Parinesa Gordon, 1991

Escalona, H. E. & Slipinski, A., 2012, Revision of the Neotropical ladybird genus Parinesa Gordon (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Zootaxa 3198 (1), pp. 29-53 : 31-38

Parinesa Gordon

( Figs 7–149)

Parinesa Gordon, 1991: 315 . Type species by original designation Parinesa whiteheadi Gordon, 1991 . Gordon, 1994: 232 (key).

Diagnosis. Body compact, convex ( Fig. 7) to strongly convex ( Fig. 10). BL: 1.1–1.6 mm. Head transverse ( Fig. 22), about 0.7 as long as broad. Ocular canthus ( Fig. 23) well projected partially to completely dividing the eye, apex narrowly margined. Eyes coarsely faceted and glabrous ( Fig. 23). Ocular canthus narrowly margined, edge rounded at sides ( Fig. 23). Clypeus ( Fig. 22) projected, often shorter than scape, apex truncate to slightly emarginate, antennal emarginations rounded. Subantennal grooves ( Fig. 43) well developed, extending behind eye. Maxillary palpomere IV ( Figs 25, 53, 63, 94) subparallel, apex diagonally truncate. Antennal insertions ( Fig. 22) partially exposed in frontal view. Antenna ( Figs 54, 77) 10–segmented, with 5–segmented club, antennomeres VIII–X often enlarged. Gular region well developed ( Fig. 43). Hypomeron ( Fig. 27) shallowly foveate. Prosternum gradually raised and variably lobed in front of coxa ( Figs 27, 29, 55, 56), forming a chin piece and covering the base of the mouthparts. Elytral lateral edges partially visible in dorsal view, epipleura ( Figs 36, 37, 49) incomplete and slightly foveate for legs reception in repose. Foretibia broad and flattened ( Figs 38, 48, 67). Tarsi ( Fig. 39) 4– 4–4, claws simple. Abdomen ( Figs 34, 47) with 5 ventrites, postcoxal lines incompletes, very close to lateral and apical margins.

Description. BL: 1.1–1.6 mm. BW: 0.8–1.3 mm.

Body ( Figs 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20) minute and compact, oval to hemispherical and variable convex (CO: 0.6–0.7). Color dark brown to black. Surface smooth and polished ( Figs 10, 14) to microsculptured ( Figs 7, 8) with coarse punctures; head and pronotum covered with minute scattered setae usually longer on head, elytra glabrous or with few sparse setae laterally.

Head transverse ( Fig. 22) about 0.7 as long as broad, barely visible dorsally ( Fig. 19). Subantennal grooves ( Fig. 43) well developed, angulate behind eye level.

Eyes ( Fig. 22) in frontal view with internal edges divergent posteriorly, about 0.3 times head capsule length, coarsely faceted and glabrous ( Fig. 23). Ocular canthus ( Fig. 23) partially to completely dividing the eye, apex narrowly margined, lateral sides broadly rounded; side of canthus in contact with anterior pronotal angles when head is retracted. Temple about as long as eye.

Antennal insertions ( Fig. 22) below eye level and partially exposed. Antenna ( Figs 54, 65, 77, 111, 124, 136) about as long as head, 10–segmented; scape and pedicel subcylindrical, antennal club 5–segmented; antennomeres VIII–X often larger and truncate diagonally to apex.

Clypeus ( Fig. 22) projected, often shorter than antennal scape, anteriorly truncate or slightly emarginate, with rounded emarginations around antennal insertions. Labrum ( Fig. 93) broadly rounded, covered with sparse long setae. Mandible bidentate apically ( Figs 26, 95, 110) with large and prominent molar tooth; prostheca longer than mola, reaching apical third and margined with fine setae. Maxilla ( Figs 25, 53, 94, 109) with stipes excavate, receiving basal palpomeres; lacinia short and setose; galeal apex enlarged and transverse; palpomere IV ( Figs 63, 123) elongate and subparallel, about three times palpomere III length, apex diagonally truncate. Mentum cordiform ( Figs 24, 52, 108), surface flattened, apex broadly emarginate with rounded sides; ligula rectangular, 0.7 times mentum length. Labial palps ( Fig. 24) separated by less than palpomere I diameter; palpomere I very short; palpomere II subcylindrical, gradually expanded to apex; palpomere III conical. Gular region well developed ( Fig. 43).

