title: First record of leaf-hole shelters used and modified by leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), with descriptions of two new Orthaltica Crotch species from southern India.
abstract: Behavioural novelties observed in adult leaf beetles of two new Orthaltica Crotch species include: 1) the use of low cost leaf-hole shelters, either in pre-formed holes produced by larger beetles that fed on the same leaf, or artificially created holes as part of an experiment; and 2) the use of faeces to partition the hole. Two new southern Indian species of the genus Orthaltica are described and illustrated: Orthaltica syzygium and Orthaltica terminalia. Host plants are identified for both species. A key to the Indian species of Orthaltica is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani P.O., Trivandrum-695 522, Kerala, INDIA.
authors.forename: Kaniyarikkal Divakaran
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Prathapan
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Konstantinov
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shameem
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Balan
keywords: Leaf-hole shelter; faeces; host plant; leaf beetles; new species