Neaporia coelestis Gorham

Gordon, Robert D. & Hanley, Guy A., 2017, South American Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Part XVII: systematic revision of Western Hemisphere Cephaloscymnini (Coccinellinae) with description of a cryptic new genus and species of Coccidulini (Coccinellinae), Insecta Mundi 2017 (601), pp. 1-158 : 20

8. Neaporia coelestis Gorham

Neaporia coelestis Gorham 1897: 223 .

Prodilis coelestis: Korschefsky 1931: 109 ; Blackwelder 1945: 444.

Description. Male lectotype. Length 2.0 mm, width 1.5 mm; body oval, elytra with side slightly rounded, wider than pronotal base, widest at middle of elytra. Dorsal surface entirely shiny, lacking microsculpture. Color green, lateral and anterior border of pronotum yellow ( Fig. 88 ); mouthparts yellow except apical 1/3 of apical maxillary palpomere dark brown; antenna, legs yellow; ventral surface black. Head punctures small, separated by less than a diameter, nearly contiguous; pronotal punctures larger than on head, separated by a diameter or less; elytral punctures larger than on head, separated by about less than twice a diameter; prosternal, mesosternal punctures large, separated by less than a diameter; metasternum with large punctures along anterior and lateral borders, punctures on remaining surface small, sparse; punctures on abdominal ventrites 1, 2 large, separated by less than 3 times a diameter, punctures on remaining ventrites small, separated by about a diameter. Head apparently not pubescent (pubescence probably absent because of handling) with frons slightly wider than an eye measured at vertex; eye canthus short; apical maxillary palpomere long, narrowed to apex in apical 1/3. Pronotum widest at middle, reflexed lateral margin narrow, widened from base to apex. Epipleuron flat, wide in basal ½, as wide as pronotal hypomeron. Prosternum about as wide as long, shorter than mesosternum, with apical margin nearly truncate, anterolateral projection large, setose. Postcoxal line on ventrite 1 long, evenly rounded, extended 2/3 distance to apical margin of ventrite. Apex of ventrite 5 weakly, broadly emarginate medially. Genitalia with basal lobe shorter than paramere, ( Fig. 88c ), slender, parallel sided, slightly narrowed to emarginate apex in apical 1/4; paramere straight, upper margin arcuate, widest medially, apical 1/3 curved downward to acute apex, dorsal margin with prominent, blunt serrations medially ( Fig. 88d ); sipho robust, apical portion missing ( Fig. 88e ).

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Unknown

Type locality. Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui ( Panama), 4000 to 6000 ft.

Type depository. BMNH (lectotype here designated).

Geographical distribution. Panama.

Specimens examined. PANAMA: V. de Chiriqui, 4000–6000 ft.

Remarks. Neaporia coelestis most closely resembles N. myrtle but is distinguished from that species and others by wide head with dense, nearly contiguous punctures, male prosternal process with large, setose projections, an oval body shape, pronotal punctures larger than on head and separated by a diameter or less, and postcoxal line extended 2/3 distance to apical ventrite margin.

Gorham (1894) had 2 type specimens when he described N. coelestis but only a single type remains in the British Museum collection. This specimen, labeled “V. de Chiriqui. 4000–6000 ft. Champion/ Neaporia coelestis, Gor (handwritten)/sp. figured/Type (orange bordered disc)/B.C.A., Col., VII./ Syntype (blue bordered disc).” is designated as the lectotype.

Figures

Figures 82–95. Neaporia spp. 82–87) Neaporia marsha 82) Habitus. 83) Abdomen. 84) Pro and mesosternum. 85) Phallobase ventral. 86) Phallobase lateral. 87) Sipho. 88) Neaporia coelestis 88) Habitus. 88a) Prosternum. 88b) Frons. 88c) Phallobase ventral. 88d) Phallobase lateral. 88e) Sipho. 89–95) Neaporia myrtle 89) Habitus. 90) Abdomen. 91) Frons. 92) Pro and mesosternum. 93) Phallobase ventral. 94) Phallobase lateral. 95) Sipho.