Indomias kriparami 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 : 34-35

11. Indomias kriparami Ramamurthy sp. nov.

(figs. 21, 45, 69, 120, 121, 146, 164, 179, 234, 235 and 236)

Diagnosis: This species resembles I. acutipennis (Boheman) and is distinguished by the following characters: Rostrum with anterior margin only 0.54x as broad as the posterior margin; median furrow long, narrow, reaching frons and running up to one third of eyes. Antennae with first segment of funicle 1.5x as long as second; club with 3 distinct rows of hairs at joints. Elytra at posterior declivity distinctly sinuate, their apices separately pointed but not mucronate. Prothorax with upper surface rugose. Male genitalia with dorsal piece of tegmen 5x as broad as the basal piece. Female genitalia with shape of basal plate laminate, spermatheca with its proximal arm 1.1x as long as distal arm.

Description: Colour black with pale green vestiture. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface convex, with shallow, scattered punctations, hidden behind vestiture. Rostrum shallowly impressed at the middle dorsally, as long as broad, anterior margin only 0.54x as broad as posterior margin; median furrow long, narrow, reaching frons and running up to one third of eyes; lateral carinae distinct; sides narrowed anteriorly; scrobes 0.75x as long as rostrum, broadly rounded at either ends and divergent from eyes. Eyes dorsolateral, convex, 2x as long as broad (figs. 21 and 45). Antennae piceous; scape gradually clavate; funicle with first segment 1.5x as long as the second, third the shortest of all, fourth to sixth equal, seventh broadest of all; club with 3 distinct rows of hairs, at its joints (fig. 69). Prothorax as broad as long, its breadth at middle 1.1x as that of posterior margin; sides rounded; anterior margin only 0.83x as broad as posterior margin, truncate dorsally and vertical laterally, posterior margin truncate; upper surface rugose, with shallow, scattered punctations, interspaces granulate. Legs with hind tibial apex without any dense, golden yellow hairs. Elytra broadly ovate, with basal margin strongly raised, its external angle acute, humeral fold present but not projecting; more or less strongly impressed on declivity, apices slightly pointed but not mucronate; stria shallowly punctate; intervals broad and convex, fourth, fifth and sixth shallowly impressed at the posterior declivity, posterior declivity distinctly sinuate; elytral vestiture with predominant scales curved, but elongate, dark brown with a short pedicel, broadest at apex, with inner core opaque and granulated (fig. 120), less predominant more elongate, brown inner core opaque and with 5 ridges (fig. 121).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe elongate, straight, even, in profile not arcuate, apex broadly rounded, length: breadth ratio 1:0.63; apophyses 0.63x as long as median lobe, their apices rounded and dark brown, well sclerotized (figs. 234–235). Tegmen with dorsal piece 5x as broad as the basal piece; parameres short, broad and apices pointed; manubrium elongate, 0.5x as long as median lobe, with its apex enlarged and rounded (fig. 236). Spiculum gastrale with shaft 1.06x as long as the median lobe, uniformly thick, its apex blunt, 2x as long as manubrium, basal prongs subequal, their apices pointed (fig. 179).

Female genitalia: Spermatheca with proximal arm 1.1x as long and 3x as broad as the distal arm, angle between proximal and distal arms obtuse; nodulus squarish, with apex rounded; ramus rectangular, 2x as broad as the nodulus, cornu short, narrowed towards apex and pointed (fig. 146). Spiculum ventrale with shaft uniformly thick, very slender, its apex curved and rounded; basal plate only 0.26x as long as the shaft, laminate, broadest at base, slightly longer than broad (1.15:1), apex rounded with slender hairs, apical half conical (fig. 164).

Length: male, 8.40 mm; Breadth: male, 2.47 mm.

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

Distribution: India: Kerala.

Etymology: The name I. kriparami sp. nov. is derived from and in the honour of Dr. Kripa Ram Koundal, Joint Director (Research), IARI, New Delhi, in particular for his support in research projects on insect taxonomy.