Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) rhododendri Canepari, 1997

Chen, Xiaosheng, Canepari, Claudio, Wang, Xingmin & Ren, Shunxiang, 2016, Revision of the subgenus Orthoscymnus Canepari of Scymnus Kugelann (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with descriptions of four new species, ZooKeys 552, pp. 91-107 : 97-100

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Coccinellidae

Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) rhododendri Canepari, 1997 Figs 4 a–h, 8

Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) rhododendri Canepari, 1997: 17; Poorani 2002: 357; Kovář 2007: 584.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) crispatus sp. n. in general appearance and male genitalia, but can be separated from it by having swollen apex of penis (Fig. 4f), extremely broad penis guide in ventral view (Fig. 4g) and the parameres distinctly constricted at base, then expanding toward apex in ventral view (Fig. 4h).

Description.

TL: 1.60-1.67 mm, TW: 1.05-1.08 mm, TH: 0.75-0.78 mm, TL/TW: 1.52-1.55, PL/PW: 0.49-0.53, EL/EW: 1.15-1.17, HW/PW: 0.61-0.62, PW/EW: 0.73-0.75.

Body elongate oval, moderately convex, dorsum covered with white pubescence (Figs 4 a–c). Head, antennae and mouthparts yellowish brown. Pronotum brown, sometimes with black marking at base. Scutellum black. Elytra black with apical margin narrowly brown. Prothoracic hypomeron and prosternum yellowish brown. Mesoventrite, metaventrite and elytral epipleura black. Legs yellowish brown.

Head with fine frontal punctures, as large as eye facets, 1.0-2.0 diameters apart. Eyes densely faceted, interocular distance 0.42 times head width. Pronotal punctures larger than those on frons, 1.0-2.0 diameters apart. Surface of elytra with punctures much coarser than those on pronotum, separated by 2.0-3.0 diameters. Prosternal process trapezoidal, 2 times as long as its width at base; with lateral carinae extending to anterior margin of prosternum, distinctly convergent anteriorly. Abdominal postcoxal lines extending nearly to posterior margin of abdominal ventrite 1 (Fig. 4d), area enclosed by lines finely punctate, broadly smooth along line. Abdominal ventrites 5 and 6 in male strongly emarginate apically.

Male genitalia. Penis stout (Fig. 4e); penis capsule highly sclerotized with tiny inner arm and large outer arm; apex of penis distinctly swollen with membranous appendage at apical 1/5 length (Fig. 4f). Tegmen stout (Figs 4 g–h) with penis guide wide, with sides subparallel from base to its apical 3/4 length, then tapering gradually to pointed apex in ventral view (Fig. 4g), and its apex slightly curved outwardly in lateral view (Fig. 4h). Parameres constricted at base with expanded apex, distinctly shorter than penis guide, sparsely covered with long setae at apices (Fig. 4h).

Female unknown.

Type material.

Holotype: male, "Nepal, Sankhua Sabha Distr., above Pahakhola, (27°39.40'N, 87°16.12'E), Quercus semecarpifolia -Rhododendron, 2600-2800 m, 3. VI. 1988, leg Martens & Schawaller" (SMNS).

Other material examined.

China: Tibet: 2♂, Xiayadong Village, Yadong County, 28°29.29'N, 97°1.36'E, ca 2800 m, 1. X. 2009, Chen XS leg. 5♂, Xiayadong Village, Yadong County, 28°29.29'N, 97°1.36'E, ca 2800 m, 29-30. IX. 2009, Chen XS leg.

Distribution.

China (Tibet) new distribution; Nepal.