Synonychimorpha chittagongi (Vazirani) Poorani, 2003

Poorani, J., 2003, A new species of the genus Synonychimorpha Miyatake (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from South India, Zootaxa 212 (1), pp. 1-6 : 4-5

2. Synonychimorpha chittagongi (Vazirani) , comb.nov. ( Figs. 2, 10­12 )

Sticholotis chittagongi Vazirani, 1983: 301 (Holotype ♂; BMNH. Type locality: Bangladesh). Sticholotis rufolimbata Canepari, 1997: 6 (Holotype ♂; SMNS. Type locality: Nepal). Syn. nov.

Specimens of another Synonychimorpha species ( Fig. 2 ) collected from southern and northeastern India were found to match the descriptions of two species, Sticholotis chittagongi Vazirani (1983) (originally described from Bangladesh), and Sticholotis rufolimbata Canepari (1997) (described from Nepal). The descriptions given by Vazirani and Canepari fit these specimens in all details. The male genitalia ( Figs. 10­12 ) also are similar to those of these two species. The sipho illustrated by Vazirani is very long as in this case ( Fig. 12 ), but the siphonal capsule is lacking. The siphonal capsule in the specimens examined was found to be broad, but very membranous and not easy to observe, with a basal, slightly more sclerotized area, as figured by Vazirani (1983). Apparently, Vazirani did not observe the membranous area. Canepari's (1997) illustration of the sipho also does not show the siphonal capsule clearly as it is broken at the top, but the aedeagus is similar. Dr. Wolfgang Schawaller, Stuttgart Museum, and Dr. Claudio Canepari (in litt.) confirm that the holotype and paratype of Sticholotis rufolimbata are apparently identical to the specimens I have examined from south and northeastern India. Hence, Sticholotis chittagongi is combined with Synonychimorpha , and S. rufolimbata is placed in synonymy with it.

This species is also remarkably similar in general appearance to Jauravia limbata Motschulsky (1858) . It is smaller in size and the dorsum is more convex with more broadly explanate lateral borders of elytra than the latter, and can be readily distinguished by the lack of dense dorsal pubescence. It is interesting to note that Weise (1908) transferred Jauravia limbata to Sticholotis and later, Kapur (1946) again shifted it to Jauravia . It is possible that Weise had specimens of this species, which is very similar in coloration and elytral marking to J. limbata , when he effected the change of combination. Two specimens of a colour morph uniformly yellowish on both dorsal and ventral sides were also examined (from southern India) and found to be much smaller in size, but other characters, including male genitalia, are identical to those of the nominate form. A brief redescription of this species is provided below.

Description. Length 1.86­2.50 mm, width 1.70­2.20 mm. Form ( Fig. 2 ) subrounded, only slightly longer than broad and subhemispherical. Head and pronotum yellowish testaceous. Scutellum pitchy brown. Elytra with a large black discal patch leaving only lateral margins yellowish testaceous, rarely plain yellowish. Ventral side yellowish brown, except meso­ and metasterna, and middle of first two abdominal sternites darker, pitchy brown to black; rarely uniform yellowish. Head with sparse silvery white pubescence, coarsely and closely punctate, interspaces microreticulate. Pronotum with posterior margin very strongly bisinuate; punctures on disk even and dense, shallowly impressed, separated by 0.5­2.0 diameters, coarser towards sides; interspaces between punctures strongly microreticulate. Scutellum very small, triangular. Elytra with lateral borders strongly explanate and narrowly grooved; punctures on disk smaller than those on pronotum, slightly more deeply impressed and more widely separated by 1­4 diameters, coarser towards lateral margins; interspaces between punctures shiny and smooth. Prosternal process quadrate, with carinae distinctly but gently divergent in anterior half. Male genitalia ( Figs. 10­12 ) with aedeagus ( Fig. 10­11 ) having very elongate median lobe and long and slender parameres; sipho ( Fig. 12 ) very slender, extremely long, bent almost at right angles around middle, siphonal capsule broad and spatulate, very membranous, with a basal, slightly more sclerotized area.

Specimens examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Valparai , 1067 m, 28.xii.1973, K.D. Ghorpade, one female, one male ; Meghalaya, Shillong , 1961 m, 16.iv. 1974, K.D. Ghorpade, one male ; Kerala: without locality, 14.xii.2001, feeding on Dialeuropa sp., A. Jesudasan, one male , one unsexed (partially damaged).

Distribution. India: Kerala; Meghalaya; Tamil Nadu. Bangladesh. Nepal.

Figures

FIGURES 1­13. Details of Synonychimorpha Miyatake. 1. Synonychimorpha immaculata sp. nov., dorsal habitus; 2. Synonychimorpha chittagongi (Vazirani) comb.nov., dorsal habitus. Figs. 3­9. Synonychimorpha immaculata sp. nov. 3. Antenna; 4. Labrum; 5. Labium; 6. Maxilla; 7. Prosternal process; 8. First abdominal sternite, showing postcoxal line; 9. Elytral epipleuron; 10­12. Male genitalia of Synonychimorpha chittagongi: 10. Aedeagus, lateral view; 11. Aedeagus, ventral view; 12. Sipho. 13. Female genital plate of Synonychimorpha immaculata.