Coridius esculentus Boyane, Ghate & Priyadarsanan, 2024

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 : 16

Coridius esculentus Boyane, Ghate & Priyadarsanan sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org: act:47A61F00-13F6-42C2-A9AF-A1C1BB853657 ( Figs 5C, 6C, 9C, 10C, 11C and 12C).

Etymology. The species name ‘ esculentus ’ is the Latin adjective for edible, denoting its delicacy.

Material examined: Holotype male. INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh, Nimte, leg. Nikhil Joshi, 19. x.2018, 27.231˚N, 93.552˚E, 775 m.

Paratypes. Same collecting data as holotype; 3 M, 7 F.

Diagnosis. Dorsally bronzy black, antennae black, except fifth segment which is ochraceous with black base. Legs dark brown, mid- and hindcoxae are pale brown. Lateral margins of connexivum black. Ventrally rostrum, pleural area and last two segments of abdomen are blackish brown. Mid- and hind-coxae pale brown. Second to fourth abdominal segments brown ( Figs 5C and 6C).

Description. Head transverse, 1.32 times wider than longer. Lateral margins in front of eye distinctly sinuate so that apex of head looks rounded ( Fig 9C). Mandibular plates longer than clypeus, coarsely punctate. Clypeus transversely ridged. Eyes moderately large, pedunculate. Ocelli prominently closer to eyes than to each other; interocellar distance 1.61 times distance between eyes and ocelli. Antennae with scattered black setae especially on second to fourth segments and a few on fifth. First segment slightly surpassing apex of head, rounded, second, third and fourth laterally compressed, flattened with medial depression; fourth longest, slightly dilated beyond middle, fifth segment fusiform. Labium four segmented, first segment reaching base of head, second segment longest reaching base of fore coxae, third and fourth segment equal in length with fine setae.

Pronotum rhomboidal; anterior margin medially rounded behind head, anterior angles obtuse, lateral margins straight, raised as carinae; surface evenly punctate and rugulose; callus smooth, rugulose without punctures. Humeral angles rounded, faintly raised dorsally. Prosternum deeply punctate mesially. Mesosternum medially sulcate with two broad shining smooth patches on either side of midline. Metasternum narrow with a medial sulcus between metacoxae.

Scutellum punctate, 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 abdominal apex.

Legs. Femora laterally compressed. Tibiae sulcate with numerous spines. Tarsi well developed, first and third segments equal with long setae, middle shortest; first segment with dense setae underneath, claws and pulvilli well developed; claws divergent.

Abdomen very finely rugulose, though appear smooth, slightly punctate medially. Seventh sternum longest, posterior third rugulose, covering convex ventral portion of pygophore. Exposed portion of pygophore finely rugulose. Spiracles prominent. Trichobothria as usual for the genus with a pair posterior to spiracles.

Male genitalia. Pygophore black, posterior half more sclerotized than anterior, moderately convex ventrally ( Fig 11C). Ventral rim slightly convex, denticulate ( Fig 10C), dorsal rim rounded, with punctures. Parameres short, highly sclerotized, rugose, broad and apically rounded, outer margin slightly serrated and setose apically, inner margin straight ( Fig 12C) and without a basal lobe.

Geographical distribution. Presently known only from Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Remarks. This species is a delicacy among the ethnic communities. Consumption in large quantities can be neurotoxic, and the person becomes photophobic, such as wanting to hide under the carpet or cot; or, as the people believe, ‘they begin to act like the bug, which hides under the stones or goes into cracks. If medical treatment is not sought, this behaviour can remain for a longer period, like for many months or even longer (personal communication with native people). The chemicals secreted by the bugs through the metathoracic glands might be the reason for intoxication.