Prodilis unipunctata (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 : 102-103

65. Prodilis unipunctata (Gorham)

Neaporia unipunctata Gorham 1897: 221 .

Prodilis unipunctata: Korschefsky 1931: 110 ; Blackwelder 1945: 444.

Description. Female holotype. Length 1.6 mm, width 1.3 mm; body rounded, widest at middle of elytra, elytron with side rounded, wider than pronotal base. Dorsal surface entirely shiny. Color black; head black ( Fig. 680 ); elytron bluish black with large, reddish yellow macula at middle ( Fig. 678 ); antenna yellow; mouthparts brownish yellow; mesosternum, legs reddish yellow. Head punctures small, separated by about a diameter; pronotal punctures as large as on head, separated by less than twice a diameter; elytral punctures larger than on pronotum, separated by less than twice a diameter; prosternum with large, sparse punctures, mesosternal punctures large, separated by less than a diameter; metasternal punctures as large as on mesosternum anteriorly and laterally, separated by a diameter or less anteriorly and laterally, slightly smaller and more widely spaced medially; abdomen with punctures on ventrites 1–3 large, separated by less than twice a diameter, punctures on remaining ventrites smaller, separated by about a diameter. Head with frons slightly widened from vertex to clypeus, sides nearly parallel, 1.4 times width of eye measured at vertex; eye canthus short; apical maxillary palpomere long, slender, nearly parallel sided. Pronotum widest at middle, reflexed lateral margin narrow, equal in width from base to apex. Epipleuron flat, narrow, as wide as pronotal hypomeron, without feeble depressions for reception of femoral apices. Prosternum longer than wide, slightly longer than mesosternum, base slightly arcuate, lateral carina extended to base of prosternal coxa. Postcoxal line on ventrite 1 short, slightly angulate, extended to midpoint of ventrite ( Fig. 679 ). Genitalia with spermathecal capsule elongate, slender, ramus weakly enlarged, apex of cornu rounded ( Fig. 681 ).

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Unknown.

Type locality. PANAMA: V. de Chiriqui, 25–4000 ft.

Type depository. BMNH.

Geographical distribution. Type locality.

Specimens examined. 1. Holotype.

Remarks. Prodilis unipunctata is known only from the female holotype. It is distinguished by elytron with unique color pattern, a rounded body form, and head with comparatively widely spaced punctures. The holotype is labeled “V, de Chiriqui, 25–4000 ft., Champion./ Neaporia unipunctata Gorh (handwritten)/ sp. figured/Type (orange bordered disc)/B.C.A.,Col.,VII.” This specimen is considered to be a holotype based on Gorham’s (1897) original description.

Figures

Figures 676–685. Prodilis spp. 676–677) Prodilis cribrata 676) Habitus. 677) Frons. 678–681) Prodilis unipunctata 678) Habitus. 679) Basal abdominal ventrites. 680) Frons. 681) Female spermathecal capsule. 682–685) Prodilis pubescens 682) Habitus. 683) Basal abdominal ventrites. 684) Frons. 685) Female spermathecal capsule.