Sticholotis magnostriata, Vandenberg, Natalia J., 2011

Vandenberg, Natalia J., 2011, A revision of the genus Stictobura Crotch and description of a new species of Sticholotis Crotch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Sticholotidinae), Zootaxa 3031, pp. 1-13 : 12

Sticholotis magnostriata sp. n.

( Figs. 33–39 )

As mentioned earlier, some species of Sticholotis seem to be rather larger than average and are similar to Stictobura . A new species of Sticholotis from northeastern India (from the state of Assam), which was sent as part of a loan of Stictobura specimens received from BMNH, is described below.

Diagnosis. The elytral pattern and presence of characteristic dual punctures on elytra with larger punctures arranged in striae readily separate this species from the other species of Sticholotis and Stictobura of this region. The male genitalia are diagnostic.

Description. Male: Length: 4.50–4.75 mm; width: 4.00– 4.50 mm; TL/EW: 1.04–1.07; EL/EW: 0.88–0.91; PL/PW: 0.43–0.44. Form ( Fig. 33 ) more or less circular, moderately convex; dorsum apparently glabrous. Head and pronotum reddish brown; ground colour of elytra dark brown, with seven spots arranged in a 2-2-1-2 pattern as follows: three pairs of yellowish spots—one on basal margin on either side of scutellum, one on lateral side just before middle, and one in posterior half; and one reddish brown, much larger, transverse oval spot around middle of elytra; lateral margins of elytra paler, reddish brown ( Figs. 33, 34 ). Antenna and mouthparts reddish brown. Ventral side more or less uniform reddish brown, metaventrite slightly darker brown in the paratype. Head ( Fig. 35 ) with anterior clypeal margin distinctly deeply emarginate medially; eyes broadly separated, interocular distance ca. 2.7x as wide as an eye; densely punctate with punctures separated by their own diameter or less, slightly more widely spaced towards clypeal margin; interspaces with strong reticulate microsculpture. Antenna 11-segmented. Pronotum with much finer punctures than those on head and more widely separated by 3–5 diameters, interspaces apparently smooth, punctures on anterior margin much finer than those on disc, punctures on anterolateral corners slightly more closely spaced, with weakly reticulate microsculpture between interspaces. Elytra slightly broader than long, with lateral margins weakly explanate; punctures distinctly dual, large punctures mainly arranged in slightly irregular rows, at least six rows clearly visible from sutural line, particularly around middle, somewhat tapering off towards apices, one complete row of larger punctures apparent on lateral margin; punctures between rows much finer, widely separated,; interspaces between punctures smooth, shiny. Prosternal intercoxal process trapezoidal and strongly narrowed towards posterior, anterior margin triangularly emarginate with a short median tubercle, anterior margin of mesoventrite shallowly emarginate. Epipleura foveolate on level with middle and hind legs. Tarsi cryptotetramerous. Abdominal postcoxal lines incomplete, ventrite 5 apically shallowly emarginate. Male genitalia ( Figs. 36–39 ) with basal lobe elongate cylindrical anteriorly, gradually widened towards apex, apically rounded and produced into a short, tubular process in ventral view ( Fig. 37 ), parameres longer than basal lobe, apically densely hairy; sipho ( Figs. 38, 39 ) as illustrated with a distinct capsule.

Female: Not known.

Specimens examined. Holotype male: Doherty/ Assam, Patkai Mts / Fry Coll.1905.100 (dissected, male genitalia in vial on same pin) ( BMNH); Paratype male: With the same data as holotype ( BMNH).

Etymology. The species epithet is in reference to its large size and arrangement of larger elytral punctures apparently in the form of striae.

Figures

FIGURES 33 – 39. Sticholotis magnostriata sp. n.: 33. Dorsal view; 34. Lateral view; 35. Frontal view; 36 – 39. Male genitalia: 36. Tegmen, lateral view; 37. Tegmen, ventral view; 38. Sipho; 39. Siphonal apex.