Neaporia viridiscens Gorham

Gordon, Robert D. & Hanley, Guy A., 2017, South American Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Part XVII: systematic revision of Western Hemisphere Cephaloscymnini (Coccinellinae) with description of a cryptic new genus and species of Coccidulini (Coccinellinae), Insecta Mundi 2017 (601), pp. 1-158 : 27-28

19. Neaporia viridiscens Gorham

Neaporia viridiscens Gorham 1897: 223 .

Prodilis viridiscens: Korschefsky 1931: 110 ; Blackwelder, 1945: 444.

Neaporia cuprea Gorham 1897: 223 . New Synonym.

Prodilis cuprea: Korschefsky 1931: 109 ; Blackwelder 1945: 444.

Description. Male holotype. Length 1.6 mm, width 1.0 mm; body elongate, slender, elytron with sides slightly rounded, wider than pronotal base, widest anterior to middle of elytra. Dorsal surface entirely shiny, lacking microsculpture. Color black with greenish tint ( Fig. 149 ); antenna yellow; mouthparts dark brown; legs dark brown except anterior 2/3 of tibia yellow; ventral surface black except abdominal apex yellowish brown. Head punctures coarse, separated by about a diameter; pronotal punctures slightly larger than on head, separated by less than twice a diameter; elytral punctures slightly larger than on pronotum, separated by less than twice a diameter; prosternal, mesosternal punctures large, separated by about a diameter; metasternum with large punctures along anterior and lateral borders, punctures on remaining surface smaller, sparse; punctures on abdominal ventrites 1, 2 large, separated by less than three times a diameter, punctures on remaining ventrites small, separated by about a diameter. Head with long, sparse pubescence, frons narrow, slightly widened in anterior 1/4 ( Fig. 150 ), slightly narrower than eye measured at vertex; eye canthus extremely short; apical maxillary palpomere long, narrowed to apex in apical 1/3. Pronotum widest anterior to middle, reflexed lateral margin narrow, equal in width from base to apex. Epipleuron flat, wide in basal ½, as wide as pronotal hypomeron. Prosternum slender, longer than wide, apical margin slightly arcuate, without anterolateral projection. Postcoxal line on ventrite 1 long, arcuate, extended 2/3 distance to apical margin of ventrite. Apex of ventrite 5 arcuate medially. Genitalia with basal lobe longer than paramere, long, slightly widened from base to distal 1/8 where convergent with emarginate apex; paramere narrow throughout to rounded apex, dorsal margin lacking serrations ( Fig. 151, 152 ); sipho long, slender, basal capsule with base broadly, distinctly emarginate ( Fig. 153 ).

Female. Similar to male except head glabrous; genitalia not examined.

Variation. Length 1.5 to 1.6 mm, width 0.9 to 1.0 mm. Identical to holotype except elytron of N. cuprea with purple cast.

Type locality. of N. viridiscens, Volcan de Chiriqui, 4000 ft ( Panama); of cuprea , San Geronimo ( Guatemala).

Type depository. of N, viridiscens and N. cuprea, BMNH.

Geographical distribution. Guatemala, Panama.

Specimens examined. 2. Both N. viridiscens and N. cuprea were described from unique specimens and were the only available examples for examination ( BMNH).

Remarks. Despite differences in geographical location, these two species described by Gorham (1894) could not be distinguished from each other, hence are treated as a single taxon. Neaporia viridescens belongs in a group of very small species having similar male genitalia. It is distinguished from others by a distinct green elytral tint of dorsal surface, frons narrower than eye with widely spaced, coarse punctures, and a smooth, polished dorsal surface.

The holotype of N. viridiscens is labeled “V. de Chiriqui, 4–6000 ft. Champion./ Neaporia viridiscens Gorh. (handwritten)/B.C.A., Col., VII./ Holotype (orange bordered disc)/ Holotype Neaporia viridescens, Gorh. det. R.G. Booth 2015.” The holotype of N. cuprea is labeled “S. Geronimo, 300 ft. Champion/ Neaporia cuprea, Gorh. (handwritten)/sp. figured./B.C.A., Col., VII/ Holotype (orange bordered disc)/ Holotype Neaporia cuprea Gorh. det. R.G. Booth 2015.”

Figures

Figures 149–161. Neaporia spp. 149–153) Neaporia viridiscens 149) Habitus. 150) Frons. 151) Phallobase ventral. 152) Phallobase lateral. 153) Sipho. 154–158) Neaporia cassandra 154) Habitus. 155) Frons. 156) Phallobase ventral. 157) Phallobase lateral. 158) Sipho. 159–161) Neaporia leah 159) Habitus. 160) Frons. 161) Phallobase lateral.