Neaporia metallica Gorham, 1970

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 : 44

42. Neaporia metallica Gorham

Neaporia metallica Gorham 1897: 219 .

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

Description. Male lectotype. Length approximately 2.4 mm, width 1.6 mm; body oval, somewhat elongate, elytra wider than pronotal base, widest at anterior middle of elytra. Elytral surface entirely shiny, lacking microsculpture. Color greenish to bluish black; elytron with single, transverse reddish yellow macula medially in anterior ½, not reaching suture ( Fig. 264 ); antenna, legs yellow; mouthparts yellow except apical 2 articles of maxillary palpus brown; epipleuron yellowish brown; venter dark brownish red; abdomen yellowish brown. Head punctures small, dense, separated by less than a diameter; pronotal punctures larger than on head, separated by a diameter or less; elytral punctures larger than on pronotum, separated by less than twice a diameter; prosternum with large, median, apical pit, punctures large, separated by less than a diameter; metasternum medially tumid, punctures large, separated by about a diameter; punctures on abdominal ventrites 1, 2 large, separated by less than 3 times a diameter, punctures on remaining ventrites small, separated by about a diameter. Head densely pubescent ( Fig. 266 ). Prosternum ( Fig. 267 ). Epipleuron flat, wide in basal ½, as wide as pronotal hypomeron. Postcoxal line on ventrite 1 long, evenly rounded, extended to apical margin of ventrite ( Fig. 265 ). Apex of ventrite 5 broadly, deeply emarginate. Genitalia with basal lobe slightly longer than paramere, equal in width from base to deeply emarginate apex, side sinuate; paramere widest in basal 4/5, apical 1/5 contorted, twisted, dorsal margin without trace of serrations ( Fig. 268, 269 ); sipho robust, short ( Fig. 270 ).

Female. Similar to male except spermathecal capsule short, slender, base and apex widened, cornu with apical beak, bursal cap rounded, apical strut short, not heavily sclerotized.

Variation. Length 2.0– 2.3 mm, width 1.6–1.7 mm. Macula on elytron variable in color and size, sometimes yellow, sometimes narrow, extended inward from lateral margin only 2/3 distance to suture, sometimes continued across most of elytron, forming a pale band.

Type locality. PANAMA: V. de Chiriqui, 3–4000 ft.

Type depository. BMNH (lectotype here designated).

Geographical distribution. Panama.

Specimens examined. 1. Lectotype.

Remarks. This distinctive species is easily recognized, at least in the male sex, by dorsal color pattern; prosternal pit; tumid metasternum; broadly, deeply emarginate 5th abdominal ventrite; and extremely characteristic male genitalia. The lectotype here designated is labeled “V. de Chiriqui, 3–4000 ft. Champion./ Neaporia metallica Gorh. (handwritten)/sp. figure./B.C.A., Col, VII./ LECTOTYPE Neaporia metallica Gorham, Gordon 1970 .” A single paralectotype is labeled “Bugaba, Panama. Champion./ Neaporia metallica Go (handwritten)/B.C.A., Col., VII/ SYNTYPE (blue bordered disc).”

Figures

Figures 252–270. Neaporia spp. 252–257) Neaporia bobbie 252) Habitus. 253) Basal abdominal ventrite. 254) Frons. 255) Phallobase ventral. 256) Phallobase lateral. 257) Sipho. 258–263) Neaporia violet 258) Habitus. 259) Basal abdominal ventrite. 260) Frons. 261) Prosternum. 262) Phallobase lateral. 263) Sipho. 264–270) Neaporia metallica 264) Habitus. 265) Basal abdominal ventrite. 266) Frons. 267) Prosternum. 268) Phallobase ventral. 269) Phallobase lateral. 270) Sipho.