Indomias rajendrani Ramamurthy

Y, R A M A M U Rt H & Ayri, Shaloo, 2010, Revision of the genus Indomias Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Tanymecini) from India, Zootaxa 2357, pp. 1-49 : 43-44

22. Indomias rajendrani Ramamurthy sp. nov.

(figs. 19, 37, 66, 114, 115 and 155)

Diagnosis: This species resembles I. cretaceus (Faust) and is distinguished by the following characters: Rostrum deeply impressed, median furrow club shaped, ending in a narrow, faint line, before reaching vertex. Elytra with longitudinal curvature less convex, gradually sloping posteriorly, humeral fold not prominent, their apices mucronate, intervals four, five and six deeply impressed at the posterior declivity. Antennae with first funicle segment 1.5x as long as the second.

Description: Colour black with dull green vestiture. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface convex, with deep, scattered punctations. Rostrum deeply impressed at middle dorsally, as long as broad, anterior margin 0.9x as broad as its posterior margin; median furrow club shaped, ending in a narrow, faint line, before reaching vertex; lateral carinae distinct; sides straight; scrobes narrowed at the middle and pointed at either ends, space between scrobes as much as the length of scrobe. Eyes dorsal, convex, 2x as long as broad (figs. 19 and 37). Antennae dark brown; scape abruptly clavate; funicle with its first segment 1.5x as long as second, broader than second (fig. 66). Prothorax 1.02x as broad as long, its breadth at middle 1.1x broad as posterior margin; sides rounded; anterior margin only 0.87x as broad as posterior margin, truncate dorsally, acute laterally, posterior margin truncate; upper surface with coarse, scattered punctations, their interspaces granulate, without any stria. Legs with hind tibial apex without any dense, golden yellow hairs. Elytra ovate, with basal margin strongly raised, its external angle acute, humeral fold present, but not prominent; not at all impressed on declivity, apices mucronate; stria punctate, intervals uniformly broad, surface convex and raised, intervals four, five and six deeply impressed at posterior declivity; elytral vestiture with predominant scales, curved, elongate, reddish brown, with short pedicel, inner core opaque and with 2–4 ridges (fig. 114), less predominant more elongate, broadened towards apex and with 3 ridges (fig. 115).

Female genitalia: Spermatheca could not be described. Spiculum ventrale with shaft 4.2x as long as basal plate, more or less uniformly thick, its apex slightly deflected and clubbed; basal plate spatulate, broadest at the basal half, slightly longer than broad (1.12:1), its apex bluntly rounded with tuft of short hairs (fig. 155).

Length: female, 8.92 mm; Breadth: female, 3.19 mm.

Holotype: 1 female, INDIA: Kerala: Malabar: Dhony forests, 26.V.1922. Coll. Ramakrishna ( NPC).

Distribution: India: Kerala.

Etymology: The name I. rajendrani sp. nov. is derived from and in the honour of Dr. T.P. Rajendran, Assistant Director General, Plant Protection, ICAR, New Delhi in particular for showing keen interest in the taxonomic studies on insects.