Phaelota sindhoori, Prathapan, K. D. & Viraktamath, C. A., 2004

Prathapan, K. D. & Viraktamath, C. A., 2004, Revision of Phaelota Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 447, pp. 1-18 : 10-14

Phaelota sindhoori , new species

( Figs. 15–23 )

Distribution. India (Kerala)

Host plants. Drynaria quercifolia (L.) ( Polypodiaceae )

Description. Entirely brownish red, except eyes and five to seven distal antennomeres that are piceous. Anterolateral callosity of pronotum, clypeus and one to two basal antennomeres sometimes yellowish red.

Frons and vertex form nearly straight line in lateral view. Vertex nearly flat, minutely punctate. Antennal calli oblique, longer than wide, high along margin with vertex, low along margin with antennal socket. Midfrontal depression reaching well below lower edge of antennal socket. Frontal ridge without median longitudinal carina. Frontal ridge minutely punctate, punctures in middle being slightly larger. Maxillary palpus with preapical palpomere longer than half of apical palpomere.

Third antennomere distinctly longer than second; fourth slightly shorter than third; fourth and fifth subequal; sixth shorter than fifth; seventh longer and thicker than sixth; eighth, ninth subequal, thicker and slightly shorter than seventh; tenth slightly shorter than ninth; eleventh slightly less than two times length of tenth. Width of tenth antennomere more than half of its length.

Pronotum distinctly narrower proximally than distally. Lateral margin weakly curved. Anterolateral callosity slightly low, forming blunt obtuse denticle at pore. Disc shiny, punctation fine, yet stronger than that on vertex, with a few moderately strong punctures in antebasal impression. Scutellum shining, minutely punctate, as wide as long, apex widely rounded. Elytron with well developed humeral callus, with depression posteriorly, maximum width at proximal 1/3. Interstices flat with extremely fine to small punctures. Width of interstices subequal to 4–6 times diameter of a puncture. Epipleuron horizontal, not reaching apex.

Metatibia straight in lateral view, curved from dorsal view. Dorsally proximal 1/3 convex, rest of surface flat to slightly concave distally.

A circular depression present on either side of sternites in most of the specimens. Posterior margin of last abdominal sternite of male entire, not bisinuate, with a flat, hairy, spindle shaped transverse area in middle ( Fig. 16 ). Ventral side of median lobe of aedeagus convex, almost flat at apex, proximally wider than distally, width of preapical region slightly more than middle region ( Fig. 17 ). Gently curved in lateral view ( Fig. 18 ). Dorsal opening covered by a single lamina sclerotized along middle ( Fig. 19 ). Arms of tegmen shorter than stem ( Fig. 20 ). Receptacle of spermatheca shorter than pump. Internal side of receptacle with transverse ridges, convex; external side slightly concave at middle, with maximum width above middle. Horizontal part of pump longer than vertical, narrowed distally. Duct shorter than receptacle, points in the same direction as receptacle ( Fig. 21 ). Vaginal palpus sclerotized along medial margin; lateral margin form angle with medial margin at apex, apex transparent. Width of vaginal palpus in distal 1/4 slightly less than that at middle. Posterior sclerotization darker than anterior sclerotization. Membranous part in middle longer than anterior and posterior sclerotization ( Fig. 22 ). Tignum nearly straight, wider posteriorly than anteriorly ( Fig. 23 ).

Measurements (all values in mm; n=10). Length 3.95–4.65 (4.25); width 2.90–3.55 (3.17); length of pronotum 1.00–1.40 (1.18); width of pronotum 1.88–2.45 (2.16); width across eyes 1.10–1.33 (1.21); distance between eyes 0.56–0.65 (0.61); distance between antennal sockets 0.18–0.24 (0.21); length of aedeagus 1.64; length of vaginal palpus 0.74; length of receptacle 0.22.

Types. Holotype ɗ. Labels 1) India: Kerala Meppady 26.IV.2002 Prathapan Coll. 2) Phaelota sindhoori sp. nov. Prathapan & Viraktamath, 2003 3) Holotype (BMNH). Paratypes: 5ɗ, 5Ψ. The same data as holotype (1 NHMB, 4 PKDC, 3 PNC, 2 USNM). 5ɗ, 5Ψ. The same data as the holotype except the date 18. IV.2003 (4 PKDC, 4 PNC, 2 UASB).

Etymology. The name sindhoori refers to the brownish red colour of the insect in Malayalam.

Remarks. Phaelota sindhoori is remarkable among the species of Phaelota due to lack of suprafrontal sulcus (weak suprafrontal sulcus is present in other species). Receptacle of spermatheca is longer than the duct while duct is nearly two times as long as the receptacle in the other two Indian species. P. sindhoori closely resembles P. vaishakha , but can be separated as discussed under the latter.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Phaelota sindhoori. Dorsal habitus.

FIGURES 16 – 23. Phaelota sindhoori. 16, last abdominal sternite of male; 17, median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view; 18, median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 19, median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal opening; 20, tegmen; 21, spermatheca; 22, vaginal palpi; 23, tignum.