Coridius chinensis (Dallas, 1851)

Boyane, Swapnil S., Sen, Sandeep, Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan, Thunga, Pavan Kumar, Joshi, Nikhil U. & Ghate, Hemant V., 2024, Integrative taxonomy of the genus Coridius Illiger, 1807 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae) reveals hidden diversity and three new species from North-East India, PLoS ONE (e 0298176) 1807 (7), pp. 1-46 : 29-34

Coridius chinensis (Dallas, 1851) ( Figs 7E, 9K, 13–17).

Aspongopus chinensis Dallas, 1851: 349 ; walker, 1868: 483; St å l, 1870: 85; Horváth, 1879: 145; Lethierry & Severin, 1893: 236; Distant, 1902: 285; 1903: 238; Oshanin, 1906: 162; Kirkaldy, 1909: 255; Oshanin, 1912: 19; Matsumura, 1913: 7; Paiva, 1919: 355; Distant, 1921: 166; Esaki, 1926: 152; Matsumura, 1930: 113, pl. 11, Fig 26; 1931: 1177; Hoffmann, 1932: 9; Strickland, 1932: 873, 874, 876; Lindberg, 1934: 14; Yang, 1934: 70–72, Fig 10; Hoffmann, 1935: 119, 176; Miller, 1956: 38; Takara, 1957: 33; Yang, 1962: 46, 47, pl. 8, Fig 67; Chang, 1974: 356; Hsiao et al., 1977: 70, pl. 8, Fig 123; Zhang, 1985: 53, 54, pl. 11, Fig 25; Zhang & Lin, 1988: 84, 85; Hua, 1989: 43; Zheng & Jin, 1990: 142.

Aspongobus [sic] chinensis Dohrn, 1859: 21 .

Aspongopus ochreus Shiraki, 1910: 111 , pl. 40, Fig 14.

Aspongopus (Aspongopus) chinensis Schouteden, 1913: 7 ; Tang, 1935: 355, 356.

Cyclopelta parva Shiraki, 1913: 207 .

Coridius chinensis Yang, 1940: 7 , 10–19, Figs 1–4; Hoffmann, 1948: 22; Stichel, 1962a: 725; 1962b: 205; Durai, 1986: 5; 1987: 190, 197, Figs 176–181, 265; Schaefer, 1987: 161; Zhang & Lin, 1987: 76; Hirashima, 1989: 183; Lis, 1990: 114, 141; 1991: 84, 87, 89, Fig 5; 1992: 37; Rolston et al., 1996: 35, 36, 98; Ahmad et al., 1997: 305, 307–310, 319 Figs 1A–1D.

Material examined: Paralectotype Female: CHINA: Labels: // Type // ASPONGOPUS CHINENSIS , 5113, des. J. Lis, PARALECTOTYPE .

INDIA: Nagaland, Viswema , leg. Aavika Dhanda, 27.iv.2019, 25.565˚N, 94.147˚E, 1650 m: 1 M, 1 F. — INDIA: Nagaland, wokha , leg. Ajano Tsanglao, 20.ii.2019, 26.089˚N, 94.196˚E, 900 m: 1 F. — INDIA: Manipur, Chandel , leg. Barkha Subba, 6.ii.2019, 24.318˚N, 94.044˚E, 960 m: 1 F. — INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh: Yingkiong , leg. Gumnya Ete, 10.xii.2019, 28.632˚N, 95.017˚E, 275 m: 2 F. — INDIA: Manipur, Ukhrul , leg. Swapnil Boyane, 1, ii.2019, 25.095˚N, 94.361˚E, 775 m: 1 M, 1 F. — INDIA: Nagaland, Khonoma , leg. Ajano Tsanglao, 26.iv.2019, 25.651˚N, 94.022˚E, 1517 m: 1 F .

Diagnosis. Dorsally dark brown or black with greenish tinge (in alcohol), antennae black except fifth segment which is ochraceous, but it is one fourth base and apex black; legs dark brown or castaneous, Ventral coloration similar to dorsal side with distinct green tinge at least in artificial light ( Figs 13 and 14).

Redescription. Head transverse, 0.41 times wider than longer, almost of same width as anterior pronotal angles; lateral margins of head in front of eyes distinctly sinuate, so that head apex looks rounded at apex. Mandibular plates longer than clypeus, meeting in front of it ( Fig 9K), transversely rugulose, coarsely punctate. Clypeus transversely ridged. Eyes moderately large, pedunculate. Ocelli are prominently closer to eyes than to each other; area between eyes and ocelli coarsely punctate on the disk, slightly less coarsely punctate in front of ocelli. Antennae with scattered black setae especially on second to fourth segments, first segment slightly surpassing apex of head, cylindrical, second and third flattened with fine rugae, fourth also flattened and slightly dilated beyond middle, fifth ochraceous and densely setose with dense, short and sparse, long setae. Labium four segmented, first segment reaching base of head, fourth segment reaching about middle of mesosternum.

Pronotum moderately sloping, rhomboidal; anterior margin gently rounded behind head, anterior angles obtuse, lateral margins straight, raised as carinae; surface coarsely punctate and rugulose; calli less punctate, smooth, rugulose. Humeral angles rounded, dorsally faintly raised on corners, posterior margin straight. Posterior margin of pronotum straight.

Prosternum coarsely punctate medially, pleura finely and rugulosely punctate. Meso-sternum medially sulcate with two broad shining smooth patches on either side of midline, lateral area rugulose with scattered punctures. Metasternum narrow with a medial sulcus between meta coxae.

