Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard

Poorani, J. & Thanigairaj, R., 2021, Indian species of Shirozuellini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), including a new species of Sasajiella Miyatake from Tamil Nadu, Zootaxa 5005 (2), pp. 189-200 : 199

Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard

( Figs. 6 , 7 )

Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard, 1911: 389 (BMNH) .- Korschefsky, 1931: 214.- Poorani, 2002: 361.

Promecopharus andrewesi var. ancoralis Sicard, 1911: 389 .- Korschefsky, 1931: 214.- Poorani, 2002: 362.

Diagnosis: Length: 0.80–0.90 mm. Form ( Fig. 6a ) small, elongate oval, dorsum weakly convex and densely pubescent. Dorsal side dark brown with yellow maculae on elytra as illustrated ( Figs 6a, b ). Head ( Fig. 6c ) with clypeal margin long and widely expanded laterally. Eyes ( Fig. 6c, d ) large, frons gradually narrowed in posterior half. Maxilla with terminal palpomere ( Fig. 6d ) elongate securiform, its apical margin dilated and obliquely truncate.Antenna ( Fig. 6d ) with 9 antennomeres, last three forming a club, penultimate antennomere longer than preceding and last antennomeres. Prosternum ( Fig. 6e ) deeply and broadly grooved anteriorly, prosternal intercoxal process broad, quadrate, median part anteriorly produced for reception of maxillary palpi and antennae when head is retracted. Mesoventrite broad and long, straight anteriorly. Abdomen ( Fig. 6g ) with six visible ventrites, abdominal postcoxal line complete, acutely triangular, touching posterior margin of ventrite 1. Tarsal formula ( Fig. 6f ) 3-3-3, claws apparently bifid. Male genitalia ( Figs 7c–e ) as illustrated, tegminal strut (trabes) elongate, penis guide of tegmen elongate in lateral view ( Fig. 7c ), parameres nearly as long as penis guide with few short apical and lateral hairs, penis guide in inner view ( Fig. 7e ) elongate lanceolate with a triangular apex; penis ( Fig. 7d ) stout and curved, broadened towards apex, with a distinct capsule.

Material examined: Type material: “ SYNTYPE / TYPE (red bordered circular label) / H. L. Andrewes / Nilgiri Hills / Andrewes Bequest BM. 1922-221 / Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard ” ( BMNH) ; Others: “Nilgiri Hills, G.F. Hampson, 94-89 / Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard, R. G. Booth det. 1985” ( BMNH: 1); INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Ooty, K. D. Prathapan ( NBAIR: 5) .

Distribution: India: Endemic to Nilgiris (South India) and rarely collected.

Note: Promecopharus is a monotypic genus, and it was listed under Sticholotidini by Chazeau et al. (1989; 1990) in their compendium of world genera. Miyatake (1994) reviewed and described the genus and correctly assigned it to Shirozuellini . Miyatake’s illustrations of the clypeus and the maxillary palpi are not exactly matching with the material examined in the following ways: in Miyatake’s illustration, the clypeus is expanded to a much greater degree than in the type specimen ( Fig. 7a ) (BMNH, examined) and the other specimens collected from Nilgiris and the terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp is much more elongate and less securiform. However, its elytral pattern is characteristic and diagnostic in conjunction with the other generic characters. The male genitalia of this genus / species are illustrated for the first time here. Shirozuella schawalleri ( Canepari 1997) , originally described under Ghanius from Nepal Himalayas, was transferred to Promecopharus by Canepari (2012), but Wang et al. (2012) included it in Shirozuella .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard: a. habitus, dorsal; b. habitus, lateral; c, d. head; e. prosternum; f. foreleg; g. abdomen, male.

FIGURE 7. Promecopharus andrewesi Sicard: a. syntype (BMNH); b. identified material at BMNH; c–e. male genitalia: c. tegmen, lateral view; d. penis; e. tegmen, inner view.