Scymnomorphus kausi, Szawaryn, 2018

Szawaryn, Karol, 2018, Missing geographic link: minute lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Microweiseinae) from Mount Wilhelm, New Guinea, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58 (1), pp. 227-236 : 232-234

Scymnomorphus kausi sp. nov.

( Figs 1G–I , 2I–P, 3D, 5A–D,F)

Type locality. Papua New Guinea, Madang province, E slope of Mt. Wilhelm, Kausi, 200 m a.s.l., 5°44′23.6292″S 145°19′47.0712″E.

Type material. HOLOTYPE:, ‘ New Guinea, IBISCA Niugini PNG, Mt. Wilhelm, bark spray 9.2012, J. Schmidl sort/ P1084 MW 0200-23 (revers, hand writing) // COPNG, COCC 008 , sort J Schmidl & A Zech’ ( MNHN) . PARATYPES: 1, ‘IBISCA Niugini PNG, Mt.Wilhelm, bark spray 9.2012, J. Schmidl sort / P1067 MW 0200-05 (revers, hand writing) // COPNG, COCC 007, sort J Schmidl & A Zech’ ( MNHN); 1 ♀, ‘IBISCA Niugini PNG, Wanang, bark spray 9.2012, J. Schmidl sort / P0323WAN02-05 (revers, hand writing)// COPNG, COCC 007, sort J Schmidl & A Zech’ ( MNHN).

Diagnosis. Scymnomorphus kausi sp. nov. is externally similar to species of the genus Pharellus, but it can be distinguished by the presence of well-developed epipleural carina along elytral edge distinctly separated from elytral margin, mentum deeply emarginate apically ( Fig. 3D ), and large sparse punctures on elytra arranged in several rows. From other species of New Guinean Scymnomorphus it can be separated by the structure of male abdominal ventrite 5 with two small glandular openings ( Fig. 2P ) (only S. fulvus from Australia possesses similar openings; it can be distinguished by the morphology of male genitalia). Within the genus, S. kausi sp. nov. can be identified by very small globular body, antenna with antennomere 3 shorter than pedicel, club composed of 3 antennomeres, and stout and broad mid and hind femora.

Description. TL: 0.86–0.88, TW: 0.60–0.66, TL/TW: 1.30–1.32, PL/PW: 0.40–0.41, EL/EW: 1.06–1.08.

Body uniformly brown ( Figs 1 G–I ). Underside dark brown with legs pale brown.

Body minute, round oval, convex, dorsum distinctly pubescent. Head small, punctures on frons smaller than eye facets and bearing seta, sparsely distributed. Clypeus prominent, distinctly bordered laterally, weakly arcuate anteriorly ( Fig. 5F ). Eyes small and coarsely faceted. Antenna consisting of 10 antennomeres ( Fig. 2J ); pedicel swollen, longer than antennomere 3; antennomere 3 about 1.5 times as long as broad; antennomere 4 sub- -quadrate, about two times shorter than antennomere 3; antennomeres 5–7 very short and transverse; antennomeres 8–10 forming 3-antennomere club, antennomere 8 short, transverse, about 3 times broader than its length; antennomere 9 transverse, shorter than antennomere 10; antennomere 10 about as broad as long. Pronotum widest at base and distinctly narrowing anteriorly. Pronotal disc convex, sparsely punctate, punctures smaller than those on head, bearing long setae. Scutellar shield triangular, glabrous ( Fig. 5A ). Elytron shiny ( Figs 1G , 5A ), sparsely and coarsely punctured, punctures separated by more than 3 times their diameter, dual, each larger puncture bearing long seta with smaller puncture at its base ( Fig. 5C ), punctures irregular except for sutural and lateral rows; on anterior half setae directed anteriorly, on posterior half directed laterally. Elytral margins narrow, but clearly visible from above except apex. Lateral part with elytral carina distinctly separated from margin, forming double, thick border of epipleuron and extending to level of abdominal ventrite 3 ( Fig. 1H ). Mesoventrite short and broad, distinctly bordered anteriorly, fused with metaventrite medially ( Fig. 5B ). Metaventrite and abdomen sparsely setose, with small round puncture at base of each seta ( Fig. 5B ). Metaventral postcoxal lines joined on metaventral process forming narrow arc, straight, laterally descending, associated with four pores on each side of metaventrite; additional pores situated on arcuate lines above metacoxae ( Fig. 5B ). Abdominal postcoxal lines complete laterally, straight, divided into two lines, reaching posterior margin of first abdominal ventrite and lateral margin ( Figs 2I, P ). In males abdominal ventrite 5 with two glandular openings in middle part ( Figs 2P , 5D ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 2M–O ). Penis simple and slender, curved and narrowing towards apex; penis capsule with reduced outer arm and small and narrow inner one. Tegmen with penis guide short and stout in lateral view, with apex rounded; penis guide in ventral view short with sides parallel in basal half then distinctly bent with pointed apex; parameres short, rounded, with several long setae.

Female genitalia ( Figs 2K, L ). Ovipositor triangular, narrow, elongate, bearing long styli, each with one seta apically; spermatheca composed of two elements, basal elongate part broadened at base narrowing apically, and large spherical bulge at apex.

Etymology. The name refers to Kausi village where the holotype specimen was collected; noun in apposition.

Habitat. Specimens were collected at the elevation of 200 m a.s.l., and according to LEPONCE et al. (2016) this type of forest could be classified either as “mixed lowland rainforest” or “mixed alluvium forest of plains and fans” with a large diversity of plants belonging to the Fagaceae , Nothofagaceae , Lauraceae , Cunoniaceae , Myristicaceae , Aquifoliaceae , etc.

Distribution. Papua New Guinea, Eastern slope of Mt. Wilhelm near Kausi village and Wanang.

Figures

Fig.1. Habitus of Scymnomorphus species from Mt. Wilhelm, New Guinea. A–F – S. bimaculatus sp. nov.; G–I – S. kausi sp. nov.; J–L – S. papuensis sp. nov. A, D, G, J – dorsal view; B, E, H, K – lateral view; C, F, I, L – frontal view.

Fig. 3. Morphology of Scymnomorphus species. A–C – S. papuensis sp. nov.: A – antenna; B – female genitalia; C – abdomen, female. D – S. kausi sp. nov., head and mouthparts, ventral (lp – labial palp, m – mentum, pm – prementum, sm – submentum).

Fig. 2. Morphology of Scymnomorphus species. A–H – S. bimaculatus sp. nov.: A – abdomen, female; B – antenna; C – ovipositor; D – spermatheca; E – tegmen; inner view; F – tegmen, lateral view; G – penis, lateral view; H – abdomen, male. I–P – S. kausi sp. nov.: I – abdomen, female; J – antenna; K – ovipositor; L – spermatheca; M – tegmen, inner view; N – tegmen, lateral view; O – penis, lateral view; P – abdomen, male (arrows indicate glandular opening pores).

Fig. 5. Morphology of Scymnomorphus species. A–D, F – S. kausi sp. nov.: A – habitus, dorsal; B – ventral view; C – magnification of metaventral punctures; D – glandular openings on abdominal ventrite 5 in male; F – head, anterior view. E – S. bimaculatus sp. nov., glandular opening on abdominal ventrite 5 in male.