaequalis (Weber)

( Figs. 21 , 79–81 , 151 )

Reared specimens. CONNECTICUT: Litchfield Co., Colebrook, 41.993994, -73.089211, 11.vii.2024, em. 20– 26.vii.2024, C.S. Eiseman, ex Prunella vulgaris , # CSE 8913 (6 adults, MLBM); ILLINOIS: Cook Co., Glencoe, Chicago Botanic Garden, 42.148972, -87.789693, 15.vii.2020, em.?, J. Steffen, ex Eurybia macrophylla (iNat 53286422); Mason Co., Forest City, Sand Ridge State Forest, 28.vi.2019, em. 14.vii.2019, C.S. Eiseman & J.A. Blyth, ex Helianthus divaricatus , # CSE 5605 (1 adult, MLBM); IOWA: Winneshiek Co., 43°25’55.97”N, 92° 0’34.78”W, 16.vii.2015, em. 21.vii.2015, C.S. Eiseman, ex Rudbeckia laciniata , # CSE 1758 (1 adult, ZFMK); MASSACHUSETTS: Berkshire Co., Washington, 8.vii.2014, em. 30.vii.2014, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum cordifolium , # CSE 1348 (1 adult, ZFMK); Franklin Co., Greenfield, 42.606583, -72.571922, 12.vi.2021, em. 3– 4.vii.2021, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum patens , # CSE 6929 (1 adult, MLBM); Northfield, Old Wendell Rd. (42.654294, -72.428336), 12.vii.2017, em. 31.vii–1.viii.2017, C.S. Eiseman, ex Eurybia macrophylla , # CSE 4036 (3 adults, ZFMK); 42.647282, -72.425212, 7.vii.2019, em. 20–21.vii.2019, C.S. Eiseman, ex Rudbeckia hirta , # CSE 5702 (2 adults, MLBM); 42.647199, -72.425255, 17.vii.2020, em. 28.vii.2020, C.S. Eiseman, ex Helianthus tuberosus , # CSE 6455 (1 adult, MLBM); Hampden Co., Wales, 42.09014789, -72.20011674, 10.viii.2017, 20.viii.2017, C.S. Eiseman, ex Eutrochium maculatum , # CSE 4151 (1 adult, ZFMK); Hampshire Co., Northampton, Fitzgerald Lake, 22.vii.2021, em. 2.viii.2021, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum lateriflorum , # CSE 6953 (1 adult, MLBM); Pelham, Butter Hill, 21.vi.2013, em. by 8.vii.2013, C.S. Eiseman, ex Eurybia divaricata , # CSE 732 (1 adult, ZFMK); Nantucket Co., Nantucket, Stump Pond, 30.vii.2017, em. 12–25.viii.2017, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum undulatum , # CSE 4114 (2 adults, ZFMK); MICHIGAN: Washtenaw Co., Ann Arbor, 2200 Centennial Ln (42.2515, -83.8655), 29.vi.2019, em. 11.vii.2019,J. Craves, ex Monarda fistulosa , # CSE 5969 (2adults, MLBM); MINNESOTA: Ramsey Co., St. Paul, Crosby Farm Regional Park, 44.897942, -93.163933, 17.viii.2024, em. 28.viii.2024, M. Zappa, ex Ambrosia trifida (1 adult, MBLM); MISSOURI: Franklin Co., Gray Summit, Shaw Nature Reserve, 1.vii.2015, em. 2.vii.2015, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum anomalum , # CSE 1673 (1 adult, ZFMK); NEW YORK: Columbia Co., Ghent, 17.vii.2015, em. 3.viii.2015, C. Vispo, ex Symphyotrichum laeve , # CSE 2191 (1 adult, ZFMK); NORTH CAROLINA: Wake Co., Morrisville, Lake Crabtree County Park, 23.v.2019, em. by 5.vi.2019, T.S. Feldman, ex Symphyotrichum , # CSE 5981 (1 adult, MLBM); Watauga Co., Blowing Rock, 7.vii.2024, em. 23.vii.2024, T.S. Feldman, ex Ageratina altissima var. altissima , # CSE 9124 (1 adult, MLBM); 8.vii.2024, em. 20.vii.2024, T.S. Feldman, ex Ageratina altissima var. altissima , # CSE 9121 (3 adults, MLBM); 12.vii.2024, em. 20.vii.2024, T.S. Feldman, ex Eurybia divaricata , # CSE 9122 (2 adults, MLBM); OHIO: Hocking Co., South Bloomingville, Deep Woods Farm, 6.viii.2016, em. 16.viii.2016, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum prenanthoides , # CSE 2906 (1 adult, ZFMK); OKLAHOMA: Osage Co., Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, 4.vi.2017, em. 28.vi.2017, M.W. Palmer, ex Ageratina altissima , # CSE 3937 (1 adult, ZFMK); Payne Co., Mehan, 36.014339° N, - 96.996744° W, 5.vi.2015, em. 21.vi.2015, M.W. Palmer, ex Symphyotrichum drummondii , # CSE 1638 (1 adult, ZFMK); 28.vii.2015, em. 1–7.viii.2015, M.W. Palmer, ex Solidago ulmifolia , # CSE 1898 (3 adults, ZFMK); 18.ix.2015, em. by 25–30.ix.2015, M.W. Palmer, ex Symphyotrichum drummondii , # CSE 2082 (2 adults, ZFMK); 30.v.2016, em. 23.vi.2016, M.W. Palmer, ex Symphyotrichum praealtum , # CSE 3073 (1 adult, ZFMK); 5.vi.2016, em. 24.vi.2016, M.W. Palmer, ex Symphyotrichum oolentangiense , # CSE 3075 (1 adult, ZFMK); 5.vi.2016, em. 2.vii.2016, M.W. Palmer, ex Symphyotrichum drummondii , # CSE 3076 (1 adult, ZFMK); 15.vi.2019, em. 24.vi.2019, M.W. Palmer, ex Rudbeckia hirta , # CSE 5977 (2 adults, MLBM); VERMONT: Chittenden Co., South Burlington, Winooski Gorge, 29.vi.2014, em. 10.vii.2014?, C.S. Eiseman, ex Solidago flexicaulis , # CSE 1347 (2 adults, ZFMK); Lamoille Co., Stowe, Hell Brook, west of Mountain Rd., 6.ix.2015, em. 9–21.ix.2015, C.S. Eiseman, ex Symphyotrichum cordifolium , # CSE 2040 (6 adults, ZFMK); Windham Co., Wilmington, Lake Raponda Rd., 42.871843, -72.816292, 17.vii.2021, em. 7–8.viii.2021, C.S. Eiseman & J.A. Blyth, ex Symphyotrichum cordifolium , # CSE 6959 (1 adult, MLBM); TEXAS: Wilson Co., Stockdale, 29.240538, -97.962883, 12.iii.2023, em. 26.iii.2023, C. Burrier, ex Calyptocarpus vialis , # CSE 8122 (3 adults, MLBM); WISCONSIN: Dane Co., Middleton, Pheasant Branch Conservancy, 21.vi.2020, em. 3.vii.2020, T. Klein, ex Rudbeckia laciniata (1 adult, BG 1847569); Token Creek County Park, 30.vi.2020, em. by 8.vii.2020, T. Klein, ex Monarda fistulosa (1 adult, BG 1850763).

