Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus)

POORANI, J., 2023, An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 1. Tribe Coccinellini, Zootaxa 5332 (1), pp. 1-307 : 251

Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus)

( Fig. 180 )

Coccinella 14— punctata Linnaeus, 1758: 366 (Type locality: Europe).

Propylea quatuordecimpunctata: Mulsant 1846: 152 ; Mader 1933: 253–262; Sasaji 1971: 264; Sasaji et al. 1975: 13–34; Poorani 2002a: 341.

Diagnosis. Length: 3.00 mm; width: 2.50 mm. Form elongate oval, dorsum moderately convex and glabrous. Ground colour pale creamy yellow, pronotum with 5–7 black maculae, often interconnected and forming a larger macula; elytra with the characteristic checkerboard or anchor-shaped pattern ( Fig. 180a, b ). Ventral side largely blackish, abdominal ventrites medially black and laterally yellowish. Abdominal postcoxal line ( Fig. 180c ) incomplete. Male genitalia ( Fig. 180d–g ) as illustrated.

Distribution. India: Appears to be confined to the colder parts of northwestern Indian Himalayas (Jammu & Kashmir; Uttarakhand); Pakistan; Bangladesh; Japan; China; Europe; North America.

Prey/associated habitat. Collected on peach and willow in Jammu & Kashmir ( Kundoo 2019) and on custard apple in Pakistan ( Hayat et al. 2017). Associated with powdery mildew infesting mulberry in Kashmir ( Khan & Nighat 1991).

Seasonal occurrence. Found during June–July in Jammu & Kashmir ( Kundoo 2019); August–September in Pakistan ( Hayat et al. 2017).

Notes. Propylea quatuordecimpunctata is very similar in general appearance to P. japonica and its distribution in the Indian mainland appears to be restricted to the coldest parts of northwestern India (Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand) and it is seldom collected in large numbers. See Ren et al. (2009) and Yu (2010) for more illustrations.

Figures

FIGURE 180. Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus): a. adult, dorsal view; b. variant, dorsal view (BMNH); c. abdomen, male; d–g. male genitalia: d. tegmen, lateral view; e. tegmen, ventral view; f. penis; g. penis apex.