Chilocorus braeti Weise

POORANI, J., 2023, An illustrated guide to the lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part II. Tribe Chilocorini, Zootaxa 5378 (1), pp. 1-108 : 34-37

Chilocorus braeti Weise

( Fig. 25 )

Chilocorus braeti Weise, 1895b: 154 .

Chilocorus braeti : Korschefsky 1932: 240; Kapur 1963: 24; Poorani 2002: 311; Li et al. 2018: 26.

Diagnosis. Length: 4.20–5.50 mm. It can be distinguished from the other Indian congeners by its characteristic, cordate or heart shaped body outline ( Fig. 25a, b ) that is distinctly narrowed in the apical one-third, uniform black coloration and elytra with finely punctate disc and coarsely punctate lateral margins. Male genitalia ( Fig. 25c, d ) as illustrated.

Distribution. India (North-eastern region: Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Sikkim); Vietnam; Laos.

Prey / associated habitat. Found on Myrsine semiserrata (label data). Collected at high altitudes (5000–7000ft) of the Himalayas ( Kapur 1963).

Seasonal occurrence. March, June (Label data).

Notes. It appears to be a rare species apparently endemic to the eastern Himalayan region and is not commonly represented in collections. Kapur (1963) gave a brief account of C. braeti in his work on the Coccinellidae of Mount Everest.

Figures

FIGURE 25. Chilocorus braeti Weise: a, b. adult, dorsal view (BMNH); b. adult, dorsal view (ZSIK); c, d. male genitalia: c. tegmen, ventral view; d. penis.