Calvia vulnerata (Hope)

(Fig. 45)

Coccinella vulnerata Hope, 1831: 31 (Lectotype, HEC, OMNH; Type locality: Nepal).

Calvia vulnerata: Korschefsky 1932: 529; Booth 1997: 927; Poorani 2002a: 324; Yu 2010: 61.

Coccinella uniramosa Hope, 1831: 31; Mulsant 1866: 244 (as Verania); Korschefsky 1932: 529.—Synonymized by Booth & Pope 1989: 367; Booth 1997: 927.

Calvia flaccida Mulsant, 1853a: 151 .— Korschefsky 1932: 524.— Gordon 1987.—Synonymized by Booth & Pope 1989: 368; Booth 1997: 927.

Anisocalvia vishnu Crotch, 1874: 145; Korschefsky 1932: 529.—Synonymized by Booth & Pope 1989: 368; Booth 1997: 927.

Anisocalvia krishna Crotch, 1874: 145; Korschefsky 1932: 524.—Synonymized by Booth & Pope 1989: 368; Booth 1997: 927.

Anisocalvia buddha Crotch, 1874: 145; Korschefsky 1932: 521.—Synonymized by Booth & Pope 1989: 368; Booth 1997: 927.

Diagnosis. Length: 6.70–7.00 mm. A highly variable species, ground colour of elytra pale pinkish (Fig. 45a–c) or yellow to yellowish brown (Fig. 45d, e) or darker reddish brown (Fig. 45f), rarely black, usually with six spots (arranged as in Fig. 45a–c, d, f), spots either yellow or black, with or without a paler or darker outer ring; in all spotted forms, the positions occupied by each spot constant, apical and lateral spots often fused to some extent (Fig. 45a–c); rarely elytra 11-spotted with a black sutural stripe (Fig. 45e). If spots absent, then elytra with narrow black suture and black sublateral line; rarely elytra fully black except for fine reddish-brown margin, pronotum uniform orange-brown. Elytral punctation dual, with larger punctures closely arranged, separated on average by slightly more than one diameter, usually with a single row of small punctures between adjacent large punctures. Abdominal postcoxal line (Fig. 45g) incomplete. Male genitalia (Fig. 45h–j) as illustrated.

Distribution: India (Sikkim, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Delhi); Bhutan; Nepal; China.

Prey / associated habitat. Feeding on aphids infesting Dalbergia sissoo (label data).

Seasonal occurrence. Collected during February, March, April–June (label data).

Notes. It is a highly variably coloured Himalayan species and appears to be rarely collected. Booth (1997) reviewed it with illustrations of the genitalia and a list of synonyms.