Phrynocaria perrotteti (Mulsant)

(Figs 169, 170)

Coelophora perrotteti Mulsant, 1850: 409 (Lectotype, UCCC; Type locality: Pondicherry, India).

Coelophora perrotteti: Crotch 1874: 154; Korschefsky 1932: 296.

Anegleis (Pseudanegleis) perrotteti: Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1982: 296 .

Phrynocaria perrotteti: Poorani, 2002a: 339; Poorani et al. 2021: 124.

Diagnosis. Length: 4.00– 4.70 mm; width: 3.60–4.20 mm. Form round, strongly convex. Nominate form (Fig. 169a–c) very similar to Anegleis cardoni in general appearance, pale creamy yellow to brighter yellow, with black maculae on pronotum and elytra; elytral pattern highly variable as shown (Fig. 169d–i). Abdominal postcoxal line (Fig. 170d) incomplete. Male genitalia (Fig. 170f–i) and spermatheca (Fig. 170e) as illustrated.

Immature stages. Larva (Fig. 169j, k) black with white or yellow spots, closely resembling the larva of Anegleis cardoni .

Distribution. India (Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Pondicherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand); Pakistan.

Prey/associated habitat. Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae: Though aphidophagy is the common rule among members of the tribe Coccinellini, this species is very frequently associated with whiteflies. It has been reported to breed actively on whitefly species such as Aleurolobus barodensis (Maskell) (Kapur 1940) and Aleurodicus dispersus (Ramani et al., 2002) . Frequently occurs together with Anegleis cardoni on spiralling whitefly infestations on Cassia sp. Also feeds on aphids. Collected on Cassia siamea, cotton, jamun, and sandal.

Seasonal occurrence. Common during June–August in and around Bangalore. Collected in March, and December (label data).

Natural enemies. Nothoserphus mirabilis Brues; Phalacrotophora sp.

Note. Korschefsky (1933) provided brief notes on its hosts and illustrated the colour variations.