Shirozuella Sasaji, 1967

Wang, Xing-Min, Ge, Feng & Ren, Shun-Xiang, 2012, The genus Shirozuella Sasaji (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Shirozuellini) from the Chinese mainland, ZooKeys 182, pp. 87-108 : 89-91

Genus Shirozuella Sasaji, 1967

Shirozuella Sasaji, 1967: 24. Type species: Shirozuella mirabilis Sasaji, 1967

Shirozuella : Yu and Pang 1992: 37; Miyatake 1994: 274; Yu et al. 2000: 187.

Diagnosis.

The tribe Shirozuellini includes five genera sharing many similar morphological characters: laterally expanded clypeus, very elongate terminal maxillary palpomere. Shirozuella , however can be distinguished from others by having: prosternum with distinct grooves anteriorly to receive antennae (Fig. 2) and maxillary palpi when the head is retracted; underside of head capsule with distinct grooves for reception of the retracted antennae; and antennae composed of nine antennomeres (Fig. 3).

Description.

Body small, oval, relatively elongate; dorsum weakly convex and pubescent (Figs 12-29). Head moderate in size, frontal surface of capsule flattened, slightly convex; clypeus long and distinctly expanded laterally; antennae inserted laterally near the apical end of head capsule; eyes large (Fig. 1). Antennae relatively long, composed of nine antennomeres with a distinct club composed of three antennomeres, eighth antennomere longest and widest, terminal antennomere rather small and conical (Fig. 3). Labrum relatively long. Mandible, bidentate at apex (Fig. 4). Maxillary palp much longer than antenna, composed of four palpomeres; terminal palpomere very elongate, and spatulate, more than twice as long as wide, with apex obliquely truncate (Fig. 5). Labial palp composed of 3 palpomeres and distal two palpomeres elongate and nearly cylindrical. Ventral surface of head capsule with distinct grooves for reception of retracted antennae.

Pronotum transverse, about twice as wide as long, strongly convex, lateral margins narrowly marginated and distinctly emarginated anteriorly. Scutellum medium-sized, triangular. Elytra elongate and weakly convex, with conspicuous swelling near humeral edge. Elytral base hardly wider than base of pronotum; elytral margins with very narrow rim, but distinctly visible from above. Hind wing well developed, with veins rather well-developed.

Prosternum short in front of coxae, distinctly grooved to receive antennae and palpi; prosternal process broad without longitudinal carinae. Mesoventrite broadly and nearly quadrate, slightly wider than long, anterior margin emarginate. Metaventrite broad, discrimen complete. Elytral epipleuron relatively narrow, nearly horizontal, not foveate, obsolete in apical third. Abdomen with six ventrites, ventrite 1 with complete postcoxal lines (Fig. 6). Legs relatively long; femora distinctly swollen and grooved to receive tibiae when retracted; tibiae slender and simple, tarsi composed of 3 tarsomeres (Fig. 7).

Distribution.

China (Gansu, Hunan, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Tibet, Yunnan), Japan, Nepal.

Key to species of Shirozuella Sasaji from the Chinese mainland