Pseudaspidimerus infuscatus Poorani

POORANI, J., 2024, An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 3. Tribe Aspidimerini, Zootaxa 5431 (1), pp. 1-89 : 57

Pseudaspidimerus infuscatus Poorani

( Figs 43 , 44 )

Pseudaspidimerus infuscatus Poorani, 2001: 305 .— Poorani 2002: 346.

Diagnosis. Length: 1.60–1.85 mm; width: 1.35–1.60 mm. Form broad and short oval, moderately convex and densely pubescent. Dorsum reddish testaceous to darker brownish-testaceous, head lighter yellow, only sutural and surrounding areas of elytra infuscate with dark brown / black, scutellar shield dark brownish testaceous ( Figs 43a, b , 44g, h ). Ventral side slightly darker testaceous, except pro-, meso- and metaventrite and middle of first two abdominal ventrites dark brown to black. Females darker than males on both sides. Prosternal carinae ( Fig. 43c ) gradually and distinctly divergent from the base, particularly in the anterior half. Male genitalia ( Fig. 43f–h ) and female genitalia ( Fig. 43i ) as illustrated.

Immature stages. Life stages as illustrated in Fig. 44 , similar to other Pseudaspidimerus species.

Type material. Holotype male, “ INDIA: Tamil Nadu: K.C. Patti-Periyar ( Revenue village ), Little Flower Estate, 4540’ above MSL, 23.viii.99, feeding on indeterminate aphids on Hibiscus rosasinensis, Coll. S.K. Rajeshwari ” ( NBAIR) . Other material. India: Tamil Nadu: Thadiyankudisai , 12.ix.2023, R. Thanigairaj, Ex. Aphis gossypii on Solanum torvum , 3 males and 2 females ( NRCB) .

Distribution. India (Western Ghats; Tamil Nadu).

Prey /Associated habitat. Indet.Aphids on Hibiscus rosasinensis ; Aphis gossypii on Solanum torvum ; collected on avocado, Justicia adhatoda L. (label data).

Seasonal occurrence. Collected in July–October.

Notes. It appears to be confined to the Western Ghats and is usually found at higher altitudes in coexistence with P. trinotatus and P. flaviceps . Poorani (2001) described it in detail with illustrations.

Figures

FIGURE 43. Pseudaspidimerus infuscatus Poorani: a, b. dorsal view; c. prosternum; d. abdomen, male; e. terminal ventrites, female; f–h. male genitalia: f. tegmen, lateral view; g. penis; h. tegmen, ventral view; i. female genitalia.

FIGURE 44. Pseudaspidimerus infuscatus Poorani, life stages: a, b. early stage larva; c, d. full grown larva; e. prepupa; f. pupa; g, h. adult.