Taxonomic Identification of Aulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Species in Cucurbits from the Southern part of Bangladesh

Abstract

Species of the genus Aulacophora Chevrolat, 1836 from Southern part of Bangladesh had been intensively studied in the field and in the Taxonomic Lab of Patuakhali Science and Technology University during the period from July, 2018 to June 2019 which caused serious damage to cucurbits. The following five species of Aulacophora were recognized morphologically with a newly recorded species for the first time in Bangladesh and an unidentified species wasn’t confirmed yet at species level: Aulacophora foveicollis, A. indica, A. abdominalis, A. lewisii rec. nov. and Aulacophora sp.(?). Key to species of Aulacophora and redescription of all species were presented with proper illustrations. New locality records for A. lewisii were added herein. Morphological illustrations of all species were provided for correct identification and further comparison with other species of cucurbits in Bangladesh.