Phrynocaria perrotteti (Mulsant)

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 : 238

Phrynocaria perrotteti (Mulsant)

( Figs 169 , 170 )

Coelophora perrotteti Mulsant, 1850: 409 (Lectotype, UCCC; Type locality: Pondicherry, India).

Coelophora perrotteti: Crotch 1874: 154 ; Korschefsky 1932: 296.

Anegleis (Pseudanegleis) perrotteti: Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1982: 296 .

Phrynocaria perrotteti: Poorani, 2002a: 339 ; Poorani et al. 2021: 124 .

Diagnosis. Length: 4.00– 4.70 mm; width: 3.60–4.20 mm. Form round, strongly convex. Nominate form ( Fig. 169a–c ) very similar to Anegleis cardoni in general appearance, pale creamy yellow to brighter yellow, with black maculae on pronotum and elytra; elytral pattern highly variable as shown ( Fig. 169d–i ). Abdominal postcoxal line ( Fig. 170d ) incomplete. Male genitalia ( Fig. 170f–i ) and spermatheca ( Fig. 170e ) as illustrated.

Immature stages. Larva ( Fig. 169j, k ) black with white or yellow spots, closely resembling the larva of Anegleis cardoni .

Distribution. India (Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Pondicherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand); Pakistan.

Prey/associated habitat. Hemiptera : Aleyrodidae : Though aphidophagy is the common rule among members of the tribe Coccinellini , this species is very frequently associated with whiteflies. It has been reported to breed actively on whitefly species such as Aleurolobus barodensis (Maskell) ( Kapur 1940) and Aleurodicus dispersus ( Ramani et al., 2002) . Frequently occurs together with Anegleis cardoni on spiralling whitefly infestations on Cassia sp. Also feeds on aphids. Collected on Cassia siamea , cotton, jamun, and sandal.

Seasonal occurrence. Common during June–August in and around Bangalore. Collected in March, and December (label data).

Natural enemies. Nothoserphus mirabilis Brues ; Phalacrotophora sp.

Note. Korschefsky (1933) provided brief notes on its hosts and illustrated the colour variations.

Figures

FIGURE 169. Phrynocaria perrotteti (Mulsant): a–i. colour forms; j, k. larva.

FIGURE 170. Phrynocaria perrotetti (Mulsant): a. head; b. antenna; c. prosternal process / mesoventrite; d. abdomen, male; e. spermatheca; f–i. male genitalia: f. tegmen, lateral view; g. tegmen, ventral view; h. penis; i. penis apex.