Phrynocaria eberti (Bielawski)

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 : 231

Phrynocaria eberti (Bielawski)

( Fig. 165 )

Coelophora eberti Bielawski, 1972: 304 (Holotype, ZSBSM; Type locality: Nepal).

Phrynocaria eberti: Miyatake 1985: 21 ; Poorani 2002a: 338.

Diagnosis. Length: 4.00–5.00 mm; width: 3.80–4.60 mm. Form almost circular, dorsum strongly convex and glabrous. This species can be identified by its orange to reddish to orange-yellow coloured body with five black spots on each elytron arranged in a 2-2-1 pattern as illustrated ( Fig. 165a, b ). Female abdomen ( Fig. 165c ) and spermatheca ( Fig. 165d ) as illustrated.

Distribution. India (Nagaland); Nepal.

Notes. It was described from Nepal by Bielawski (1972). Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982) included it under Lemnia (s. str.) but Miyatake (1985) correctly assigned it to Phrynocaria . Only a single female from Nagaland (northeastern India) was examined and the male genitalia could not be studied.

Notes. It appears to be a rare species endemic to the Eastern Himalayan region. See Bielawski (1972) and Miyatake (1985) for more details / illustrations.

Figures

FIGURE 165. Phrynocaria eberti (Bielawski): a. adult, dorsal view; b. live adult (Photo credit: K.C. Sajan); c. abdomen, female; d. spermatheca.