International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Oyelade OJ, Ogbogu SS

Abstract
This study collected and inventorised Leaf Beetles, investigated their host plants and distribution of each species within southwestern Nigeria. It also prepared and updated the checklist of the beetles within the study area with a view to documenting these insect species in the region. The inventory of Leaf Beetles and their host plants within southwestern region of Nigeria was carried out in wet and dry seasons between May 2014 and August 2018. Leaf Beetles were collected on crops and ornamental plants from 22 sampling sites within the six states of south western Nigeria (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states). The sampling sites were selected within the mangrove forest, rainforest and the derived savannah zones of the region. Collected specimens were carefully documented, preserved and identified at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The diagnostic characters of the adults of all the species collected were examined under the dissecting microscope (400x). The results showed that a total of 37 species of Leaf Beetles in 25 genera were recorded on crops and ornamental plants belonging to 45 families. This study classified all the Leaf Beetles present in the region into six subfamilies, eight new genera and twenty species that were not recorded in the old checklist were subsequently added to the existing checklist of Leaf Beetles in Nigeria. Hence this study updated the existing checklist of Leaf Beetles in Southwestern Nigeria with twenty species and additional eight new genera.