Collected specimens. OKLAHOMA: Payne Co., Mehan , 36.014339° N, - 96.996744° W, 17.viii.2015, M.W. Palmer, ex Symphyotrichum drummondii , # CSE3072 (1 parasitized larva, ZFMK).

Other collected mines. IOWA: Monona Co., Loess Hills, 17.ix.2012, C.S. Eiseman, Ageratina altissima (1 parasitized larva); MASSACHUSETTS: Hampshire Co., Pelham, Butter Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 2.vi.2015, C.S. Eiseman, Eurybia divaricata (2 parasitized eggs).

Photographed mines. IOWA: Linn Co., Wikiup Hill County Park , 42.083666, -91.764874, 30.vi.2022, I. Winkler, Monarda fistulosa [larva. pupa] (iNat 124208411) ; KANSAS: Douglas Co., Baldwin City, Baldwin Woods , 2.vii.2015, C.S. Eiseman, Symphyotrichum drummondii [larva] (iNat 203266779) ; MAINE: Hancock Co., Gouldsboro, Frances B. Wood Preserve , 29.vii.2019, C.S. Eiseman, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum [larva] (iNat 203267351) ; MASSACHUSETTS: Franklin Co ., Sunderland, Mt.Toby , 28.vii.2022, C.S. Eiseman, Prunella vulgaris [aborted mine] (iNat 203264062) ; MISSOURI: Franklin Co., Gray Summit, Shaw Nature Reserve , 1.vii.2015, C.S. Eiseman, Rudbeckia triloba [dead larva] (iNat 203267616) ; VIRGINIA: Page Co., Shenandoah National Park , 38.602318, -78.371175, 22.vii.2021, J. Clark, Monarda clinopodia [pupa] (iNat 88208429) ; WISCONSIN: Dane Co., Middleton, Pheasant Branch Conservancy , 6.vii.2014, T. Klein, Symphyotrichum urophyllum (BG 951914) .

