Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911

Figs 2A, 5H, 12, 26D–F

Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911: 311 .

Ernestinus mimicus – Basnagala et al. 2002: 159 (indication). — Yasunaga & Ishikawa 2016: 32 (key).

Diagnosis

Recognized by the following characters: antenna dark brown except base of segment I, with relatively long segments II and III; scutellum uniformly black; transverse dark spot in medioapical part of corium roughly T-shaped, laterally reaching but not surpassing submarginal vein; cuneus whitish, with extreme apex slightly darkened, cells dark brown except narrow inner area adjoining to cuneus, remaining part of membrane without color pattern (Figs 2A, 5H); left paramere with distinctly swollen body, apical process abruptly bent at base, very slightly and gradually curved along entire length and terminating with a small hook; right paramere flag-shaped, forming roughly rectangular plate apically (Fig. 12).

Material examined

Syntypes

SRI LANKA • 1 ♂; Haragama; 7.233° N, 80.733° E; 584 m a.s.l.; May 1911; E. Ernest Green leg.; “ Ernestinus mimicus Dist . Type ”; AMNH_PBI 00085668, BMNH(E)1633157; NHM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; AMNH_PBI 00340371; NHM .

Other material

INDIA • 15 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Karnataka, Mudigere, Kottigehara; 13°12ˊ N, 75°50ˊ E; 1006 m a.s.l.; 16 Dec. 2013; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; Lagenandra sp.; UASB .

Host

According to the original description (Distant 1911a), the type series was collected on aroid plants on a riverbank in Sri Lanka. Adults and larvae sampled for this study were found breeding on Lagenandra sp. ( Araceae) (Fig. 26D–F).

Distribution

The species had been previously known only from Haragama, a type locality in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Here we report it from the Karnataka state of India for the first time.