Neoplatynaspis

Poorani, J., 2023, - A-review-of-Platynaspini- (Coleoptera: - Coccinellidae) - of-the-Indian-subcontinent including-description-of-a-new-genus-from-north-eastern-India-and-Bangladesh, Zootaxa 5256 (4), pp. 301-328 : 319

Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov.

( Figs 13–16 )

Type­species. Neoplatynaspis nataliae sp. nov.

Diagnosis.­ Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov. differs from both Platynaspis and Platycrus primarily by its 9–segmented antenna with a strongly modified, triangular scape, strongly transverse and outwardly projecting pedicel and the terminal antennomere forming a large, knife-shaped club, and the middle and hind legs with strongly angulate tibiae having a triangular outward expansion. Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov. is similar to Platycrus in having trimerous tarsi but differs from the latter by its densely and strongly setose body, abdominal ventrites with stout marginal setae, and the broadly expanded, triangular and strongly angulate middle and hind tibiae. Platycrus has 11-segmented antennae, dorsum with uniform short hairs and extraordinarily broadened tibiae with rows of short thorns at apical tibial margin and a peculiar pocket-like structure to accommodate the tarsi in repose.

Description. Platynaspini with form ( Figs 13a , 14a ) elongate, almost parallel sided, dorsum moderately convex, densely pubescent, lateral sides of pronotum and elytra densely setose with dark brown, spine-like, suberect or erect hairs. Head ( Figs 13d , 14c ) strongly transverse, clypeus anteriorly produced and expanded over eyes, covering antennal insertions, medially broadly and shallowly emarginate. Eyes somewhat small and coarsely faceted with sparse but distinct, erect interfacetal setae, inner margins posteriorly divergent, widely separated, interocular distance more than 3x as wide as an eye. Labrum ( Fig. 14e ) transverse. Antenna ( Fig. 14h ) short, 9-segmented, scape having a triangular lateral projection, pedicel transverse and wide with a subquadrate lateral projection with a rounded outer margin, antennomeres 3–8 progressively broader, antennomere 9 forming an elongate, knife-shaped club. Mandibles ( Fig. 14d ) apically bifid. Mentum ( Fig. 14g ) subcordate with a deeply triangular anterior emargination; labial palp ( Fig. 14g ) three-segmented, inserted dorsally, first palpomere shortest and ring-like, second wide, subtriangular, terminal labial palpomere elongate cylindrical and much longer than the second. Maxilla ( Fig. 14f ) with cardo large, roughly rhomboidal but laterally not produced; basistipes with an elongate, tubular anterior projection; terminal palpomere securiform, gradually wider towards apex, apical margin oblique truncate. Pronotum transverse, anterolateral corners rounded, posterolateral corners broadly angulate. Elytral punctures dual, somewhat irregular.

Prothoracic hypomera with short, dark brown, bristle-like setae on lateral side in anterior half and yellowish setae. Prosternal process ( Fig. 15a ) elongate tubular, medially narrowed with divergent ends, prosternal carinae ( Fig. 15b ) distinctly and broadly divergent towards anterior, reaching much beyond level of anterior margin of procoxae close to anterior margin, widely separated anteriorly and somewhat narrowed towards apex. Mesoventrite ( Figs 14b , 15a ) strongly transverse, its anterior margin medially broadly and distinctly emarginate. Metaventrite somewhat tumid. Scutellar shield triangular, broader than long.

Abdomen almost parallel-sided, apically broadly rounded. Elytral epipleuron apically incomplete, reaching up to ventrite 3, deeply foveolate for reception of middle and hind legs in repose ( Fig. 14b ). Wings well developed. Legs ( Fig. 15 c-e) with fore and middle trochanters elongate quadrate with a straight outer margin, hind trochanters shorter with an angulate outer margin; femora broad, deeply grooved to receive tibiae at rest; fore tibia angulate with grooves to receive tarsi in repose, middle tibiae ( Fig. 15d ) and hind tibiae ( Fig. 15e ) much broader than fore tibia, strongly angulate and triangularly produced outward. Tarsal formula 3-3-3 ( Fig. 15c–f ); tarsal claws slender and elongate, apically bifid.

Abdomen ( Figs 13e , 14i ) with six visible ventrites, lateral sides of abdominal ventrites with spine-like, erect setae; ventrite 1 posteriorly medially arcuate; abdominal postcoxal lines incomplete, posteriorly merged with ventrite 1, with a long oblique associate line, together appear to form a complete postcoxal line enclosing a trapezoidal area ( Figs 14i , 16b ); ventrite 2-4 subequal, ventrite 5 slightly shorter than ventrite 4, posteriorly truncate in male, broadly emarginate in female; ventrite 6 broadly arcuate, posterior margin medially truncate in female, shallowly and broadly emarginate in male. Female coxites ( Fig. 16c ) transverse with a handle, spermatheca with well differentiated nodulus and ramus, nodulus outwardly produced; infundibulum absent. Male genitalia ( Fig. 16d–g ) with penis guide symmetrical, parameres broad and paddle-shaped, outer margins and apices of parameres with dense, elongate hairs.

Etymology. The generic name Neoplatynaspis is formed from a combination of ‘ Neo ’ (=new) + ‘ Platynaspis ’ (=a known genus of lady beetle) in reference to its novelty as well as its relationship to Platynaspis . Gender feminine.

Figures

FIGURE­13. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­nov.: holotype male (BMNH): a. adult, dorsal view; b. adult, lateral view; c. adult, frontal view; d. head, frontal view; e. abdomen.

FIGURE­14. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­nov.: a. adult female, dorsal view; b. adult female, ventral view; c. head; d. mandibles; e. labrum; f. maxilla; g. labium; h. antenna; i. abdomen, female.

FIGURE­15. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­nov.: a. head and thorax, ventral view; b. prosternal intercoxal process; c. proleg; d. middle leg; e. hind leg; f. tarsi.

FIGURE­16. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­n.: a–d. male genitalia, holotype male (BMNH): a. tegmen, lateral view; b.tegmen, ventral view; c. penis; d. penis apex; e. female genitalia.