Brumoides Chapin

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 : 15

Genus Brumoides Chapin

Brumoides Chapin, 1965: 237 . Type species: Coccinella suturalis Fabricius, 1798: 78 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Form oval, dorsum strongly convex, apparently glabrous but with very short, extremely sparse hairs on disc and short, erect hairs on lateral margins of elytra; elytra usually creamy yellowish with black discal vittae / stripes ( Fig. 8a ). Clypeus short, distinctly extending laterally ( Fig. 8b ). Antennae ( Fig. 8c ) short with 8 antennomeres, first two antennomeres largest, terminal antennomere small, conical and somewhat telescoped into penultimate antennomere. Terminal maxillary palpomere ( Fig. 8d ) weakly securiform with a strongly oblique apex. Pronotal base entirely bordered. Prosternal process narrow and truncate, without carinae. Elytral margin very finely reflexed. Elytral epipleura entire, without foveae to receive femoral apices. Abdominal postcoxal lines complete ( Fig. 8e ), semicircular; abdomen with six visible ventrites in both sexes. Tarsal claws ( Fig. 8f ) simple, lacking a basal tooth. Penis guide of male genitalia apically asymmetrical ( Fig. 8i ). Penis strongly curved with a prominent capsule ( Fig. 8j ). Coxites elongate triangular ( Fig. 8g ). Female genitalia with a distinct infundibulum; spermatheca ( Fig. 8h ) without a distal apical projection.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan. Widely distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Affinities. Brumoides is strongly supported as a monophyletic genus in the phylogenetic analyses done by Li et al. (2020b) and was recovered as a sister group to Brumus Mulsant in the combined data analysis and both genera were identified as a sister group to Parexochomus Barovsky.

Biology. Species of Brumoides appear to feed on a variety of insect prey including mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, mites, psyllids ( Kapur 1942), pollen of grasses ( Gorham 1894), etc. Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) , the most widespread Indian species, is commonly associated with several mealybugs and whiteflies (label data); “inhabits grasses and low plants” ( Gorham 1894).

Included species. Two species, B. suturalis (Fabricius) and B. lineatus (Weise) , are currently known from the Indian mainland and the rest of south Asia, with the former being more abundant and widespread in peninsular India and the latter mainly distributed in northern and north-eastern regions. Brumoides lineatus sensu Kapur (1967) , recorded from Andaman Islands, is different from B. lineatus as treated by Miyatake (1970a) and is described as a new species, B. andamanensis sp. n. Brumus ceylonicus ( Weise, 1900) , described from Sri Lanka, belongs to Brumoides (comb. n.).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Brumoides Chapin, diagnostic characters: a. Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius), dorsal habitus; b. head; c. antenna; d. maxilla; e. abdominal postcoxal line; f. tarsal claw; g. coxite; h. spermatheca; i, j. male genitalia: i. tegmen, ventral view; j. penis.