Coridius assamensis (Distant, 1902)

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 : 25-26

Coridius assamensis (Distant, 1902) ( Figs 5G, 6G, 9G, 10G, 11G and 12G).

Aspongopus assamensis Distant, 1902: 285 ; Bergroth, 1908: 188; Kirkaldy, 1909: 255, Chen, 1983: 45, 46; Datta et al., 1985: 4, Fig 7; Chen & Yang, 1988: 90.

Aspongopus (Aspongopus) assamensis Schouteden, 1913: 7 .

Coridius assamensis (Distant) , Durai, 1987: 190, 198, 199, Figs 182–183; Lis, 1990: 114, 140; 1992: 37; Rolston et al., 1996: 33, 98; Ahmad et al., 1997: 307; 319; Kocorek, 2003: 51, 55.

Material examined. Lectotype male (Images): Aspongopus assamensis Dist., R. Kumar det. 1973, LECTOTYPE // Distant Coll. 1911–383. // assamensis Dist // LECTOTYPE. INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh, Loklung , leg. Gumnya Ete, 2.i.2019, 27.960˚N, 95.566˚E, 139 m: 1 M .

Diagnosis. Entire body including antennae piceous. Eyes and ocelli dark brown ( Figs 5G and 6G). Metathoracic scent glands opening area matte black.

Redescription. Head 1.86 times wider than longer, deeply punctate, mandibular plates almost two times longer than clypeus and meeting in front of it; apex of head rounded, lateral margin deeply sinuated ( Fig 9G), lateral border of mandibular plates and area in front of ocelli smooth. Eyes, large, pedunculate. Ocelli rounded; interocular distance almost twice distance between ocelli and eyes. Antennae five segmented, first segment passing apex of head, second segment 0.70 times longer than third, fourth segment longest, fifth segment 0.44 times smaller than fourth. All segments with sparsely distributed setae, second, third and fourth segments compressed, fifth fusiform.

Pronotum declivous, trapezoid, with densely packed deep punctures, lateral margins smooth and raised as carina; anterior margin concave behind head, anterior angles blunt; posterior angles obtuse, posterior margin of pronotum more or less straight; calli prominent, smooth and without punctures.

Scutellum with punctures like pronotal, apex flat and tongue shaped.

Hemelytra. Clavus short, narrow; corium with fine punctures, rugulos. Membrane darker than corium and with many longitudinal veins. Hemelytra surpassing apex of abdomen.

Legs. Coxae rounded; femora slightly inwardly curved, laterally compressed with a series of small stout spinules and sparse long setae; tibiae almost straight and with numerous series of spines on both sides; tarsus with long golden pubescence underneath, pretarsus with few long setae; claws well developed and divergent.

Abdomen very finely rugulose, median region slightly less rugulose and smooth, seventh sternum longest, rugulose in posterior third, setose at posterior border; Connexivum exposed with pale yellow patch in between segmentation. Spiracles rounded, prominent, closer to anterior border than to lateral border of respective segment. Trichobothria paired, posterior to spiracles.

Male genitalia. Pygophore, squarish, exposed portion finely rugulose; moderately convex ventrally, with punctures and few sparse setae ( Fig 11G). Ventral rim rounded with numerous long brown setae ( Fig 10G). Parameres glossy, highly sclerotized with rugae, short, medially broad, and rounded, apically narrowing. Outer margin of paramere serrated and setose apically, inner margin more or less straight ( Fig 12G).

Geographical distribution: China, India (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, and Vietnam [ 24, 27, 44].

Remarks: C. assamensis is often collected from the riverbeds in Dibang valley and consumed by the indigenous communities especially by the Nyishi tribe.