Indomias mangalai Ramamurthy

Y, R A M A M U Rt H & Ayri, Shaloo, 2010, Revision of the genus Indomias Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Tanymecini) from India, Zootaxa 2357, pp. 1-49 : 36-37

14. Indomias mangalai Ramamurthy sp. nov.

(figs. 14, 48, 73, 126, 127, 156, 181, 225, 226 and 227).

Diagnosis: This species resembles I. acutipennis (Boheman) and is distinguished by the following characters: Scrobes uniformly broadly pointed anteriorly and broadly rounded posteriorly, oriented parallel towards eyes. Prothorax broadest at middle, apices of elytra pointed but not mucronate. Male genitalia with length: breadth ratio of aedeagus 5.5:1. Female genitalia with spiculum ventrale having its basal plate triangular, its apex rounded with 4–5 slender hairs. Elytral vestiture with predominant scales ovate, reddish brown with 5–6 ridges.

Description: Colour black, with pale or dull green vestiture. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface convex, with shallow and scattered punctations, usually hidden behind vestiture. Rostrum shallowly impressed at middle dorsally, as long as broad, anterior margin 0.85x as broad as the posterior margin; median furrow broadly rounded anteriorly, but pointed posteriorly; lateral carinae extend up to margin of eyes; scrobes uniformly broad, pointed anteriorly and broadly rounded posteriorly, oriented parallel towards the eyes. Eyes dorsal, conical and moderately convex (figs. 14 and 48). Antennae reddish brown; scape abruptly clavate; funicle with first segment 1.16x as long as the second, third and fourth equal, fifth and sixth subequal, sixth bulbous, seventh conical and broadest of all; club cylindrical, broader than funicle (fig. 73). Prothorax 1.04x as broad as long, it is broadest at middle and 1.07x as broad as posterior margin; sides rounded; anterior margin only 0.82x as broad as posterior margin, truncate dorsally, acute laterally, posterior margin subtruncate, basal lobe slightly emarginate; upper surface with shallow, scattered punctations, interspaces granulate. Legs with hind tibial apex without any dense, golden yellow hairs. Elytra ovate, with basal margin strongly raised, its external angle acute, humeral fold present but not projecting, more or less strongly impressed on declivity, posterior declivity distinctly sinuate; apices pointed but not mucronate; stria shallowly punctate; intervals moderately broad, upper surface convex, much raised; elytral vestiture with predominant scales ovate, reddish brown, with 5–6 ridges (fig. 126), less predominant more elongate, base truncate, with pedicel, inner core opaque and granulated, with 3 ridges (fig. 127).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe elongate but broadened towards apex and much narrowed towards base, in profile base arcuate, apex broadly rounded, membranous at middle, broadest near its junction with apophyses, length: breadth ratio 5.5:1, apophyses 0.57x as long as median lobe (figs. 225–226). Tegmen with dorsal piece 5x as broad as basal piece; parameres long, apices rounded; manubrium short, slender, with a blunt apex, only 0.31x as long as median lobe (fig. 227). Spiculum gastrale with shaft, elongate, slender, but broadened to a rounded apex, which is bent at right angle, 1.05x as long as median lobe; basal prongs subequal, their apices pointed (fig. 181).

Female genitalia: Spermatheca could not be described. Spiculum ventrale with shaft 4.8x as long as basal plate, almost uniformly thick, its apex enlarged and rounded; basal plate triangular, 1.3x as long as broad, its apex rounded, with 4–5 slender hairs (fig. 156).

Length: female, 8.09 mm; Breadth: female, 2.70 mm.

Holotype: 1 female, INDIA: Kerala: Malabar: Dhony forests, 26.V.1922, Coll. Ramakrishna; Allotype: 1 male, with same data as holotype; Paratype: 1 female, with same data as holotype ( NPC).

Distribution: India: Kerala.

Etymology: The name I. mangalai sp. nov. is derived from and in the honour of Dr. Mangala Rai, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, in particular his fondness for the discipline of insect taxonomy.