Hosts. Asteraceae : Ageratina altissima (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., A. *trifida L., * Calyptocarpus vialis Less. , Eurybia divaricata (L.) G.L.Nesom, E. macrophylla (L.) Cass.,* Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E.Lamont, * Helianthus divaricatus L., H. tuberosus L., * Rudbeckia hirta L., R. laciniata L., R. triloba L., Solidago flexicaulis L., S. patula Muhl. ex Willd. , S. *ulmifolia Muhl. ex Willd. , Symphyotrichum anomalum (Engelm.) G.L. Nesom , S. cordifolium (L.) G.L. Nesom, S. *drummondii (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom , S. *laeve (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve, S. lanceolatum (Willd.) G.L. Nesom , S. *lateriflorum (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve, S. novae-angliae (L.) G.L. Nesom, S. *oolentangiense (Riddell) G.L. Nesom , S. *patens (Aiton) G.L. Nesom , S. *praealtum (Poir.) G.L. Nesom , S. *prenanthoides (Muhl. ex Willd.) G.L. Nesom , S. puniceum (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve, S. undulatum (L.) G.L. Nesom, S. *urophyllum (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom , Vernonia noveboracensis (L.) Michx.; * Lamiaceae : Monarda clinopodia L., M. fistulosa L., Prunella vulgaris L. ( Frost 1924; Ford and Cavey 1985; Clark et al. 2004; Eiseman 2014, 2015; Priest et al. 2020; Eiseman & Blyth 2022). At the same site where she reared adults from Monarda, J. Craves (in litt.) found presumed Sumitrosis inaequalis mines on downy wood mint ( Blephilia ciliata (L.) Raf. ex Benth.) ( Lamiaceae ).

Butte (1969) collected adults on Euthamia graminifolia (L.) Nutt. and Solidago canadensis L., most of them copulating, and based on this observation Ford & Cavey (1985) accepted both as larval hosts. Adults have been found feeding on Eupatorium perfoliatum L., Helianthus hirsutus Raf. , and Solidago gigantea Aiton (Riley & Enns 1979; Ford & Cavey 1985). Clark et al. (2004) found an adult on Symphyotrichum shortii (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom , but did not observe feeding. Sumitrosis inaequalis has also been reported “on Polymnia ” near Gainesville, Florida ( Watson 1922) , and “on Baccharis sp. ” and “on Zexmenia sp. ” in Santa Cruz Co., Arizona ( Butte 1969), without reference to feeding. Based on the synonymy and distribution data in USDA, NRCS (2024), we infer that the “ Polymnia ” was Smallanthus uvedalia (L.) Mack., and the “ Zexmenia sp. ” was Lasianthaea podocephala (A. Gray) K.M.Becker.

Biology. Eiseman (2014, 2015) discussed the leaf mines of Sumitrosis inaequalis . Further observations have revealed that the egg may be deposited in a pit chewed in either the upper or the lower leaf surface (not always the lower, as previously stated) ( Figs. 21 , 79 ). On most host genera, the larva forms a simple blotch mine with the frass in randomly scattered strips or crisscrossing threads ( Figs. 79, 80 ). On Symphyotrichum spp. , the mine is a broad track with the frass deposited along the margins ( Fig. 81 ). This holds true for all mines we have examined, with the following exceptions. The single aborted mine photographed on Rudbeckia triloba in Missouri was of the “ Symphyotrichum ” type, as was the mine on Eurybia macrophylla in Illinois from which an adult was reared. The CSE2040 series reared from S. cordifolium in Vermont all produced mines that were unambiguously of the “typical” type, as did the larva on S. lateriflorum in Maine. One specimen from S. drummondii in Oklahoma (CSE3076) produced an intermediate mine, consisting of a much contorted track with the frass not forming a definite pattern.

Parasitoids. Conura albifrons (Walsh) ( Chalcididae ) has been reared from pupae of Sumitrosis inaequalis ( McPheron 1985) . We reared an adult of C. odontotae (Howard) from a pupa in a Symphyotrichum drummondii leaf collected in Oklahoma (CSE4322, UFES).

