The morphology of galerucine and alticine larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its phylogenetic implications

External characters of alticine and galerucine larvae were examined. Larvae with distinctly different feeding habits were described in detail and their external features were illustrated, mainly using SEM. The morphological descriptions and the used nomenclature may be used as a template for future studies on chrysomelid larvae to facilitate the phylogenetic evaluation of morphological characters of immature stages. Features potentially useful for phylogenetic reconstruction were compiled and arranged in a character state matrix. The usefulness of larval characters was critically evaluated. A larval groundplan of the galerucine-alticine lineage was reconstructed. Supported conventional groups are the Galerucinae s.l. (i.e. incl. alticines), the galerucine Luperini, Hylaspini, and Oidini, and the alticine Blepharida-group, placed as sister group of the Oides species. A large monophyletic unit is formed by Altica, the alticine leaf-miners Podagricomela and Argopistes, the alticine root feeders Phygasia and Longitarsus, and the galerucine genera Monolepta, Exosoma and Diabrotica. The phylogenetic results and the effects of different life and feeding habits are discussed. Surface-feeding is ancestral for the galerucine-alticine clade. Leafmining has distinct effects on the morphology.