Phrynocaria perfida Poorani

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 : 234-235

Phrynocaria perfida Poorani

( Figs 167 , 168 )

Phrynocaria perfida Poorani , in Poorani et al. 2021: 121 (Holotype male, BMNH; Type locality: Kerala).

Coelophora circumusta sensu Gorham 1903: 344 (not Artemis circumusta Mulsant, 1850 ; misidentification).

Coelophora circumusta var. rufula: Gorham 1903: 344 (not Artemis rufula Mulsant, 1850 ; misidentification).

Diagnosis. Length: 3.63–4.00 mm; width: 3.26–3.40 mm. Form broadly rounded to almost circular, dorsum strongly convex and glabrous. Ground colour yellowish orange to reddish; scutellar shield black; pronotum with or without a small oval black spot on posterior margin above scutellar shield; elytral pattern variable as follows: (i) immaculate reddish to orange or yellow ( Fig. 167a ); (ii) with a narrow black lateral margin, anteriorly joining an elongate spot on humeral callus and posteriorly joining a larger apical black patch across elytra ( Fig. 167e, f ); (iii) each elytron with five black spots arranged in a 2-2-1/2 pattern ( Fig. 167c, g ), occasionally all spots coalescing to form larger fasciae ( Fig. 167d ) or reduced in size; and (iv) elytra dark brown to black with a pair of transverse yellow fascia across middle ( Fig. 167h ). Ventral side yellowish brown except outer one-third of epipleura black. Male genitalia ( Fig. 168g –k ) and spermatheca ( Fig. 168e, f ) as illustrated.

Distribution. India (Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu).

Notes. It is externally similar to P. circumusta , which is also distributed in South India, and these two species are best separated by their genitalia ( Poorani et al. 2021). See Poorani et al. (2021) for detailed description.

Figures

FIGURE 167. Phrynocaria perfida Poorani: a–h. colour morphs; i. pronotum, male; j. pronotum, female.

FIGURE 168. Phrynocaria perfida Poorani: a. prosternum; b. abdominal postcoxal line; c. apical ventrites, female; d. apical ventrites, male; e, f. spermatheca; g–k. male genitalia: g. tegmen, lateral view; h. tegmen, ventral view; i. apex of penis guide; j. penis; k. penis apex.