Menoscelis Mulsant, 1850

Santos, Paula B., Churata-Salcedo, Julissa M. & Almeida, Lúcia M., 2016, New species and records of Menoscelis Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from French Guiana, Zootaxa 4078 (1), pp. 252-268 : 253

Menoscelis Mulsant, 1850

Menoscelis Mulsant, 1850: 506 , 508; Crotch, 1874: 209; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3783; Chapin, 1966: 279; El-Ali, 1972: 23; Gordon, 1987: 26; Milléo et al., 2004: 395; Gordon & Canepari, 2008: 271 –274.

Menoscelis (Thalassa) : Chapuis, 1876: 228, 233–234.

Thalassa (Menoscelis) : Korschefsky, 1931: 208; Blackwelder, 1945: 449; Duverger, 1989: 146; Fürsch, 1990b: 63.

Type species. Menoscelis saginata Mulsant, 1850 , by subsequent designation of Crotch (1874).

Diagnosis. Menoscelis is a Neotropical genus that is structurally similar to Diazonema Weise, 1926 , but differs from all other genera of the tribe in the highly modified protibia, angulate near its base ( Figs 5 D–E) and the transverse female genital plate with spoon–like setae near the apex. Diazonema presents a combination of short and compressed protibia, and a transverse female genital plate lacking spoon–like setae near the apex.

In addition to the generic characters described by Gordon & Canepari (2008), species of this genus have other useful characters that aid in their recognition: body usually large (4.5–7.5 mm) and rounded, moderately to strongly convex. Dorsal surface glabrous or pubescent, maculate or not. Prosternum process about half the coxal diamenter, surface with complete or incomplete carinae joined anteriorly, forming a triangle ( Figs 5 C, 6E). Prosternal carinae often joined, sometimes connected to the anterior margin of the prosternum by a single carina ( Figs 8 A–G, 9A–E). Epipleura large, external margin explanate ( Figs 5 H, 6H). Protibia flattened, medially emarginate or with parallel sides, tibial groove deep, long, not flanged posteriorly, angulate near base ( Figs 5 D–E, 6F–G); meso- and metatibia narrow, medially emarginate or with parallel sides, not flanged, with shallow tibial groove ( Figs 5 F, 6I). Abdominal postcoxal line incomplete, recurved or slightly recurved ( Figs 5 G, 6J). Parameres symmetrical; basal lobe asymmetrical. Sipho slender with well-developed, T-shaped siphonal capsule ( Figs 1 E–G, 4D–F). Coxites transverse with spoon-like setae near apex, styles well developed, with or without apical setae; infundibulum lacking; sperm duct simple, uniform in diameter ( Figs1 H, 2E, 3F). Spermatheca with rounded cornu and narrow at base; distal capsule adjacent to cornu or sperm duct ( Figs 2 F, 3G).

Remarks. Two species, M. angeloi sp. nov. and M. cordata sp. nov., lack the protibial emargination but are considered members of Menoscelis due to the described characters and male and female genital patterns.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Menoscelis angeloi sp. nov. habitus and genitalia of holotype and paratype A – B. male habitus in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views; C – E. female habitus in dorsal (C), lateral (D), and frontal (E) views; F. abdomen. G – K. male genitalia, G. tegmen, dorsal; H. same in lateral view; I. sipho; J. female genitalia; K. coxites.

FIGURE 2. Menoscelis cordata sp. nov. habitus and details of morphology of female holotype. A – B. habitus in dorsal (A) and frontal (B) views; C. abdomen; D. post coxal line; E – G. female genitalia, F. spermatheca, G. coxites.

FIGURE 5. Menoscelis saginata Mulsant, 1850. A. head frontal view; B. antenna; C. prosternum; D – E. anterior leg in dorsal (D) and ventral (E) views. F. metasternun; G. abdomen; H. eplipleuron.

FIGURE 8. Prosternal process of Menoscelis. A – B. Menoscelis insignis Mulsant, 1850 female (A) and male (B). C – D. M. saginata Mulsant, 1850 female (C) and male (D); E – F. M. stephani Corrêa et al., 2011 female (E) and male (F); G. M. brunella Corrêa et al., 2011 female.