Sasajiscymnus kurohime species group
The Sasajiscymnus kurohime species group is characterized by the black elytra, slender penis without outer arm, elongate penis guide, apex of penis simple without appendage, and extremely thin parameres.
14 species of kurohime group are recorded from China, including 7 new species and 1 new recorded species.
Key to the species of kurohime group within the genus Sasajiscymnus Vandenberg, 2004
1. Elytra entirely black or elytra black with yellowish brown apices............................................... 2
- Elytra black with two yellow spots near suture (Fig. 49a).............. Sasajiscymnus flavostictus Tong & Wang sp. nov.
2. Parameres distinctly shorter than 1/2 length of penis guide..................................................... 3
- Parameres markedly longer than 1/2 length of penis guide (Fig. 50f)........ Sasajiscymnus falcatus Tong & Wang sp. nov.
3. Apex of penis guide strongly curved upwardly in lateral view.................................................. 4
- Apex of penis guide straight in lateral view................................................................. 6
4. Pronotum black with anterior margin narrowly yellowish brown................................................ 5
– Pronotum yellowish brown, sometimes with a black spot at base (Figs 51a–b).. Sasajiscymnus hamatus (Yu & Pang, 1993)
5. Penis guide approximately parallel sided for basal 3/ 4 in ventral view (Fig. 52g).... Sasajiscymnus kuriharai Kitano, 2012
- Penis guide widest at base in ventral view (Fig. 53g)....................... Sasajiscymnus nepalicus (Miyatake, 1985)
6. Pronotum entirely yellow or yellowish brown............................................................... 7
- Pronotum partly or entirely black......................................................................... 8
7. Pronotum and legs yellowish brown (Figs 54a–c); abdominal postcoxal lines almost complete (Fig. 54d).............................................................................. Sasajiscymnus pronotus (Pang & Huang, 1986)
- Pronotum and legs yellow (Figs 55a–c); abdominal postcoxal lines distinctly incomplete (Fig. 55d)................................................................................. Sasajiscymnus parallelus Tong & Wang sp. nov.
8. Pronotum uniformly black, sometimes with anterior margin narrowly yellowish brown.............................. 9
- Pronotum yellowish brown with a black spot at base (Fig. 56a)............ Sasajiscymnus tumidus Tong & Wang sp. nov.
9. Elytra black with brown apices......................................................................... 10
- Elytra entirely black.................................................................................. 12
10. Penis guide apically pointed in ventral view............................................................... 11
- Penis guide apically rounded in ventral view (Fig. 57i)........................... Sasajiscymnus dapae (Hoàng, 1978)
11. Parameres about 1/6 as long as penis guide (Fig. 58h)...................... Sasajiscymnus kurohime (Miyatake, 1959)
- Parameres about 1/3 as long as penis guide (Fig. 59g)................ Sasajiscymnus guniujiang Tong & Wang sp. nov.
12. Abdominal postcoxal lines not recurved toward the base of ventrite............................................ 13
- Abdominal postcoxal lines recurved toward the base of ventrite (Fig. 60d) Sasajiscymnus applanatus Tong & Wang sp. nov.
13. Penis guide approximately parallel sided for basal 2/ 3 in ventral view (Fig. 61g)..... Sasajiscymnus lewisi (Kamiya, 1961)
- Penis guide approximately parallel sided for basal 1/ 3 in ventral view (Fig. 62a)................................................................................................ Sasajiscymnus cuonaicus Tong & Wang sp. nov.