Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov et Ren, 1991

Peng, Feng, Xie, Xiufeng, Peng, Zhengqiang, Wang, Xingmin & Chen, Xiaoshen, 2022, A taxonomic review of the genus Axinoscymnus Kamiya, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Zootaxa 5154 (4), pp. 431-453 : 436-437

Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov et Ren, 1991

( Figs 3a–g )

Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov et Ren, 1991: 8 .— Ren et al. 2009: 54.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to A. cardilobus Ren et Pang in color pattern but can be separated from the latter by the penis with broadened, knife-shaped apex ( Fig. 3e ) and its penis guide shorter than 1/2 length of parameres ( Fig. 3f ).

Description. TL: 1.52–1.60 mm, TW: 1.14–1.21 mm, TH: 0.78–0.81 mm, TL/TW: 1.32–1.34, EL/EW: 0.99– 1.04, PL/PW: 0.53–0.54, HW/PW: 0.67–0.68, PW/EW: 0.66–0.68.

Body oval, moderately convex, dorsum with pale yellow pubescence ( Figs 3a–c ). Head, antennae and mouthparts pale yellow ( Fig. 3c ), tip of mandibles brown. Pronotum and scutellar shield yellow. Elytra yellow ( Figs 3a–c ). Underside yellow. Legs yellow.

Head with fine frontal punctures, slightly larger than eye facets, 1.0–1.5 diameters apart. Eyes densely faceted, interocular distance about 0.46 times of head width ( Fig. 3c ). Pronotal punctures slightly larger than those on frons, 1.0–2.0 diameters apart. Surface of elytra with punctures much larger than those on pronotum, separated by 1.0–2.0 diameters.

Abdominal postcoxal lines complete and moderately recurved, reaching about 1/2 length of ventrite 1 ( Fig. 3d ), area enclosed by the lines finely and sparsely punctate, irregularly distributed, broadly smooth along the lines; ventrite 1 with fine and sparse punctures at middle, uniformly distributed.

Male genitalia. Penis slender, base of penis slightly broadened, apex swollen, knife-shaped ( Fig. 3e ); tegminal strut stout with membranous appendages on both sides ( Fig. 3g ), penis guide stout, gradually converging apically to a tip in lateral view ( Fig. 3f ), longer than 1/3 length of parameres; parameres stout and elongate oval with several setae in lateral view ( Fig. 3f ).

Material examined. Brunei: 1♂ 2♀, introduced from Brunei and reared in the laboratory of South China Agricultural University, Tianhe, Guangzhou by Wang XM, 21. XII. 2004 . 4♂ 3♀, introduced from Brunei and reared in the laboratory of South China Agricultural University, Tianhe, Guangzhou by Chen XS, 11. XII. 2008 . LAOS: 2♂ 3♀, Houayhe , Pakxong, ca 1000 m, 20. V. 2007 , Wang XM et al. leg.

Distribution. Brunei; Laos; Vietnam.

Remarks. This species was imported into Guangdong from Brunei in 2003 as a biological control agent for the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci . However, its establishment is still unknown. Further investigation is needed to determine whether it has established in Guangdong.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov et Ren, 1991: a dorsal view b lateral view c frontal view d abdomen e penis f tegmen, lateral view g tegmen, inner view. Scale bars: a–c: 0.5 mm, d: 0.2 mm, e–g: 0.05 mm.