allometrisilla

Allometrisilla is a genus of small leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, described in 2012 by entomologist Lina Kestrel. The name blends allometry, referring to growth relationships among body parts, with the diminutive suffix -illa. The genus is known from tropical lowland forests in Southeast Asia, with records from Sumatra, Borneo, and Peninsular Malaysia. It currently includes two described species.

The two species are Allometrisilla minor and Allometrisilla grandis. Allometrisilla minor measures about 5–6 mm in length, while Allometrisilla grandis ranges from 9–11 mm. Diagnostic characters include a narrowed clypeus, elytra with a pale median stripe, and a serrated posterior tibia. The species differ in body proportions and subtle differences in elytral patterning and host-plant preferences.

Ecology and biology: adults feed on understory leaves of broad-leaved shrubs in shaded forest floor zones. Larvae develop within leaf tissue, making miner-like tunnels. The life cycle is completed in roughly 6–8 weeks under typical tropical temperatures, and adults appear to be crepuscular or mildly diurnal. Population dispersal is generally limited, with mobility constrained by habitat structure and microclimate.

Distribution and conservation: Allometrisilla is known from fragmented tropical forest habitats in parts of Southeast Asia. Because the genus occupies specialized microhabitats, ongoing deforestation and forest fragmentation pose potential threats, though formal assessments for conservation status have not been published. Further studies are needed to clarify its phylogenetic placement and ecological role.