Scymnus (Neopullus), Sasaji

Yu, Guoyue, Montgomery, Michael E. & Yao, Defu, 2000, Lady Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) From Chinese Hemlocks Infested With The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges Tsugae Annand (Homoptera: Adelgidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 54 (2), pp. 154-199 : 159

Subgenus Neopullus Sasaji

Scymnus (Neopullus) Sasaji is a small subgenus with about 22 species known in the world, with 13 in China. It differs from other subgenera of Scymnus in having 10­segmented antennae and a complete postcoxal line. It is curious that seven of the species in this subgenus occur on hemlocks.

The subgenus may be divided into two groups based on punctuation of the area of first abdominal sternite enclosed by the postcoxal line, one has regular punctation whereas the other group has irregular punctation and is smooth near the line. The seven species of S. ( Neopullus ) enumerated here belong to the latter group and, except for Scymnus thecacontus Ren and Pang , have characteristic male genitalia, namely, a simple siphonal apex and the tegmen shaped like a spindle or boat. Although important for separation of closely related species, characters of male or female genitalia are used sparingly in the following key. The separation of the species is based on a combination of body shape, coloration, punctation, and the shape of the median piece of the tegmen.