Previously recorded eulophid parasitoids of S. inaequalis include Pediobius albipes (Provancher) and Pnigalio uroplatae (Howard) from larvae and Closterocerus trifasciatus Westwood from pupae ( McPheron 1985). We reared two adults of C. cinctipennis Ashmead from two eggs on a Eurybia divaricata leaf (CSE1644, BMNH), and adults of P. albipes from larvae mining Ageratina altissima (CSE498, BMNH) and Rudbeckia laciniata (CSE1927, BMNH).

Scambus hispae (Harris) and Tromatobia ovivora (Boheman) ( Ichneumonidae ) are also recorded as parasitoids of S. inaequalis ( Carlson 1979; McPheron 1985). The single male of T. ovivora emerged from an adult beetle that had been collected as an immature larva. This species normally oviposits in spider egg sacs.

Notes. Eiseman (2015) suggested that it would be of interest to compare DNA barcodes of Sumitrosis inaequalis specimens reared from Symphyotrichum with those from other hosts, given the leaf mine differences discussed above. We have done so, and have found no molecular evidence to support the hypothesis that the two mine types correspond with two distinct species. Our specimens are assigned to four different BINs, with most belonging to BIN BOLD:AAM7753—including specimens reared from mines of both types, on Eutrochium , Rudbeckia , Solidago , and Symphyotrichum in Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Oklahoma. The nearest neighbor, at a distance of 1.6%, is BIN BOLD:ABA5311, which includes specimens we reared in Vermont from “typical” mines on Solidago and Symphyotrichum . A specimen reared from Ageratina in Oklahoma belongs to BIN BOLD: AAY6537, which differs by 1.78% from BIN BOLD:AAM7753. A specimen we reared from Symphyotrichum oolentangiense in Oklahoma (mine characteristics unknown) is the sole representative of BIN BOLD:ADG4390, differing by 2.46% from the most similar barcode (a specimen from Manitoba assigned to BIN BOLD:AAG8735) and by 3.85% from the least similar barcode for a specimen identified as S. inaequalis (a specimen from Ontario assigned to BIN BOLD:AAY6537).

Figures

FIGURES 1–22. Eggs of Chalepini spp.; 1: Anisostena californica; 2: A. lecontii; 3: Baliosus californicus; 4: B. nervosus; 5: same; 6: Brachycoryna hardyi (photo by E. LoPresti); 7: B. pumila; 8: Chalepus bicolor; 9: C. walshii walshii; 10: Glyphuroplata pluto; 11: Microrhopala excavata excavata; 12: M. laetula; 13: M. vittata; 14: M. xerene; 15: Odontota dorsalis; 16: O. floridana; 17: O. horni (top view); 18: same (side view); 19: O. scapularis; 20: Sumitrosis ancoroides; 21: S. inaequalis; 22: S. rosea.

FIGURES 78–86. Leaf mines of Sumitrosis spp.; 78: S. ancoroides on Strophostyles helvola (with pupa at center); 79: S. inaequalis on Eurybia divaricata (with egg at upper right, and larva above center); 80: S. inaequalis on Eutrochium maculatum; 81: S. inaequalis on Symphyotrichum anomalum (with pupa at upper right); 82: S. pallescens on Chamaecrista sp. (with egg above center); 83: same (secondary mines, with pupa at upper right); 84: S. rosea on Celastrus orbiculatus (with egg at right); 85: S. rosea on Laportea canadensis (with larva left of center); 86: S. rosea on Coursetia cf. caribaea (larva in secondary mine).

FIGURES 142–161. Chrysomelidae adults; 142: Octotoma marginicollis; 143: O. plicatula; 144: Odontota dorsalis; 145: O. floridana; 146: O. horni; 147: O. scapularis; 148: Stenopodius cf. lateralis; 149: Sumitrosis ancoroides (reared from Stylosanthes biflora); 150: S. ancoroides (reared from Strophostyles helvola); 151: S. inaequalis; 152: S. pallescens; 153: S. rosea (reared from Hylodesmum glutinosum); 154: S. rosea (reared from Laportea canadensis); 155: S. rosea (another individual reared from same collection of L. canadensis leaves); 156: S. rosea (reared from Celastrus orbiculatus); 157: Oulema palustris; 158: Altica cf. lazulina; 159: Dibolia borealis; 160: D. chelones; 161: D. melampyri.