Pronotum transverse ( Fig. 44), about 0.5 as long as wide, at base as wide as combined elytral bases; anterior margin broadly margined with angles converging and produced forward; posterior margin beadlike with obsolete angles; lateral sides rounded and converging posteriorly. Disc convex, surface often microsculptured ( Figs 28, 30, 44, 45) with minute scattered setae. Hypomeron ( Fig. 27) shallowly foveate. Prosternum variably lobed in front of coxae, forming a chin piece ( Figs 27, 55,112) that covers the base of the mouthparts when the head is retracted. Prosternal process ( Fig. 27) subparallel or narrowing to apex with variable surface. Procoxal cavities transverse ( Fig. 112).

Pterothorax, meso– and metaventrite ( Figs 32, 33, 46) foveate. Scutellum raised and triangular ( Figs 31, 139). Mesoventrite in front of coxa strongly reduced ( Figs 32, 46) procoxal and prosternal rest well developed. Mesoventral process dorsally flattened ( Fig. 79), carinate ( Fig. 46) or sulcate ( Fig. 32). Elytra widest at basal third or near middle, lateral edges rounded to apex, not or scarcely visible from above, surface smooth and polished ( Fig. 35) to microsculptured ( Figs 7, 8), with few fine setae at sides; without scutellary striole ( Fig. 12); in some species disc with rows of punctures ( Fig. 16); lateral stria present or not. Epipleura incomplete, reaching level of abdominal ventrite IV and slightly foveate for reception of middle and posterior legs in repose ( Figs 37, 49). Wings when present fringed with fine setae, anal lobe well developed; discrimen often absent (indicated in P. bechynorum ); distance between metacoxae variable.

Legs robust, excavated for reception of tarsi ( Figs 48, 128). Protibia broad and variably flattened ( Figs 38, 141), external border rounded ( Fig. 38) to angulated ( Fig. 127). Tibial spurs not observed. Tarsi ( Figs 39, 99), pseudotrimerous, 4–4–4. Claws simple.

Abdomen ( Figs 34, 47, 69) with 5 ventrites, ventrite I (measured across middle) longer than ventrites II–IV combined. Intercoxal process narrow ( Fig. 69) to broad ( Figs 80, 126). Postcoxal lines incomplete ( Figs 34, 47), very close to lateral and apical margins. Ventrites I–II connate (not fused), ventrites II–IV similar in length, ventrite V as long as II–IV, edge smooth ( Fig. 81) to slightly crenulated ( Fig. 115).

Pygidium ( Fig. 129) apex broadly rounded.

Male terminalia. Spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 143. Parameres and phallobase symmetrical, parameres well developed ( Fig. 116) to strongly reduced ( Fig. 88), with setose apical third. Penis guide symmetrical ( Fig. 101) or slightly asymmetrical ( Fig. 145). Tegminal strut variable in size.

Female terminalia. Coxites sclerotized ( Figs 40, 74), as long as ventrites III–V, undivided, narrowing to apex, which is setose. Stylus reduced and apical, with at least two long setae. Infundibulum short ( Fig. 106). Spermatheca partly sclerotized, worm like ( Figs 41, 106), multicameral with accessory gland inserted at base.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama and Venezuela ( Figs 148, 149).

Remarks. We have examined several specimens of Parinesa and found that the male genitalia provide the only reliable character set to identify the species in this genus. Unfortunately, there is no evident sexual dimorphism (except negligible differences in shape of abdominal ventrite V) and dissection is required to determine the gender. The following characters are useful to identify at least some species: sculpture of dorsal surfaces; development of ocular canthus; shape and development of prosternal lobe; surfaces of meso– and metaventrite; width of abdominal process, and shape of anterior tibia. The spermathecal shape seems to be consistent in the species, but this character should be combined with other structures when delimiting a species.