Scutellum rugulose punctate, 0.98 times wider than long, slightly tumescent in posterior half, apex broadly rounded.

Hemelytra. Clavus broad at base, narrowed distally and shorter than scutellum; corium broad, finely rugulose punctate. Membrane broad, with a series of basal cells and many parallel longitudinal veins. Hemelytra surpasses tip of abdomen.

Femora laterally compressed, punctate, ventrally with spinules. Tibiae sulcate with more prominent and numerous spines. Tarsi well developed, first and third segment sub-equal, middle shortest; first segment with dense mat of setae underneath, claws and pulvulli well developed; claws divergent.

Abdomen slightly wider in front of middle of its length, slightly thinner than humeral angles. Abdomen very finely punctate and rugulose, less punctate medially and appears smooth. Seventh sternum longest, posterior third rugulose, setose at posterior border, covering convex ventral portion of pygophore. Eighth sternum not visible externally in males. Spiracles prominent, situated closer to anterior border than to lateral margins of segments. Trichobothria posterior to spiracles.

Male genitalia. Exposed portion of pygophore finely rugulose, punctate ventrally with sparse long brown setae, margin finely denticulate. Anterior third of pygophore ochraceous, posterior two thirds more sclerotized, black. Ventral rim of the pygophore triangular, rounded or medially raised and straight, denticulate and without long setae ( Fig 15). Ventrally moderately convex, with punctures and without setae ( Fig 16). Parameres highly sclerotized with rugae, medially broad and rounded and apically narrowing, outer margin serrated and setose apically, inner margin straight ( Fig 17) and with lobe basally.

Geographical distribution. Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Japan. Laos, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Vietnam. This species is widely distributed in India’s Southern (Tamil Nadu) and North-eastern regions (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh) [ 24, 27, 42, 44].

Remarks. The umami taste of C. chinensis makes it a popular dish among ethnic tribes in Northeast India. However, consuming this bug can cause problems like dizziness, nausea, and vomiting in some people. It can lead to a loss of strength and a condition of semi-consciousness in certain people (Boyane, personal communication with native people).

Different morphs in C. chinensis ( Figs 13–17).

Coridius chinensis 1: head including ocelli, antennae except apical segment, pronotum, and scutellum brown. Hemelytra a little paler than rest of the body. Venter black, except rostrum and coxal area. Second segment of antennae (1.54 mm) longer than third (1.13 mm). Pygophore: ventral rim rounded; dorsal rim slightly concave. Parameres medially broad, tip upwardly directed with a few setae.

Coridius chinensis 2: head including ocelli, antennae (except apical segment), pronotum and scutellum dark black. Clavi, coria and claws brown. Membrane paler than corium. Second segment of antennae longer (1.59 mm) than third (1.39 mm). Venter completely black. Pygophore: ventral rim slightly raised medially, dorsal rim concave with setae. Parameres slightly slenderer when compared to Coridius chinensis 1; tip pointed with numerous setae.

Coridius chinensis 3: head (except ocelli), pronotum, antennae except apical segment, pronotum, scutellum, clavi, corium and legs are black. Ocelli yellow. Membrane and claws paler than rest of the body. Second antennal is smaller (1.34 mm) than the third segment (1.47 mm). Venter completely black. Scent gland area matte black. Pygophore: ventral rim raised slightly as in Coridius chinensis 2, dorsal rim concave. Parameres slender; tip setose and upwardly directed.

Coridius chinensis 4: coloration similar to Coridius chinensis 3. Ocelli yellow. Ventrally black except coxae and rostrum. Second antennal segment longer (1.52 mm) than third (1.21 mm). Pygophore: ventral rim rounded, dorsal rim slightly straight. Parameres slender and pointed apically.

Coridius chinensis 5: dorsal and ventral coloration is similar to Coridius chinensis 3 and Coridius chinensis 4. Ocelli yellow. Second antennal segment longer (1.38 mm) than third (1.26 mm). Pygophore: ventral rim raised medially, as in Coridius chinensis 3. Parameres medially broad and rounded; tip setose and upwardly directed.

Coridius chinensis 6: head including ocelli, pronotum, legs, scutellum, clavi, coriua and membrane black. Second antennal segment longer than third. Venter black except the coxal region which is brown. Pygophore like Coridius chinensis 2. Parameres medially broad, tip pointed and upwardly directed.

Coridius chinensis 7: head, antennae except apical segment, pronotum, scutellum and legs black. Clavi, coria, membrane, and tip of scutellum brown. Venter black. Pygophore: ventral rim medially weakly elevated and straight, dorsal rim concave. Parameres outer margin rounded, tip upwardly directed.

Coridius chinensis 8: head, antennae (except apical segment), pronotum, scutellum, clavui, coriua and legs black. Membrane paler than color of the body. Rostrum, coxae, prosternum, and abdomen segments II-VI brown. Second antennal segment longer than third. Pygophore: ventral rim medially raised, triangular-like, dorsal rim almost straight. Parameres with pointed as in morphs of C. chinensis .

Remarks: Eight samples of Coridius chinensis (Dallas, 1851) formed six lineages in our analysis. Although all samples are keyed out to Coridius chinensis , they show slight variations in the body color and structure of pygophores and parameres. we studied the paralectotype of C. chinensis and found that the basal ¼ of the fifth antennal segment is black in all specimens. C. chinensis 3–5 have yellow ocelli, while all other have black ocelli. These three samples, which share similar morphology, were collected from the same state.