Pseudodira Gordon, 1975

Szawaryn, Karol, 2015, Revision of the Neotropical genus Pseudodira (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachnini), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1), pp. 203-215 : 204-206

Pseudodira Gordon, 1975

Pseudodira Gordon, 1975: 207 . Type species: Pseudodira clypealis Gordon, 1975 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Pseudodira can be characterized by: i) the incisor edge of the mandibles with large denticles continuing as a sinuate line to the apex of the mandible on the dorsal surface ( Fig. 13 ); ii) the anterior margin of the metaventrite emarginated and distinctly bordered, the border with distinct incisions in the anterior angles between the midcoxae ( Fig. 8 ); iii) the presence of a carina on the apices of the mid and hind tibiae ( Fig. 5 ). The last character is shared with the South American genera Damatula Gordon, 1975 and Lorma Gordon, 1975 .

Redescription. Size: length 5.8–7.5 mm, width 5.0– 6.4 mm. Body oval, strongly convex. Dorsum covered with dense pubescence.

Head retracted in prothorax ( Fig. 11 ). Eyes finely faceted; interocular distance 0.63–0.70 times as wide as head across eyes. Gular sutures deep, separated, reaching half length of gula ( Fig. 12 ). Antenna short, less than width of the head; 10- ( P. clypealis ) or 11-segmented (other two species); scape large, swollen, along external surface regularly convex; pedicel distinctly narrower than scape; antennal club 3-segmented, asymmetrical; penultimate antennomere distinctly shorter than terminal one; terminal segment subquadrate ( Fig. 17 ). Antennal grooves absent. Clypeus with anterior margin emarginate. Labrum slightly emarginate apically ( Fig. 16 ). Mandible mesal and apical surfaces strongly serrated, apical third with strong prominent teeth; molar part absent; prostheca well developed, setose ( Fig. 13 ). Maxilla with cardo subquadrate; mediastipes and basistipes distinctly separated ( Fig. 15 ), lacinia simple, broad, and short with its apical surface covered with long setae and its mesal surface covered with irregularly arranged short pubescence. Galea round-oval; apex densely pubescent. Terminal maxillary palpomere large and securiform. Mentum ( Fig. 14 ) transverse; sides rounded; anterior margin weakly arcuate posteriorly. Prementum oval, ligula reduced. Labial palps narrowly separated, originated subapically on prementum; apical palpomere shorter and narrower than penultimate one; basal palpomere transverse, about two times shorter than penultimate.

Prothorax. Anterior angles weakly produced anteriorly. Lateral margin not upturned. Prothoracic hypomeron smooth, setose. Prosternal process complete and less than 0.5 width of mesoventral process; surface smooth ( Figs 1 , 4 ) or with small tubercle ( Fig. 8 ), sparsely setose, margined laterally. Prosternum in front of coxa shorter than coxal longitudinal diameter at the same position, with anterior margin slightly produced. Procoxal cavity with anterior border marginated.

Meso- and metathorax. Mesoventrite with raised anterior border. Mesoventral process flat ( Figs 1 , 4 ) or with small tubercle ( Figs 8 ). Meso-metaventral junction with suture visible, angulate posteriorly. Scutellum triangular. Lateral margins of elytra not or slightly explanate; often visible from above; surface with double size punctation. Elytral epipleuron almost complete, reduced only at apex; with distinct foveae to receive tips of mid and hind femora; inner margin with border area throughout narrow and border line fading before base of elytron. Metaventral postcoxal lines contiguous, antero-lateral angles (between midcoxae) deeply incised ( Figs 1 , 4 , 8 ); laterally complete, slightly arcuate.

Legs. Trochanters angulately produced posteriorly. Femora with distinct, complete grooves to receive tibiae. Fore tibiae with complete groove on outer edge. Mid and hind tibiae with oblique carina on outer edge near apex ( Figs 3 , 5 , 9 ). Protibia with single apical spur; mid and hind tibia with two spurs. Tarsus 4-segmented, pseudotrimerous; claws double, base weakly swollen ( Fig. 7 ).

Abdomen. Abdominal postcoxal lines separated medially, V-shaped ( Fig. 18 ) or parallel to posterior margin of ventrite 1 ( Figs 23, 28 ), well developed but incomplete; without additional oblique line. Females with 5 ventrites, ventrite 5 broadly rounded; abdominal sternite VIII not divided longitudinally in middle. Female tergite 8 rounded ( Figs 21, 26, 31 ).

Male genitalia. Known only for P. clypealis but not examined in the present study; see figures in GORDON & ALMEIDA (1986).

Female genitalia. Coxites more or less oval in outline; ventral surface of coxite smooth. Bursa copulatrix simple, ending with common oviduct; infundibulum, sperm duct and spermatheca absent.

Distribution. Brazil, French Guiana, and Peru ( Fig. 36 ).

Figures

Figs 12–17. Pseudodira clypealis Gordon, 1975. 12 – head, ventral side; 13 – mandible, dorsal side; 14 – labium; 15 – maxilla, ventral side; 16 – labrum, dorsal side; 17 – antenna.

Figs 8–11. Pseudodira clypealis Gordon, 1975. 8 – prosternum and mesoventrite; 9 – tibia; 10 – body, ventral view; 11 – head, ventral view.

Figs 4–7. Pseudodira carmelitana (Mulsant, 1853). 4 – head, prosternum and mesoventrite; 5 – apex of tibia and tarsus; 6 – body, ventral view; 7 – tarsal claw.

Figs 1–3. Pseudodira amazona sp. nov. 1 – head, prosternum and mesoventrite, 2 – body, ventral view, 3 – tibia, tarsus and tarsal claw.

Figs 18–32. 18–22 – Pseudodira clypealis Gordon, 1975: 18 – abdomen, female; 19 – abdominal sternite VIII; 20 – female genitalia, dorsal; 21– abdominal tergite VIII, female; 22 – female genitalia, ventral. 23–27 – P. carmelitana (Mulsant, 1853): 23 – abdomen, female; 24 – abdominal sternite VIII; 25 – female genitalia, dorsal; 26 – abdominal tergite VIII, female; 27 – female genitalia, ventral. 28–32 – P. amazona sp. nov.: 28 – abdomen, female; 29 – abdominal sternite VIII; 30 – female genitalia, dorsal; 31– abdominal tergite VIII, female; 32 – female genitalia, ventral.

Fig. 36. Map showing distribution of the three Pseudodira species.