Synonycha Chevrolat

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 : 271

Genus Synonycha Chevrolat

Synonycha Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836: 460.

Type species: Coccinella grandis Thunberg, 1781 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Size large (12–15 mm), form broadly rounded with explanate lateral margins of elytra. Antennal scape strongly broadened and obtusely produced anteriorly on the inner edge (at least two times broader than pedicel), terminal antennomere broad oval. Prothoracic hypomeron with anterior foveae. Anterior margin of mesoventrite medially deeply emarginate. Abdominal postcoxal line incomplete without an associated line. Tarsal claws double, swollen at base. Sperm duct below apex, inserted ventrally on bursa; and spermatheca strongly curved and c-shaped, with only ramus developed.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the Oriental region ( India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos), also found in parts of the Palaearctic ( China, Japan).

Affinities. The Old World Megalocaria and Oriental Synonycha are the among the largest coccinellids in the world with body lengths of 10–18 mm, and species of both genera are typical aphid feeders with some exceptions like the African Megalocaria tetrasticta (Fairmaire) that feeds on eggs and nymphs of Plataspidae (Hemiptera) (Dejean et al. 2002). Tomaszewska et al. (2021) recovered Synonycha and Megalocaria as sister groups with strong support in terms of: terminal labial palpomere about as broad as penultimate one, mesoventrite anterior margin strongly emarginate, medially forming ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape, elytral lateral margins without visible bead and elytral epipleura with foveae for the apices of hind femora.

Included species. Synonycha is monotypic and the type species, S. grandis (Thunberg) , is widely distributed in peninsular and northeastern India, usually in association with various aphids infesting bamboo .