Singhikalia ornata Kapur

POORANI, J., 2023, An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 1. Tribe Coccinellini, Zootaxa 5332 (1), pp. 1-307 : 262

Singhikalia ornata Kapur

( Fig. 186 )

Singhikalia ornata Kapur, 1963: 17 (Holotype male, BMNH; Type locality: Singhik, Sikkim).— Poorani 2002a: 343; Kovář 2007: 599.

Singhikalia subfasciata Miyatake, 1972: 92 (Type locality: Formosa).— Synonymized by Jadwiszczak 1990: 56.

Diagnosis. Length: 7.50–7.80 mm; width: 6.30–6.50 mm. Form broad oval to subcircular, dorsum convex and densely pubescent. Ground colour red, pronotum with a pair of black spots on posterior margin; elytra having 14 black spots of variable size, arranged in a 2-2-2-1 pattern, lateral margins of elytra basally black ( Fig. 186a–c ). Elytral punctation dual, coarse punctures intermixed with finer punctures. Abdominal postcoxal line incomplete, apparently with a lateral oblique line. Genitalia not studied.

Distribution. India (Endemic to Sikkim); Vietnam; Taiwan.

Note. It is a rare species endemic to Sikkim / Eastern Himalayas. It is also likely to be mistaken for / misidentified as Epilachnini .

Figures

FIGURE 186. Singhikalia ornata Kapur: a, b. adult, dorsal view; c. adult, lateral view (ZSIK).