Callicaria Crotch

POORANI, J., 2023, An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 1. Tribe Coccinellini, Zootaxa 5332 (1), pp. 1-307 : 46-48

Genus Callicaria Crotch

Callicaria Crotch, 1871: 6 .

Type species: Caria superba Mulsant, 1853 (by monotypy).

Pseudosynonycha Kurisaki, 1923: 101 . Type species: Synonycha japonica Kurisaki, 1914: 443 , by original designation; Sasaji 1971: 294.

Diagnosis. Size large (13–15 mm), with a characteristic body outline broadest around the middle and narrowed towards both ends; coloration carmine red with black maculae ( Fig. 29a–c ).Anterior clypeal margin straight.Antenna ( Fig. 29d ) longer than frons, last three antennomeres forming a tight and compact club. Pronotum distinctly narrower than elytra, lateral sides slightly arcuate to almost straight, anterolateral corners sharply rectangular, posterolateral corners angulate. Scutellar shield prominent, triangular, about 1/10 th as broad as pronotum. Elytra basally distinctly wider than pronotum, lateral sides broadly explanate. Prosternal carinae present, posteriorly slightly divergent. Mesoventrite anteriorly deeply emarginate. Elytral epipleuron entire, broad, outer half distinctly inclined below. Abdominal postcoxal line incomplete ( Fig. 29e ), reaching the posterior margin of abdominal ventrite 1. Middle and hind tibiae with a pair of apical spurs. Tarsal claws appendiculate.

Distribution. Mainly Oriental, also distributed in some parts of Palaearctic Asia ( India; Himalayas; China; Japan; Taiwan).

Affinities. Tomaszewska et al. (2021) included it in the Synonycha- group of genera, but it was not included in their molecular analysis.

Included species. It is a monotypic genus known by the type species, Callicaria superba (Mulsant) with a distribution restricted to the colder parts of northwestern and northeastern regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan .

Figures

FIGURE 29. Callicaria superba (Mulsant): a, b. nominate form; c. variant; d. antenna; e. abdominal postcoxal line; f. spermatheca; g, h. male genitalia: g. tegmen, ventral view; h. penis.